did u check if maybe the card came but looked like junk mail?? my nephews p-ebt came in a really plain white envelope that looked like spam... almost threw it away!! no markings saying it was important or anything

Quick update on P-EBT 3 timeline: If you're still missing a card at this point in 2025, it's definitely not coming without intervention. The final batch of initial P-EBT 3 cards was mailed in November 2024. At this stage, you'll need to specifically request a replacement through the hotline or email. When contacting them, ask them to verify if a card was ever issued for your child - sometimes there are system errors where eligible children are missed in the initial distribution. Based on your situation with siblings receiving benefits, your 9-year-old was likely eligible but either the card was sent to an old address or there was a system error in the issuance.

wait what about the rest of us who shop at gas stations??? i live in muscoy and theres only the 7-11 within walking distance for me. no car. am i just supposed to not eat???

This is unfortunately becoming a common issue with CalFresh benefits in the Inland Empire. Here's what you need to know about the current EBT theft situation: 1. Gas stations in San Bernardino County have seen higher rates of skimming devices according to the 2025 CDSS Fraud Report. The Highland Ave corridor has been specifically identified as a hotspot. 2. You must file the EBT-2259 form AND a police report. Despite what some comments suggest, both are required for expedited replacement under the new 2025 guidelines. 3. Under AB-1880, counties must provide replacement benefits within 10 business days of receiving a completed claim. 4. Request "immediate need" replacement when you submit your form - this indicates food insecurity and should prioritize your case. 5. The transaction history on your EBT account should show exactly where the fraudulent charges occurred - print this out as evidence. This is fixable, but you need to be persistent and follow the exact procedures.

I don't mean to confuse things, but are you sure it's a PEBT card and not regular CalFresh EBT? I only ask because sometimes people mix them up and the replacement processes are slightly different. PEBT is specifically for school-age children's food benefits, while regular CalFresh EBT is for general household food assistance. Just want to make sure you're calling the right department!

UPDATE: I called using that Claimyr service someone recommended, and it worked! Got through to a supervisor who confirmed my replacement was stuck in "pending" status because of a glitch in their system. They fixed it and expedited a new card that should arrive within 3-5 business days. They also gave me a confirmation number this time. Thanks everyone for your help!

Just want to add - make sure you're ready with your case number, ID, and your child's information when you call. For emergency issuances, they may need to verify your identity again since they're essentially creating a workaround in the system. And don't hesitate to mention the hardship this is causing - be specific about having a child without food, empty cabinets, etc. This helps prioritize your case.

UPDATE: I called this morning using the advice here and it WORKED! I asked specifically for a supervisor and requested a "manual override emergency issuance" due to the system migration error. They verified my identity, confirmed my case was flagged as confidential due to former foster youth status, and processed an emergency benefits issuance that should be on my card within 24 hours! The supervisor also said they're working on fixing the system migration issue for all affected cases and mine should be fully resolved by next week. THANK YOU all for the advice - it truly saved me from having to borrow more money for groceries.

Anyone else notice that the eligibility rules keep changing? For the first round of P-EBT in 2022 you needed like 5+ excused absences, then in 2023 it was any absences related to Covid, now in 2025 nobody seems to know what the actual criteria are. My kids' school sent home a flyer that said one thing, the website says another, and the phone reps say something completely different. And it's not like we're getting enough CalFresh to begin with in this economy...

Update: I finally got some answers! I talked to our school's nutrition services coordinator this morning, and she was super helpful. Turns out there was a data entry error where my daughter's student ID was entered incorrectly when they submitted records to the state. They're sending a correction form, but she said it might take 4-6 weeks to process. She also confirmed my son shouldn't be eligible based on attendance, so that's still a mystery. Thank you all for your suggestions and support - this community has been so helpful when navigating these confusing systems!