


Ask the community...
That's great news! One more tip - when you get your new card, immediately register it on the EBT mobile app and set up text alerts for ALL transactions. That way you'll know instantly if there's any suspicious activity. Glad the county came through with the expedited replacement!
Just wanted to update everyone - I called the P-EBT customer service department to ask about the high call volume issues. They confirmed they're experiencing an unprecedented number of calls due to the new summer P-EBT issuance that just went out to about 400,000 households in California. They're adding additional staff to handle calls but recommend: 1. Calling between 7-8am or 6-7pm 2. Having all info ready (card number, child DOB, zip) 3. Making sure you're calling the specific P-EBT number, not the regular EBT line They also mentioned that the new card PIN setup can be done through the ConnectEBT app for P-EBT cards issued after March 2025. If you received your card recently, check if your card number starts with 5077 18XX (these newer cards can use the app for activation).
UPDATE: Success! I tried calling at 7:01am this morning and got through immediately! The whole process took less than 5 minutes once I had someone on the line. My benefits are now active and I can see them in the ConnectEBT app. For anyone still struggling, definitely try right when they open at 7am. Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice!
I used that Claimyr service that someone mentioned above after spending days trying to get through. It actually worked! Got connected to a real person in about 20 minutes who set up the PIN for both my kids' cards. Worth checking out if you're desperate like I was.
Just an update for everyone struggling with P-EBT PIN issues - the Department of Social Services just posted that they're aware of the system problems and are working to increase capacity. They recommend trying during off-peak hours (before 8am or after 7pm) and say the online portal at ca.p-ebt.us should be working more consistently than the phone line. They've also extended the activation period by 60 days, so cards won't be deactivated if you can't set up the PIN right away. Hope this helps reduce some stress for parents trying to access these benefits.
Thanks everyone for the clear answers! I understand now that the emergency allotments ended back in February 2023 and aren't coming back anytime soon. I'm going to call tomorrow to report my rent and childcare cost increases - hopefully that helps boost my benefits a bit. And I'll check out the local food bank too.
Chloe Boulanger
i think yr neighbors lying to u... there isnt any $10 extra that i know about... CalFresh always playing games with our benefits lol
0 coins
Layla Mendes
•The $10 emergency supplement is real, but it's only being distributed in certain counties that declared a state of emergency due to the coastal flooding (13 counties as of February 2025). It's also only for households that already receive the maximum benefit amount for their size. The California DSS website has the official announcement if you want to verify this information.
0 coins
James Martinez
I had the EXACT same issue!!! I was so confused because my mom got the extra $10 but I didn't get anything. I spent TWO DAYS trying to get through to someone at the county office. When I finally talked to a worker, they explained that my mom gets the maximum benefit amount already (she's a household of 1 with very low income), but I don't get the maximum for my household size (I'm a household of 4). The worker said that if there's an emergency declaration in MY county, I'd actually get a bigger increase (like $200 more) to bring me up to the maximum. But since I'm in Riverside County, we don't have the emergency declaration active right now anyway. It's so confusing how CalFresh does these things without clearly explaining to everyone! They should send letters explaining who gets what and why.
0 coins
Ava Kim
•That makes me feel better knowing I'm not the only one confused by this! It's so frustrating when they implement these things without proper communication. Thanks for sharing your experience.
0 coins