Just discovered you can freeze/unfreeze EBT card by phone - saved me after losing wallet!

omg i didnt kno this either!! thx for sharing!! my kid took my wallet to school last month (dont ask lol) and i freaked out and cancelled my card completely. had to wait 7 days for the new one and couldnt buy groceries that week 😭

This is actually a relatively new feature that was rolled out in late 2024. It's similar to what most bank cards offer now. Here's how it works for those who aren't familiar: 1. Call the EBT customer service number on the back of your card 2. Select option 5 from the main menu 3. Follow prompts to freeze/unfreeze your card This is very useful if your card is temporarily misplaced but you're not sure if it's stolen. The freeze prevents anyone from using it while you look for it. If you find it, you can unfreeze it immediately. If you determine it's actually stolen, you can call to request a replacement. Just remember that freezing is temporary - if you need a new card, you still need to report it lost/stolen.

I've been telling clients about this feature for months now! It works on all active EBT cards regardless of when they were issued. The system change was made on the backend, not to the cards themselves. What many people also don't realize is that you can still access your account information through the BenefitsCal mobile app even while your physical card is frozen. This means you can check your balance, review transaction history, and keep track of your upcoming SAR7 or recertification dates without unfreezing the card. This feature has been particularly helpful for families who share an EBT card among household members - you can freeze it when not in use to prevent unauthorized spending.

I tried using this feature last week and it kept putting me on hold. Then when I finally got through after like an hour, they told me my card was already expired and that's why I couldn't access my benefits!!!!!!! Not because of any freeze feature. They had sent a new card but to my old address even though I updated my address 6 months ago! Now I'm waiting for them to send another one and it's been 10 days with NO FOOD BENEFITS. The system is completely broken.

Another important tip: if you do end up needing to request a replacement card (not just temporarily freezing it), you have several options: 1. Call the EBT customer service number 2. Request it through your BenefitsCal online account 3. Visit your county office in person 4. Use the California EBT mobile app Options 2 and 4 are usually fastest since they don't require waiting on hold. The new card typically arrives within 5-7 business days, but if you're in an emergency situation, some counties can issue a temporary card at the office while you wait for the permanent one to arrive in the mail.

Wait so does the freeze feature work on CalWorks benefits too or just CalFresh? Because I get both on the same card and sometimes I want to save my cash aid for rent but still use the food benefits.

Update: I was just going through the options on the EBT phone system again and discovered you can also change your PIN using option 3! I feel like there should be a guide with all these features somewhere. My recertification interview is coming up next month and I'm going to ask my worker about what else I might not know about using my benefits efficiently.

Regarding text alerts - yes, you can set up EBT account alerts! Go to www.ebt.ca.gov or use the California EBT mobile app. After logging in, look for account preferences or notification settings. You can set up alerts for: - When benefits are deposited - When your balance falls below a certain amount - When purchases are made over a certain dollar amount - When your SAR7 or recertification dates are approaching These notifications can be sent via text, email, or push notifications through the app. It's a relatively new feature that many clients don't know about, but it's extremely helpful for managing your benefits.

Wow, this whole thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I had no idea about any of these features. I've been using CalFresh for over two years and literally the only thing I knew how to do was check my balance. The freeze feature would have saved me so much anxiety when my purse was stolen last year - I immediately panicked and canceled my card, then had to wait over a week for a new one while struggling to buy groceries. Thank you everyone for sharing all this valuable information! I'm definitely going to explore the mobile app and set up those alerts. It's frustrating that these helpful features aren't better communicated to recipients when we first get our cards.

This is such valuable information! I'm a new CalFresh recipient (just got approved last month) and literally none of this was explained to me during the application process. The county worker just told me my card would arrive in the mail and showed me the basic pamphlet about eligible food items. I had no idea there was even a mobile app, let alone all these security features and notification options! I'm definitely downloading the app today and setting up those alerts. It's really concerning that such useful features aren't standard information provided to new recipients. Thank you to everyone who shared their knowledge here - this thread should honestly be pinned or turned into a resource guide!

This is such an amazing thread! I've been on CalFresh for about 8 months and I'm honestly shocked at how many features I didn't know existed. The freeze/unfreeze option would have been a lifesaver when my teenage son "borrowed" my wallet without telling me - I spent two hours thinking someone had stolen it before finding it in his backpack! I ended up not doing anything because I found it quickly, but now I know there was actually a way to protect my benefits temporarily. I'm definitely going to explore the mobile app and set up those notifications. It's really frustrating that we have to learn about these essential features through random discoveries or community posts instead of being properly informed when we first receive our benefits. Thank you Joshua for sharing this discovery and thanks to everyone else who added such helpful information!

This is incredibly helpful! I've been on CalFresh for about a year and had no idea about the freeze feature either. Last month my purse was stolen from my car and I immediately called to cancel my card completely - had to wait 8 days for a replacement and relied on food banks during that time. If I had known about the temporary freeze option, I could have used it while filing the police report and waiting to see if my purse turned up (which it actually did, minus the cash but with the EBT card still there). I'm bookmarking this thread and definitely going to check out all these other features people are mentioning. It's amazing how much we don't know about our own benefits! Thanks for sharing this discovery.

This thread has been such an eye-opener! I've been a CalFresh recipient for about 6 months and literally had no clue about any of these features. When I first got my card, the county worker basically just said "your card will arrive in 7-10 days" and handed me a basic pamphlet about what foods I could buy. No mention of the mobile app, freeze features, PIN changes, or any of these security options that could actually protect our benefits! I'm downloading the app right now and setting up all those alerts everyone mentioned. It's honestly ridiculous that we have to stumble across this information by chance instead of being properly educated about our own benefits. This community is providing better support and information than the actual system! Thank you Joshua for sharing this and everyone else for adding such valuable tips - you've probably saved a lot of us from future headaches and stress.

This thread is absolutely amazing! I've been on CalFresh for almost 2 years and I'm honestly embarrassed that I didn't know about any of these features. The freeze option alone would have saved me so much stress - just last month I thought I lost my card at the grocery store and spent the whole night panicking about whether to cancel it or not. Turns out it had fallen behind my car seat, but I could have just frozen it temporarily while I searched! I'm definitely downloading the app tonight and exploring all these features everyone has mentioned. It's really sad that we have to learn about these essential tools through community discussions instead of proper orientation from the county. This thread should seriously be required reading for all new CalFresh recipients - you all have provided more useful information in one conversation than I've gotten from the system in two years. Thank you Joshua for starting this and everyone else for sharing your experiences and knowledge!