Hundreds of reports on Twitter from many parts of the country indicate that Electronics Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards (the electronic version of food stamps) are not working this afternoon.
https://twitter.com/SweetKisses_86/status/389102224825397249
https://twitter.com/Annuh93/status/389102130830639104
https://twitter.com/kaybaby_96/status/389102161709518848
Some Twitter users are blaming the government shutdown:
Shit just got real, EBT cards turned off until Govt. Shutdown ends. (Maryland)
— blue goose (@drivethruliquor) October 12, 2013
Mom saw a bunch of women crying bc their EBT cards dont work & now they cant feed their kids. Breaks my heart. #governmentshutdown
— emily (@emabugg) October 12, 2013
Lol damn ebt shutdown. It's about to get really fucking real!!!
— Fo' Da Ghost (@FoDaGhost) October 12, 2013
https://twitter.com/ATXChristina/status/389099841277538306
Wow… Government shut down has started affecting people.. EBT (bridge cards are off) ? my prayers go out to the families dependent on them
— DD McCoy (@GetReady4Christ) October 12, 2013
https://twitter.com/MsHairChic/status/389098392682381313
https://twitter.com/eruditeleo/status/389088590078410752
Yeah it's really a "coincidence" that the EBT system is down during a government shutdown. How's the weather in your factless bubble?
— Matt Murphy (@MattMurph24) October 12, 2013
Actually, it probably is a coincidence. According to CBS, the problems can be traced to a glitch in a computer system upgrade. The federal EBT website has been shut down, however, and people calling the customer service line were told to try again later in the day.
EBT benefits system down across Atlanta – Atlanta Journal Constitution http://t.co/VAHMVgpNE3
— Atlanta Tips (@atlantatips) October 12, 2013
@CBSPhilly A power outage in a facility that handles EBT cards is causing disruptions to the program in 17 states.
— Bill Lind (@Bill_Lind) October 12, 2013
Nevertheless, if the problem is not fixed soon, things could get ugly.
https://twitter.com/LCNEALY/status/389088327988961280
Ahahaha Niggas in the hood about to be pissed !!!! Shutting down EBT gonna cause a riot fasho
— … (@Azixz) October 12, 2013
Riot time! RT @goldietaylor Reports of EBT outages coming in from around the country @msnbc @NBCNews @theGrio @msnbc_breaking
— The FUPA Whisperer (@BellaGawd) October 12, 2013
https://twitter.com/handsumdevil/status/389096865771188224
Folks bout to riot about this EBT lmao my roommate probably gonna try and off herself ??
— #StyledByBD (@brittaneydenise) October 12, 2013
https://twitter.com/msprettysecret_/status/389094269816176640
ebt is down. there's about to be a muhfckn riot.
— Daddy. (@SayNaiToDrugs) October 12, 2013
People gonna riot at acme #ebt
— Cavs Addict (@cavsaddict) October 12, 2013
They tryna be funny cutting EBT food stamps in Cleveland, OH. Well, A hungry enough man will KILL. Government Shutdown 13'
— John Lee (@JohnLee216) October 12, 2013
Nationwide EBT shutdown…? Folks can't eat….This is about to be all kinda bad. Folks about to riot.
— RaShad (@ByRaShad) October 12, 2013
https://twitter.com/thebrokenplate/status/389102350356733952
Cuz lock your doors load your guns they cut off ebt cards nationwide
— hovey watford (@HOVEYW) October 12, 2013
EBT ain't working, niggas about to starve.
— _ (@AyoKeyy) October 12, 2013
4 PM please hurry up ! These people with ebt finna come with guns if they stuff don't work
— kellie williams (@iTzMis_Kellie) October 12, 2013
So ebt got shutdown in a few states aka lot of hungry ppl bout to start a riot, lock ur doors i predict a fuckin massacre
— lil bunny (@buuunnnzzz) October 12, 2013
