Is ebtEDGE app legitimate? Worried about identity theft with CalFresh benefits

Yes, ebtEDGE is the legitimate official mobile app for EBT cardholders in California. It's developed by FIS (Fidelity National Information Services), which is the company that manages EBT card services for many states. The app requires those pieces of information for security purposes to verify your identity before allowing account access. You can verify it's legitimate by checking that it's published by "FIS Global" in the app store. The California Department of Social Services also lists it as the official app on their website. The security questions are similar to PIN changes because both require strong identity verification to protect your benefits.

im using it right now and its fine. they need that info to make sure ur the actual person who owns the card. my sister got her benefits stolen last year so i get why ur worried but this is the real app

To add to what others have said, you can also verify the app's legitimacy by going to the official California EBT website (www.ebt.ca.gov) and looking for information about their mobile app options. The site should list ebtEDGE as their official app. I understand your concern about identity theft - it's unfortunately common with benefits. As an extra precaution, I recommend: 1. Only download the app from official app stores (Google Play or Apple App Store) 2. Check the developer name is FIS Global 3. Read the privacy policy in the app to verify how your data is used 4. Check the app reviews before entering your information The app is quite useful - you can check balances, view transaction history, find stores that accept EBT, and get customer service information.

I was skeptical too when I first tried it!! But it's totally legit, I've been using it for almost 3 months now and it's actually pretty good? You can see your transactions and even find stores nearby that take EBT. The reason they need all that info is for security. Think about it - would you want someone to download the app and access your benefits with just like your card number? They need to REALLY verify it's you. But here's a tip - once you set it up, you can use fingerprint login after (at least on my phone) so you don't have to enter all that stuff every time.

BE CAREFUL!!!! There are fake apps out there that look like the real one! My cousin got scammed last month by something that looked like an EBT app but it was fake. Make sure you download from official app store and check the developer name. The real one is by FIS Global I think. Also never click links from texts saying they're from EBT - that's always a scam. Only download directly from app store.

I've been trying to reach someone at the CalFresh office to ask about this exact thing! Been on hold forever and keep getting disconnected. So frustrating when you just need to ask a simple question about benefit security.

Yes it's legitimate but I still don't trust putting all my info in an app. I just call the number on the back of my card to check my balance. Takes 2 minutes and I don't have to worry about my information being in some database. Call me old school but with all these data breaches lately I'd rather be safe than sorry.

One thing i noticed is that sometimes the balance on the app isn't updated right away after you buy something. like there's a delay of a few hours. So don't panic if you just used your card and the amount doesn't change immediately in the app. Just FYI

I was in the same boat as you a few months ago - super worried about entering all that personal info! But after doing some research and talking to other people here, I can confirm ebtEDGE is totally legitimate. I've been using it for about 4 months now with no issues. What really convinced me was going to the official California EBT website (ebt.ca.gov) like someone mentioned, and they actually have a section about the mobile app that links directly to ebtEDGE. Plus when you download it from the official app stores, you can see it's published by FIS Global, which is the actual company that manages EBT services. The app is honestly pretty helpful - I love being able to check my balance quickly without having to call the phone number, and the transaction history feature has saved me a few times when I couldn't remember if a purchase went through or not. Just make sure you're downloading from the official Apple App Store or Google Play Store and not clicking any random links!

I totally understand your concern about entering all that personal information! I was hesitant at first too, but I've been using the ebtEDGE app for about 6 months now and it's been great. Everyone here has given you solid advice - definitely verify it's the real app by checking the developer (FIS Global) and downloading only from official app stores. One thing I'd add is that the app actually has some really nice security features. After you set it up the first time with all your info, you can enable biometric login (fingerprint or face ID) so you don't have to keep entering those details every time. And if you're still nervous, you can always start by just checking your balance a few times to get comfortable with it before exploring the other features. The store locator feature is honestly a lifesaver when you're out and about and need to find somewhere that accepts EBT. Hope this helps put your mind at ease!

I completely understand your concerns about identity theft - it's smart to be cautious with your personal information, especially when it comes to benefits your family depends on. I went through the same worry when I first heard about the ebtEDGE app! What helped me feel more confident was doing a few verification steps before downloading. First, I went directly to the official California EBT website (ebt.ca.gov) and found their mobile app information page, which specifically mentions ebtEDGE as their official app. Then I made sure to download only from the Apple App Store, checking that it was published by "FIS Global" - the legitimate company that handles EBT services. I've been using it for about 8 months now without any issues. The app requires all that information (card number, DOB, SSN) because it needs to verify you're the actual cardholder before giving you access to your benefit information. It's actually a good security measure, even though it feels scary at first. One tip: once you're set up, enable the biometric login (fingerprint/face ID) so you won't have to enter all that sensitive information every time you use the app. The convenience of checking balances and transaction history on the go has been really helpful for managing my family's food budget!

I had the exact same worries when I first heard about the ebtEDGE app! It really does feel overwhelming when they ask for so much personal information all at once. But after using it for about a year now, I can confirm it's completely legitimate and actually really helpful. What convinced me was doing what others have mentioned - I went to the official California EBT website first to verify the app, then made sure I was downloading from the official app store with FIS Global as the developer. The reason they need all that information (card number, DOB, and full SSN) is because they have to be absolutely certain you're the real cardholder before giving you access to your benefits. One thing that might help ease your mind is knowing that once you set it up, you won't have to enter all that sensitive information again - you can use fingerprint or face ID for future logins. I also love that I can quickly check my balance before shopping to make sure I have enough, and the transaction history has helped me catch a couple of errors over the months. Your caution is totally understandable and actually smart - benefit theft is unfortunately real. But this app is the official, secure way to manage your EBT account from your phone. Just make sure you're getting it from the legitimate source and you should be good to go!

I was in your exact same position about 6 months ago - super nervous about entering all that personal info but really needing a way to check my balance without having to call every time! After reading through all the great advice here, I want to add that you can also double-check the app's legitimacy by looking at the permissions it requests when you install it. The real ebtEDGE app only asks for the permissions it actually needs (like internet access to check your account), while fake scam apps often ask for way more permissions than they should need. Also, once you do set it up, I'd recommend taking a screenshot of your balance right after your first successful login, just so you have a reference point to make sure everything is working correctly. The app has been super reliable for me - I use it probably 2-3 times a week to check my balance before grocery trips and it's saved me from those awkward moments at checkout when I wasn't sure if I had enough left on my card! One last tip: if you ever have any concerns about your account after using the app, you can always call the customer service number on the back of your EBT card to verify your balance and recent transactions. Having that backup option might help you feel more comfortable taking the leap with the mobile app.

I completely understand your hesitation about entering so much personal information! I had the exact same concerns when I first discovered the ebtEDGE app a few months ago. The amount of information they require (full card number, DOB, and complete SSN) definitely feels overwhelming at first. What helped me feel more secure was following the verification steps others have mentioned - I went directly to the official California EBT website (ebt.ca.gov) to confirm the app was legitimate, then downloaded it only from the Apple App Store, making sure it was published by FIS Global. The reason they need all that information is actually for your protection - they want to be absolutely certain that you're the real cardholder before giving access to your benefits. I've been using the app successfully for about 4 months now and it's honestly been a game-changer for managing my family's food budget. Being able to quickly check my balance before shopping has prevented several embarrassing situations at checkout! The transaction history feature is also really helpful for tracking spending and catching any errors. One thing that made me feel more comfortable was enabling the biometric login (fingerprint/face ID) after the initial setup - that way you only have to enter all that sensitive information once. Your caution is completely justified given how important these benefits are for your family, but I can assure you the app is legitimate and secure when downloaded from official sources.

I completely get your concern about entering all that personal information - it's totally normal to be cautious when it comes to protecting your benefits! I went through the same worry when I first heard about the ebtEDGE app about 8 months ago. What really helped put my mind at ease was doing my own verification before downloading. I went to the official California EBT website (ebt.ca.gov) and found their section about mobile apps, which specifically mentions ebtEDGE as their official app. Then I made sure to download it only from the Google Play Store, checking that it was published by "FIS Global" - the legitimate company that handles EBT card services. The app does require all that information (card number, DOB, full SSN) because they need to absolutely verify you're the real cardholder before giving you access to your benefit information. It's actually a good security measure, even though it feels scary at first! I've been using it for months now without any issues, and it's been super helpful for checking my balance quickly before grocery trips and reviewing transaction history. One tip that made me feel more secure: once you set it up initially, you can enable fingerprint or face ID login so you won't have to keep entering all that sensitive information every time. Your family's food security is too important to risk with a fake app, but this one is definitely the real deal when downloaded from official sources!