Computer Upgrade Blamed For Nationwide EBT System Shutdown On Saturday (With Update)

[Berlin Expat]

Last edited Sat Oct 12, 2013, 04:30 PM - Edit history (2)

Source: CBS Boston

A possible glitch in a computer system upgrade was causing major problems nationwide with the Electronic Benefits Transfer System on Saturday, as a countless number of shoppers found themselves stranded at the register.

Reports from around the country began pouring in around 9 a.m. on Saturday that customers’ EBT cards were not working in stores.

The glitch, however, did not appear to be part of the government shutdown. At 2 p.m., an EBT customer service representative told CBS Boston that the system was currently down for a computer system upgrade.


A bit of an update: http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Problems-With-EBT-Systems--227518221.html

Apparently, a power outage in TX may have something to do with this muti-state issue as well.


Read more: http://boston.cbslocal.com/2013/10/12/computer-upgrade-blamed-for-nationwide-ebt-system-shutdown-on-saturday/

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For those wondering about the reports of EBT not working.

[hedgehog]

1. Shutting down business computer systems for upgrade on the week-end makes sense -

doing for the EBTS on a busy shopping day does not!

Not to mention - my bank always lets me know well ahead of time when they'll be shut down for an upgrade!

[Hissyspit]

2. No! It's the End Days!

Shutting down the Federal government is one of the signs!

Frogs from the sky is next.
Argle.

Bargle.

[laserhaas]

20. ROFL - Ya gits a 3 smiley award for this one Hissyspit

[madrchsod]

3. looks like i won't be shopping today....

[Berlin Expat]

4. Bit of an update here:

Apparently, a power outage in Texas may have something to do with this issue as well.

A spokesperson for Governor Corbett told NBC10 the issue is related to a power outage in Texas and that the problem is on the end of the card vendor.

According to the spokesperson, there are EBT processing issues in several parts of the country due to the outage.

Sheree Powell, Director of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, also told NBC10 affiliate KFOR that the system failure is the result of a power outage at a Xerox facility. EBT cards in several states are powered by a company that Xerox owns called ACS, Inc.

More here: http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Problems-With-EBT-Systems--227518221.html

[William769]

5. Florida went through something like this last weekend.

The system was being upgraded but two days notice was given on the evening news about when the system would be down.

Did Florida finally do something right for a change with advance notice?

[Berlin Expat]

6. To me, at least,

common sense dictates that you should give some advance notice; at least one week, ideally two weeks, so people can have a heads-up and know what to expect, if it is indeed a systems upgrade that lies at the root of the problem.

In my update, I noted that a power outage in Texas may have played a role in this as well; of course, that's unpredictable and certainly, no advance notice of that is really possible.

I suppose we'll get to the bottom of it in the next few days.

[William769]

7. I agree at least a weeks notice would be ideal.

There has not been anything on our local news today about SNAP cards not working so I don't know if Florida was affected today along with the others or not.

[Igel]

8. Sounds like it was an upgrade that went wrong.

You try to upgrade overnight or without shutting down and there's a glitch.

Suddenly you're down for an upgrade.

Like that's never happened to anyone before.

[Berlin Expat]

9. I've

seen that happen before. More than once.

[littlewolf]

10. I wonder if the company that did this upgrade is the same one

that wrote the ACA software .../s

[Demeter]

11. Ann Arbor, Michigan is down, tonight

[BumRushDaShow]

12. I was at a local supermarket here in Philly

early this afternoon and actually heard the store announce the problem over their in-store intercomm. When I was checking out, I saw several cashiers who were filling up carts with loads of items that people didn't purchase but I didn't connect the dots - particularly since I recalled seeing an article yesterday where some stores had stopped honoring WIC vouchers (illegally). When I finally got home, I saw all the articles about what happened with EBT.

[Codeine]

13. That explains what happened at my store today.

Lots of angry customers.

[Marthe48]

14. Angry hungry customers

n/t

[laserhaas]

21. Explain the (erh-uh) pic 'Codeine'

As for me

No other Comment!

N'est-ce pas!

[Codeine]

22. The picture in my sig?

Just an image I picked up from deviantart. I very much like that aesthetic and enjoy sharing it. I think it's beautiful.

[Marthe48]

15. An old lady asked me for money today

inside Krogers as I was leaving. That's never happened before. I wondered later if she had come in to get some food and her card didn't work.

[alp227]

16. A clerk at costco was holding a NO EBT sign at the door today

I at first thought it was related to the shutdown. Until I checked du.

[sofa king]

17. Holy shit, what a day.

In addition to the outage (which was fixed in VA by 8:00 pm), there are stories of something else going on in Virginia which I hardly believe.

According to flying and unsubstantiated rumors, the Commonwealth has also reduced everyone's total monthly EBT benefit amount by what sounds like around 40%. I don't even know if they have authority to do that, but that's what people around here think is what's happening. I'm not sure I've seen that many pissed off mothers in the course of a day. I mean pissed. I heard death threats tonight--and the overwhelming consensus is that it's the GOP's fault (it amuses me to no end to learn that this one thing may not have been the usual Republican malevolence; people are now assuming it as a matter of course).

I decided to make hay of it and every time I heard a new version of the story, I simply said, "well, fortunately we have an election in less than a month and have a chance to toss 'em all out." "All of them" in Virginia, at least this corner of it, are Republicans.

[jtuck004]

18. All across the nation. We had a recovery, you see, and the "Recovery Act" includes the

expiration of some "supplemental" food coverage in November. This is likely the beginning of that.

Happy Holidays, everyone.

[Berlin Expat]

23. Interesting......

According to flying and unsubstantiated rumors, the Commonwealth has also reduced everyone's total monthly EBT benefit amount by what sounds like around 40%. I don't even know if they have authority to do that, but that's what people around here think is what's happening.

I've seen nothing mentioned in the news about that; nonetheless, in cases such as that it's not so much as to accuracy of such a story, but the perception of it as being fact.

I think the GOP and TP'ers are gonna be in some deep s**t in the not-too-distant future. Good.

[sofa king]

26. Oh, it's not accurate, I'm sure of that!

I think that people have been getting letters warning them about the November expiration, but whatever the case, conventional poverty wisdom has clearly taken over and people seem to be ripping through their funds as quickly as possible. My EBT sales tonight were roughly double an average Monday night. That may cause further repercussions a couple of weeks from now, as well.

[davidthegnome]

19. Does anyone else find this suspicious?

Maybe I'm being paranoid - but for this to happen now, of all times... really just a coincidence? People are hungry, damnit. If they're going to do something that could potentially shutdown the whole system, then there needs to be advanced notice - though preferably, they would be competent enough to get the update completed during the wee hours.

[Skittles]

25. upgrades are typically not done during daytime hours

no indeed

[Skittles]

24. upgrades are not done that time of the day

I mean, please