EBT Cards: Temporary ATM Issue

Update as of 4/29/22:

The ATM Mis-Dispense Issue from April 4, 2022 has been resolved and all claims were paid as of April 9, 2022. Please note this was not part of a skimming or scamming electronic theft, but a mis-dispense issue.

Original post of 4/4/22:

What's the issue?

We have received reports of clients attempting to withdraw funds from their EBT cards, but the cards indicate zero funds and the ATM fails to dispense the money. The research conducted by the state has discovered a ATM mis-dispense issue which impacted multiple bank ATMs. Additional information will be shared as it becomes available.

What should I do if it happens to me?

EBT cardholders are encouraged to file a claim for any ATM mis-dispense issues. Claims can be filed by calling the EBT Helpline at (877) 328-9677. The Helpline is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and an automated menu will help answer your questions or direct your call.

What happens if I file a claim?

When you submit your mis-dispense claim, the state will do an investigation. If the claim is approved, the state will refund your money. It may take up to 20 business days. Unfortunately, we at your local DSS office cannot do anything other than encourage you to open up a claim to start this process.

Is this theft or a scam? Is there a problem with my case?

No. This is not the result of theft (such as electronic skimming or a scam), and does not indicate a problem with your case (such benefits being canceled). It is a mis-dispense issue (the official term for when an ATM doesn't provide the money required or doesn't provide all the money requested). The third-party processor is currently working to solve this issue.

EBT cards to become more secure

Published 3/10/22. Updated 6/15/22.

A change is coming that will make your EBT card more secure!

Due to a recent increase in Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) theft, the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) will begin including Card Verification Value (CVV) as part of the electronic transaction validation process for food and cash EBT purchases. This change will improve card security for cardholders. 

The CVV number is an added layer of coding embedded in the magnetic strip and is not visible to cardholders. All cards printed since October 2018 already have CVV technology and are just awaiting CVV activation to be turned on. 

If your card was issued prior to October 2018, then the EBT vendor will automatically send you a replacement card in the mail, with instructions to start using the new card. Activate and start using the new card right away. Once you activate the new card, it will deactivate the old card. Your PIN and benefits from the old card will not change. 

Cards printed in our office, or issued by the EBT vendor after October 2018, will not be impacted. 

The activation of the CVV technology is currently planned for late April 2022. Once it is turned on, the old cards issued prior to October 2018 will no longer work. 

If you have any questions about the new cards, you can call EBT customer service at 1 (877) 328-9677, or call the Santa Barbara County Department of Social Services Access number, 1 (866) 404-4007, to reach your district office or the BSC.

REMINDER: Please be aware that when you make someone a Designated Alternate Cardholder (DAC) or Authorized Representative (AR), they will have access to ALL of your cash aid and/or CalFresh benefits. If you have ever requested a DAC or AR that you no longer wish to have access to your benefits but did not call to remove them, then they may also receive a new card. The county is not responsible for lost or stolen benefits by a DAC or AR. You can change who can access your cash aid or CalFresh by calling EBT customer service at 1 (877) 328-9677, or your worker at 1 (866) 404-4007. Remember: to keep your benefits secure, it is YOUR responsibility to call EBT customer service or your worker to have them terminate access to your EBT account for another household member, a DAC, or an AR.

Beware: EBT cardholder scam

BEWARE! 

If you are an EBT cardholder and receive a text, call or email asking for your card number, PIN or any personal information, do NOT provide it. There are reports of an EBT scam and attempts to steal benefits. For any questions regarding your EBT card, please call 1 (877) 328-9677 or visit MyBenefitsCalWIN.org.

¡TENER CUIDADO!

Si es titular de una tarjeta EBT y recibe un mensaje de texto, una llamada o un correo electrónico solicitando su número de tarjeta, PIN o cualquier información personal, NO lo proporcione. Hay informes de una estafa de EBT e intentos de robar beneficios. Si tiene alguna pregunta sobre su tarjeta EBT, llame al 1 (877) 328-9677 o visite MyBenefitsCalWIN.org.

Route 1 Farmers Market joins Market Match program

Many Farmers Markets in our County accept the CalFresh EBT card—and offer the Market Match program that can double the value of CalFresh benefits spent there. (See this printable brochure for more information, including a list of participating markets.)

But until now, if you lived in the Lompoc area, you didn't have a market that participated in the program. That's changing now! Starting Sunday June 14 2020, the Route 1 Farmers Market in the Lompoc area is offering Market Match. Cash in $10 worth of CalFresh benefits, and you'll get $20 worth of tokens to buy fresh, healthy, locally grown food at the market!

You can buy fruits, vegetables, breads, cereals, baked goods, meat, fish, poultry, milk, eggs, cheese, jams, jelly, honey, seeds and plants which produce food. (You cannot use the benefits to buy hot foods, soap, non-food items, alcohol, tobacco, vitamins or medicine.)

The Route 1 Farmers Market is located at 3745 Constellation Road in the Vandenberg Village neighborhood and is open Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For more information about the Route 1 market, click to enlarge the graphics below!

English:

Spanish:

Use Your EBT Card Online

As of April 28, 2020 you can use your CalFresh EBT card to make purchases online.

Individuals and families can purchase groceries online using their CalFresh EBT card at Amazon and Walmart. If you receive CalWORKs, you may also be able to use your cash benefits to make purchases online at Wal-Mart.

• See these printable flyers in English and Spanish.
• See these printable fact sheets in English and Spanish.

California expedited implementation of EBT online purchasing in response to COVID-19. Allowing for EBT online purchases will support vulnerable populations in meeting their nutrition needs, especially while a statewide stay-at-home order remains in place. California is actively working to expand the number of stores that accept EBT online in the future.

CalFresh provides monthly food benefits that help individuals and families buy healthy, nutritious food! Even if temporary, individuals and families who have experienced a change in their circumstances and need additional help may apply for CalFresh. Californians can visit GetCalFresh.org to apply or call 1-877-847-3663 (FOOD) to be connected to their local county social services office.

UPDATE NOVEMBER 12:

Starting November 12, 2020, the option to use EBT online has expanded to include a number of  

Albertsons, Safeway, and Vons grocery store locations. They will accept EBT online when choosing pickup at participating "Drive Up and Go" stores.  

You can find updated EBT Online materials in English and Spanish on the CDSS website at https://www.cdss.ca.gov/ebt-online. These materials include a list (in English and Spanish) of participating Albertsons, Safeway, and Vons grocery store locations. At this time, none of them are in Santa Barbara County, but the list will be updated if that changes.

EBT Theft Alert

There has been a substantial increase in fraudulent EBT transactions out of state over the past two months. The majority of stolen benefits are being withdrawn from ATMs in Florida, Georgia, and New Jersey.

In order to protect clients, EBT ATM transaction blocking has been implemented in impacted areas of Florida, Georgia, and New Jersey as of today, March 10, 2020. This applies to ATM withdrawals only. Transactions at FNS authorized food retailers are still fully functional.

Cardholders attempting to withdraw cash at an ATM in those states will receive a general message stating their transaction is declined. Specific messaging varies between ATM owners.

Cardholders currently traveling or planning travel to Florida, Georgia, or New Jersey and legitimately needing access to their benefits via ATM withdrawals must call the EBT customer service line at (877) 328-9677 and request an exception for their card in that particular state. They will need to verify their SSN and birthdate to do so. For clients without SSNs, they simply need to identify that nuance and provide birthdate. The block on these cards will be removed within 24 hours of the confirmed request.

Even though EBT ATM withdrawal blocking is not being implemented in California or Santa Barbara County, we want to make you aware that cardholders traveling or planning to travel to Florida, Georgia, or New Jersey and needing to access their benefits via ATM will need to call the EBT customer service line at (877) 328-9677 and request an exception for their card in that particular state.

Also, the (877) 328-9677 customer service number may be used by cardholders to report suspicious activity at any time.

We will continue to monitor the situation.

New mid-county Farmers Market accepts CalFresh & WIC

Looking for fresh local produce in the Lompoc Valley area? The new weekly Route One Farmers Market now accepts CalFresh EBT benefits.

The Route One Farmers Market is held every Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Vandenberg Village Community Services District parking lot at 3745 Constellation Road. It offers fresh local produce, breads, juices, crafts, and more. Officially launched with a June 2 grand opening, it replaces the Village Farmers Market that closed a year ago.

The Route One Farmers Market is accepting the CalFresh EBT card starting July 7, 2019; and will be accepting WIC benefits starting August 4, 2019.

By using their EBT card at the market, CalFresh participants get healthy, delicious, local fruits and vegetables -- and, they strengthen the market's application to join the Market Match program in the future. (Market Match makes CalFresh dollars go further at participating Farmers Markets.)

Creation of the market has been a joint effort between the Healthy Lompoc Coalition, Lompoc Valley Community Healthcare Organization (LVCHO), HEAL Advisory Cabinet, Public Health Department’s Nutrition Obesity Prevention Program, the Santa Barbara Foundation, and key Lompoc advocates and supporters.

“This market was founded with the intent to serve the entire community by providing access to fresh local food, as well as the opportunity for community outreach and education through local nonprofits and organizations,” said Ashley Costa, executive director of LVCHO.

Facebook users can follow the market at https://www.facebook.com/routeonefarmersmarket.

Beware of scams

If you're enrolled in a public assistance program that uses an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card, remember: Never share your EBT card number and PIN number, because that information can be used to steal your benefits. The county or state will NEVER call or text you to request this information.

Criminals may contact you by text (example), phone (example), or mail (example), and try to get you to divulge personal information. Don't be fooled.

Here are some more tips to safeguard your personal information, account passwords, and other private information:

• Know who you share information with. Ask questions before deciding to share personal information.
• Store and dispose of personal information securely, especially your Social Security number.
• Maintain appropriate security on electronic devices.

For more information about scams involving public assistance EBT cards, visit the California Department of Social Services' website at http://www.ebtproject.ca.gov/clients/scam.html.

Note: On rare occasions, due to an issue such as large-scale data theft, banks may need to block ATM withdrawals on EBT cards (example). If this occurs, you can call the EBT customer service line at 1 (877) 328-9677 for information or to request an exception to unblock your card. You can also use that customer service phone number to report suspicious activity.

Mail EBT scam reported 4/25/19

The California Department of Social Services has alerted us to a new EBT card scam that involves regular mail.

The client received a letter in the mail that instructed them to call a specified phone number to renew their benefits. 

If you have received a letter and you're not sure it's legitimate, please contact your worker or nearest Santa Barbara County Department of Social Services office, and/or email a copy of the letter and envelope to cdssebt@dss.ca.gov. 

Text EBT scam reported 11/6/17

The California Department of Social Services has alerted us to a new EBT card scam that involves text messaging.

The scam involves clients receiving a text message about their public assistance benefit that instructs them to call a number. When the client calls the number on the text message they are prompted by an automated system to "register their EBT card" or they won't have access to their benefits. Victims of the scam in some counties in California have entered their EBT card number, PIN and social security number, leaving themselves open to potential identify theft or benefits being stolen. Programs targeted by the scammers appear to include CalWORKs and CalFresh, though other public assistance programs may also be targeted.

Remember:

• Never share your EBT card number and PIN number: this information can be used to steal your benefits. 
• Beware of scams: the county or state will NEVER call or text you to request this information.

For more information about scams involving public assistance EBT cards, visit the California Department of Social Services' website at http://www.ebtproject.ca.gov/clients/scam.html.