ebtEDGE app down? Can't check my CalFresh balance for 3 days straight
I've been trying to check my CalFresh balance through the ebtEDGE app for the last 3 days but keep getting an error message saying 'service temporarily unavailable.' Is anyone else having this problem? I need to grocery shop this weekend and have no idea how much is left on my card. Called the number on the back of my EBT card but got stuck in an automated system for 45 minutes before I gave up. Any ideas if the system is down statewide or if it's just me? Starting to get worried since my kids are home for spring break and we need to stock up on food!
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Mei Wong
yep its down for me 2... been like that since tuesday. so annoying cause i need to buy food for my moms bday dinner tmrw and idk if i have enough on my card
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GalaxyGlider
•Ugh, that's frustrating but at least I know it's not just me. Have you found any other way to check your balance? I'm worried about getting to the checkout and not having enough funds.
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Liam Sullivan
The ebtEDGE system has been experiencing intermittent outages across California this week. According to their customer service (I finally got through yesterday), they're performing system updates that should be completed by this weekend. In the meantime, you can try these alternatives: 1. Call the EBT customer service number (1-877-328-9677) during non-peak hours (early morning works best) 2. Check your last receipt from a store where you used your EBT card 3. Some grocery stores can check your balance at customer service 4. The BenefitsCal website sometimes has your balance information too Hope this helps!
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GalaxyGlider
•Thank you SO much for this info! I didn't even think to check my last receipt. Just found it and I have $187 left - what a relief! How did you manage to get through to customer service? Every time I call I just get stuck in the automated loop.
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Liam Sullivan
•It took some persistence! I called at 7:15am and selected the Spanish option first (even though I don't speak Spanish well), then when given the option to switch to English, I did. For some reason, that path had a shorter wait time. Was on hold for about 12 minutes instead of the usual 45+.
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Amara Okafor
This happened last year too during their "system upgrade" and it was down for almost a week! So frustrating. You can also try texting your zip code to 74544 which sometimes works when the app is down. It won't give your balance but at least tells you when your next deposit is coming.
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GalaxyGlider
•Thanks for the text tip! Just tried it and you're right - didn't get my balance but at least confirmed my next deposit date. This system really needs better backup options.
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Giovanni Colombo
Have you guys tried calling your actual county office instead of the EBT customer service? I was having the same problem and finally got through to my county worker who was able to tell me my balance. The main CalFresh customer service line is useless when there are system issues.
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GalaxyGlider
•I tried calling my county office but couldn't get past their phone tree either! Was on hold for over 30 minutes before I had to hang up for a work call. Did you have to wait long to talk to your worker?
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Giovanni Colombo
•I used this service called Claimyr that got me through to a person at my county office in about 15 minutes. They basically wait on hold for you and then call you when they reach a human. Saved me tons of time! Their website is claimyr.com and they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 showing how it works. Way better than waiting on hold all day.
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GalaxyGlider
•Omg that sounds amazing! I'll definitely check it out. At this point I'd try anything to not waste another hour on hold. Thanks for the tip!
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Fatima Al-Qasimi
Just so u know, u can always just swipe ur card at the store checkout and it'll show ur balance on the little screen thing before u buy anything. That's what I always do when the app is being stupid
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GalaxyGlider
•Really? I had no idea you could do that! Do you just swipe it before they start scanning items? That could save me a lot of hassle in the future.
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Fatima Al-Qasimi
•yup just tell the cashier u wanna check ur balance first before they start scanning. works at most stores. walmart, food4less, and target for sure
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StarStrider
I'm facing THE EXACT SAME ISSUE! This is so typical of the system - always failing when people need it most. I bet they don't even care how many families they're affecting with these "upgrades" that never seem to make anything better. Why can't they do maintenance in the middle of the night instead of taking the whole system down for DAYS? It's almost like they WANT to make it difficult for us to access our benefits. So frustrating!!!!
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Mei Wong
•for real!!! happens every few months too. my worker said they're "modernizing" the system but it just makes things worse every time they touch it lol
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Dylan Campbell
System should be back up now - I just checked mine and it's working. They've been migrating to a new server system that should make the app more reliable in the future (at least that's what they claim). For future reference, during outages like this, you can also call 1-877-328-9677 and press 2-1-1 to check your balance through the automated system without having to speak to a representative.
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GalaxyGlider
•You're right! Just checked and it's working again. Thank you for the shortcut for the phone system too - writing that down for next time. Appreciate everyone's help!
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Talia Klein
Oh wow, I had no idea there were so many workarounds! I've been dealing with the same issue since Monday and was getting really stressed about it. Just tried a few of the suggestions here and found an old grocery receipt that shows I have enough for the week - such a relief! This community is amazing - everyone sharing tips and helping each other out. Definitely bookmarking this thread for future reference. Thanks everyone for making me feel less alone with this frustrating situation!
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Alfredo Lugo
•So glad you found this thread helpful! I'm actually new to this community too and was amazed by how quickly everyone jumped in with solutions. It really does make such a difference knowing you're not dealing with these system issues alone. I'm definitely going to try that receipt trick next time - can't believe I never thought of that before! This whole experience has shown me how valuable it is to have multiple backup plans when the technology fails us.
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