What's the EBT EDGE App and is it safe for checking CalFresh balances?
Hello everyone, I recently heard about something called the EBT EDGE app for checking CalFresh balances but I'm not sure if it's legit. My caseworker mentioned it during my recertification appointment last week but didn't explain much about it. I've been checking my balance by calling the number on the back of my card for years. Is this app actually from the government? Is it safe to download? Will it show my CalFresh AND Cash Aid balances? I'm worried about putting my EBT card info into some random app. Has anyone used it? Thanks!!
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Jamal Harris
Yes, the EBT EDGE app is legitimate and is the official mobile app for managing your EBT benefits in California. It's developed by Conduent, who is the EBT processor for California. With the app, you can: - Check both your CalFresh and Cash Aid balances - View your transaction history - Find stores that accept EBT near you - Get notifications when benefits are deposited I've been using it for about 8 months now and it's much more convenient than calling the number. You'll need to register with your EBT card number and PIN, but it's secure. The app is available for both iPhone and Android phones.
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Zoe Stavros
•Thank you so much! That's really helpful. I was afraid it might be some kind of scam to steal my benefits. Do you know if they ever have technical issues with it? And does it tell you when your next deposit date is or just when the money hits your account?
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GalaxyGlider
i use the ebt edge app all the time its way better than calling!!! no more listening to all those stupid options lol. the app shows ur balance right away and u can see when ur money comes in. they send u notifications
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Mei Wong
•Same! I hate that phone system. I was always pressing the wrong buttons and having to start over 😩
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Liam Sullivan
The EBT EDGE app is fairly reliable but there are occasional outages, especially around benefit issuance dates when the system gets overloaded. To answer your question about deposit dates - it will show your next scheduled deposit date as well as send you a notification when benefits are deposited. One thing to note: if you have a budget on your case (meaning you get your CalFresh benefits split into multiple deposits throughout the month), the app will show all those scheduled dates. Also, make sure you download the correct app - it should be called "ebtEDGE" and the developer should be listed as Conduent. There have been some fake EBT apps in the past that try to steal your information.
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Zoe Stavros
•Omg I didn't even think about fake apps! Thank you for mentioning that. I'll make sure to double check the developer. I don't have a budget on my case but good to know that's a feature for those who do.
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Amara Okafor
DONT TRUST IT!!!! My cousin's friend downloaded that app and TWO DAYS LATER all her benefits were GONE!!!! They said there was nothing they could do about it. These apps are just ways for them to TRACK YOU and STEAL YOUR BENEFITS!!!! The government WANTS us to use apps so they can monitor our spending and CUT OUR BENEFITS!!!!
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Jamal Harris
•That's simply not accurate. The ebtEDGE app is the official app authorized by the USDA and California DSS. If benefits were stolen, it was likely due to someone having their physical card and PIN compromised or falling victim to a phishing scam, not because of the official app. Benefit theft is a serious issue, but spreading misinformation about the legitimate tools doesn't help anyone. If someone experiences theft, they should call their county office immediately to report it.
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Mei Wong
i love the app!! been using it since like february. only annoying thing is sometimes it logs me out for no reason and i have to sign back in. happens like once a month maybe?
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Giovanni Colombo
If you're having trouble reaching anyone at the CalFresh office to ask questions about the app or if you encounter any issues with your benefits, I'd recommend trying Claimyr. It helped me get through to a real person at my county office when I had problems with my EBT card after downloading the app (turned out I just entered my PIN wrong too many times, but I was panicking). They got me connected to a live worker in less than 10 minutes when I'd been trying for days. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8
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Zoe Stavros
•Thanks for the suggestion! I might need this if I have trouble with the app setup. I've spent hours on hold with the county before and it's so frustrating.
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Fatima Al-Qasimi
The app is legitimate, but I want to add that you should never share your EBT PIN with anyone, even family members who aren't on your case. The app requires your PIN to register, which is fine, but never enter your PIN information if you receive emails or texts asking for it - those are scams. Also, the app is useful for checking balances but if you need to report changes to your household, income, or address, you still need to do that through BenefitsCal or by contacting your county office directly. The EBT EDGE app doesn't connect to your case management system - it only shows your benefit balance and transactions.
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GalaxyGlider
ya also sometimes the app shows pending deposits before they actually hit which is cool. like u can see whats coming before its available
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Zoe Stavros
Update: I downloaded the app yesterday and it's working great! So much easier than calling that number. Thanks everyone for the help and advice. I can confirm it shows both my CalFresh and Cash Aid balances in one place, and it even showed me exactly which stores near me accept EBT. Much more helpful than I expected!
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Jamal Harris
•That's great! Glad it's working well for you. The store locator feature is particularly useful if you're traveling to a new area and need to find places that accept EBT.
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Mei Wong
my favorite thing is seeing when people try to steal my card info at those card skimmers!! the app shows every transaction so i can see if someones trying to use my card somewhere i wasnt at!
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Fatima Al-Qasimi
•That's a really important point about security. If you see unauthorized transactions in the app, report them immediately by calling the EBT Customer Service number (866-328-9677). They can deactivate your card and issue a new one. Then contact your county worker to report the theft of benefits. In some cases, they can replace stolen benefits, especially if you report it quickly.
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Zoe Alexopoulos
I just wanted to add that if you have any issues with the app not working or if you need to reset your PIN, you can also visit your local county office and they can help you with that. Sometimes the app might not work if your card has been temporarily suspended for security reasons (like if you entered your PIN wrong too many times at a store). The county workers are usually pretty helpful with tech issues like this. Also, make sure your phone has enough storage space - I had a friend who couldn't get the app to work properly because her phone was almost full!
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Fatima Al-Qasimi
•Great tips! I didn't know about the storage space issue - that's really helpful. I was wondering, do you know if the app works on older phones? I have an iPhone 7 and I'm worried it might not be compatible with newer apps. Also, how do you know if your card has been temporarily suspended? Does the app give you an error message or does it just not work?
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