CalWORKs EBT card not working at midnight - anyone else having trouble accessing Cash Aid?
Is anyone else having trouble accessing their Cash Aid on their EBT card right now? I tried to withdraw some money at midnight (I know, weird time but I work late shifts and needed to pay my babysitter) and the ATM just kept saying 'unable to process transaction'. I tried two different ATMs and even tried checking my balance through the app, but nothing's working right. My benefits were just loaded yesterday according to the text message I got. I've NEVER had this problem before and I'm kinda freaking out because I need this money for gas to get to my WTW activity tomorrow morning! Anyone experiencing similar issues or know what might be going on? Could there be some kind of system maintenance happening?
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StarSailor
ya same here!!! tried at the 7/11 ATM and it said insufficient funds but i KNOW i have $342 on there cause i just checked yesterday. this happens like every 3 months i swear the system just glitches out for no reason
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Zainab Ibrahim
•Omg that makes me feel a little better that I'm not the only one! Do you know how long it usually takes to fix itself? I'm seriously stressing about tomorrow.
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Connor O'Brien
There's system maintenance happening right now. If you check the back of your EBT card and call the customer service number, there's a recorded message saying maintenance from 11:30pm to 2:30am tonight. I just found out when I tried to use mine too. They always do this maintenance stuff in the middle of the night but never actually tell anyone ahead of time. So frustrating!
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Zainab Ibrahim
•Thank you! Just called and heard the message. Wish they would have sent a text warning us! Is there any way to get notifications about maintenance in the future?
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Yara Sabbagh
Try again after 3am, it should be back up. This happens at the end of almost every month! They really should send alerts but they never do. Its especially annoying for those of us who work night shifts or have emergency expenses! Like how are we supposed to know???
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Keisha Johnson
•That's not entirely accurate - maintenance doesn't happen monthly on a schedule. The EBT system usually undergoes maintenance quarterly, not monthly, and they're supposed to post notices on the BenefitsCal website. The problem is nobody checks there regularly. Next time, try checking your EBT balance through the CalWORKs mobile app before heading to an ATM during odd hours.
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Paolo Rizzo
This happens periodically for scheduled maintenance, but if you're still having issues after the maintenance window, it could be something else. Sometimes your Cash Aid and CalFresh benefits can be temporarily suspended if there was an issue with your last SAR7 or annual redetermination. If it's still not working tomorrow, call your county worker directly to check your case status. Don't wait on hold for hours though - use Claimyr (claimyr.com) to have them call you back when a worker is available. They have a quick demo video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE Honestly saved me so much time when I had an emergency EBT card replacement issue last month.
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QuantumQuest
•I had no idea this existed!! I spent 4 HOURS on hold last time I needed to talk to my worker about my increased income reporting. definitely going to try this next time cause that was ridiculous
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Amina Sy
This is a known issue tonight. The EBT system is down for scheduled maintenance until approximately 2:30am according to the official notification. A few things to know: 1. This is normal maintenance that happens periodically 2. All services should resume automatically when maintenance is complete 3. Your benefits are NOT affected - this is just temporary access limitations 4. If you're still having issues after 3am, then call the EBT customer service line 5. If problems persist into tomorrow, contact your caseworker For future reference, you can check the status of the EBT system at the California EBT Client Website before heading to an ATM, especially during late night hours when maintenance is typically scheduled.
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Zainab Ibrahim
•Thank you for the detailed explanation! That makes me feel better. I'll definitely check that website first next time before panicking.
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Oliver Fischer
this isn't maintenance its the government controlling when we can and cant access OUR MONEY. i bet if u called ur worker theyd say "oh its just maintenance" but really theyre trying to control how much we can take out at once . next theyll just "lose" our applications im so tired of this system
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Amina Sy
•I understand your frustration, but this really is just routine system maintenance. The EBT system processes millions of transactions daily and needs regular updates. They schedule it overnight to affect the fewest people possible. Your full benefits will be available once maintenance is complete - nothing is being limited or controlled beyond the temporary outage window.
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StarSailor
update: Its working now! just checked my balance at 2:45am and its back to normal. system must be back up
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Zainab Ibrahim
•Just tried mine too and it's working again! So relieved. Thanks everyone for the help!
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Freya Johansen
This is super helpful info for everyone! I'm new to CalWORKs and had no idea about these maintenance windows. Is there a way to sign up for text alerts about scheduled maintenance? Also, does this affect CalFresh/SNAP benefits on the same card or just the Cash Aid portion? I've been paranoid about my card not working since I got it last month and this explains so much!
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Noah Irving
•Welcome to CalWORKs! Unfortunately there's no text alert system for maintenance - I wish there was! The maintenance affects the entire EBT system, so both your Cash Aid and CalFresh benefits will be temporarily unavailable during these windows. It's totally normal to be nervous about your card when you're new to the program. A good tip is to save the EBT customer service number (1-877-328-9677) in your phone and bookmark the California EBT website so you can check system status before heading out, especially late at night. You'll get used to how everything works pretty quickly!
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Fatima Al-Hashemi
I'm also pretty new to the program and this thread has been super educational! One thing I wanted to add - if you're ever unsure whether it's maintenance or a real issue with your card, you can also try using your EBT card at a grocery store to test if it's working. Sometimes ATMs have issues but the card still works for purchases. Also learned from my caseworker that if you're having persistent issues with your card (like it gets demagnetized or damaged), most county offices can issue emergency replacement cards same-day if you go in person. Really glad everyone got their access back though!
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Yuki Watanabe
•That's such a great tip about testing at grocery stores! I never thought of that. And wow, same-day replacement cards at the county office is really good to know. I was worried I'd be stuck waiting weeks if something happened to my card. This whole thread has been like a crash course in EBT troubleshooting - so grateful for this community helping newcomers like us figure everything out!
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Mei Liu
Just want to add for anyone reading this later - if you're working night shifts like me and need access to your benefits during these late hours, consider keeping a small emergency cash buffer if possible. I know that's easier said than done on a tight budget, but even $20-30 set aside can cover things like gas or urgent expenses when the system goes down unexpectedly. Also, many 24-hour stores like some Walmarts and grocery chains allow cashback with EBT purchases, so you can sometimes get cash that way even when ATMs are down for maintenance. The produce section is usually your cheapest option - grab some bananas or apples and get cashback. Hope this helps other night shift workers avoid the panic I felt tonight!
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