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Glad you got it sorted out! The ConnectEBT app definitely has its quirks but it's been more reliable for me than the website lately. Pro tip for anyone using it - make sure to refresh/pull down on the balance screen before checking, sometimes it shows old cached data. Also, if the app crashes on you, try clearing the cache in your phone settings before reinstalling. That usually fixes most of the glitches I've experienced with it.
That's a really helpful tip about refreshing the balance screen! I just started using the ConnectEBT app after this whole BenefitsCal issue and didn't realize it might show cached data. I was wondering why sometimes the balance seemed off from what I expected. Will definitely try the cache clearing trick if I run into crashes. Thanks for sharing these workarounds - it's so helpful when people post the actual fixes that work instead of just complaining about the problems!
Just wanted to chime in with another workaround that's been working for me - if you have a smartphone, you can also text your EBT card number to the customer service text line (the number should be on the back of your card or in any paperwork you got). It usually responds pretty quickly with your balance, and you don't have to deal with busy phone lines or app crashes. I know it's not as convenient as having it right on BenefitsCal, but it's been a lifesaver when I'm standing in the grocery store checkout line trying to figure out if I have enough left! Hope this helps someone else dealing with the same frustration.
This is such a great tip! I had no idea there was a text option for checking EBT balances. I've been struggling with the same BenefitsCal issue and the ConnectEBT app keeps glitching on my older phone. The text service sounds way more reliable than trying to get through on the phone lines. Do you know if this text service works for all states or just California? I have family in other states who might benefit from knowing about this option too. Thanks for sharing this - you just saved me a lot of hassle!
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I'm so glad I found this thread! I just started receiving CalFresh benefits last month and have been making the same mistake. I actually asked the customer service desk at my local grocery store if my card was defective because the "chip" wouldn't work. They explained it to me but I thought it was just my specific card that was broken. Now I know it's a design issue that affects everyone. It's honestly pretty frustrating that they make it look identical to a working chip when it serves a completely different purpose. At least now I know to always swipe and won't feel confused anymore when I'm at checkout!
Welcome to the CalFresh community! You're definitely not alone in this experience - I think every single person who gets their first EBT card goes through this exact same confusion. It's honestly terrible design that they made it look so identical to working chip cards. I had the same experience asking if my card was broken! The good news is once you know to always swipe, it becomes second nature. Don't let the confusing design make you feel bad about using your benefits - you deserve access to food and shouldn't have to deal with poorly designed cards making checkout stressful.
I've been dealing with this same issue for months! What's even more frustrating is that some newer payment terminals actually prompt you to "insert chip card" when they detect the metallic square, even for EBT transactions. I've learned to immediately tell cashiers "it's EBT, I need to swipe" before they even start the transaction, which saves everyone time and confusion. For anyone still struggling with this: look for the EBT/SNAP button on self-checkout machines FIRST, then swipe. Don't wait for the machine to detect your card type automatically - it often gets confused by that fake chip and will keep prompting you to insert it. Also, some stores like Costco have separate EBT procedures, so don't hesitate to ask for help if you're somewhere new!
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I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm a new CalFresh recipient and was completely confused about why I couldn't see my pending benefits anymore. I've been a nervous wreck checking ebtEDGE multiple times a day thinking something was wrong with my application. Reading everyone's experiences has been such a relief - now I understand it's just the system changes and not a problem with my case. I'm definitely going to try the BenefitsCal website and see if my county offers text notifications. Thank you all for sharing these workarounds and making me feel less alone in navigating these confusing changes! As a newcomer, this community support means everything.
Welcome to the CalFresh community, Yuki! I completely understand that nervous checking - I think we've all been there when we're new to the system and things don't work the way we expect. It's totally normal to worry that something went wrong with your application when you can't see that pending amount. This thread has been such a lifesaver for so many of us dealing with the same confusion! The BenefitsCal website suggestion has worked well for me, and definitely ask your county about those text notifications - they're a game changer when available. Don't hesitate to reach out here if you run into any other issues. We're all figuring this out together, and there's always someone who's dealt with whatever challenge comes up. You're not alone in this!
This whole thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm a working single dad who just got approved for CalFresh about 6 weeks ago, and I was starting to think I was losing my mind when I couldn't see any pending benefits on ebtEDGE. I've been checking it obsessively every day since my approval, especially as my deposit date approaches. Reading everyone's experiences makes me feel so much better knowing this is a widespread issue from the system changes and not something wrong with my case. I'm definitely going to try the BenefitsCal workaround and call my county office to ask about text notifications. It's frustrating that they removed such a useful budgeting tool without giving us proper alternatives, but I'm grateful for this community sharing all these practical solutions. Thank you everyone for helping newcomers like me navigate these confusing changes!
Welcome to the community, Sofia! As another working parent, I totally get that obsessive checking feeling - it's such a relief when you finally understand what's going on instead of wondering if your benefits got messed up somehow. The anxiety of not knowing when your help is coming is real, especially when you're budgeting for kids. This thread has been a goldmine of information from everyone sharing their workarounds. I'd also suggest keeping a copy of your approval paperwork handy with your benefit amount written down - it helps with planning even when the systems are being glitchy. @94b6fced1c00's tip about calling for the benefit calculation specialist has been really helpful for advance planning if you need it. We're all learning to adapt to these changes together!
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BenefitsCal is back up!! Just got in and was able to upload my documents. It's moving really slow though so be patient when you're uploading. At least it's working now!
still not working for me :( keeps timing out when i try to login
Try clearing your cookies or using incognito mode, that sometimes helps. Or maybe try again in an hour - they might be gradually restoring service by county or something.
Just wanted to share another tip that helped me during system outages - if you have a smartphone, try using the mobile browser instead of the desktop version. Sometimes one works when the other doesn't. Also, I've found that trying to access BenefitsCal very early in the morning (like 5-6am) or late at night often works better because there's less traffic on the servers. It's frustrating that we have to work around their technical issues, but these workarounds have saved me multiple times when I had urgent deadlines!
This is really helpful advice! I never thought about trying different times of day. I'm new to CalFresh and still learning all these workarounds. It's kind of crazy that we have to become tech experts just to access our benefits, but I really appreciate you sharing these tips. The mobile browser idea is smart - I'll definitely try that next time the desktop site isn't working.
Great tips! I've also found that using a different browser sometimes helps - like if Chrome isn't working, try Firefox or Safari. And for anyone dealing with this regularly, I keep a folder on my phone with screenshots of all my important documents so I can quickly upload them when the system finally comes back online. It's saved me so much time during these outages!
Mae Bennett
I'm so glad this got resolved quickly! As someone who's been through a few of these system outages, I wanted to add that it's also worth knowing that during major outages like this, some community organizations and churches will sometimes set up emergency food distributions specifically for EBT users who are affected. If you're on any local community Facebook groups or NextDoor, those are good places to check for announcements about emergency food resources during system outages. Also, for future reference, the California EBT Customer Service line (1-877-328-9677) usually has a recorded message about known system issues when there are statewide outages - sometimes that's faster than trying to get through to a live person. Hope everyone was able to get the food they needed!
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Caleb Stone
•Thank you for these additional tips! I had no idea about the recorded message on the customer service line - that would have saved me so much stress if I'd known to check that first. I'm definitely going to join some local community groups on Facebook too. It's really reassuring to know there are backup resources during these outages. This whole experience taught me how vulnerable we can be when the system goes down, but also how helpful this community is when people share information and support each other!
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Aaliyah Reed
This thread has been so helpful to read through! As someone new to CalFresh, I had no idea that system outages like this could happen. I just got approved last month and this would have completely panicked me if my card suddenly stopped working. It's really good to know that the benefits don't disappear during technical issues and that there are resources like food banks and emergency vouchers available. I'm definitely going to save screenshots of my balance and keep some emergency food supplies on hand now. Thank you to everyone who shared updates and advice - this community is amazing for supporting each other through these situations!
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GalacticGuru
•Welcome to CalFresh and this community! I'm also relatively new (got approved about 6 months ago) and I wish I had known about potential system outages too. Reading through everyone's experiences here really shows how important it is to be prepared and to have this kind of supportive community. One thing I learned from this thread that I hadn't thought of before is keeping screenshots of your balance - that's such a smart idea for peace of mind during outages. It's also really comforting to know that people here are so willing to share real-time updates and practical advice when these issues happen. Thanks for adding your perspective as another newcomer!
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Yuki Ito
•Welcome to the community! I've been using CalFresh for about a year now and this was actually my first time experiencing a major system outage like this. It's definitely scary when you're not expecting it! One additional tip I'd add for newcomers - if you have multiple grocery stores near you, it's worth asking each one about their policy during EBT outages. Some stores are more familiar with manual voucher processing than others, and a few even keep a list of customers to call when the system comes back online if you had to leave without your groceries. Also, don't hesitate to explain your situation to store managers - most are very understanding about EBT system issues since they deal with it regularly. This community really is a lifesaver for navigating all the things they don't tell you when you first get approved!
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