Thank you all so much for the helpful information! I just submitted our application online through BenefitsCal. I included all the info about my sister moving in and our current income situation. Hopefully it all goes smoothly! I'll update when I hear back about our eligibility.

Best of luck with your application! Just wanted to add that if you need any documents translated or have language barriers during the process, Kern County is required to provide interpretation services for free. Also, don't be discouraged if they ask for additional verification - it's pretty standard. They might want proof that your sister actually lives with you now (like a utility bill with her name, or a statement from you both confirming she's moved in). The whole process can take up to 30 days, but often it's faster. Keep us posted on how it goes!

I work at a local community center that helps families navigate benefit programs, and I see this situation pretty regularly. A few things that might help while you're dealing with the replacement: 1. Some grocery stores will let you do a "manual voucher" transaction if you can provide proof that you have P-EBT benefits but lost the card. You'd need documentation showing the benefits were issued to your child. Not all stores do this, but it's worth asking at customer service. 2. If your son's dad is willing to help with the call, sometimes having the custodial parent information ready speeds things up - they may ask about custody arrangements or who's authorized to make changes to the account. 3. For future reference, many parents don't realize you can actually request a second card for the same account (like having one for each household in shared custody situations). Might be worth asking about when you call for the replacement. The 877 number is definitely right, and definitely emphasize that it's P-EBT 3.0 when you call. Good luck - I hope you get through quickly and your son gets his food assistance restored soon!

I just went through this exact same situation two months ago with my daughter's P-EBT 3.0 card! Here's what worked for me: Definitely call 877-328-9677 (that number is correct), but try calling right at 8am when they open - I got through in about 20 minutes versus the 2+ hour waits later in the day. Have everything ready: your son's full name exactly as it appears on school records, DOB, school name, and your current address. One thing that really helped speed up my call - I found the original P-EBT welcome letter in my files which had some reference numbers on it. Not required, but the rep said it made the process much faster. For this weekend, call your son's school Monday morning to ask about their weekend food backpack program if they have one. Also, some grocery stores will do manual voucher transactions if you can show proof of the P-EBT benefits (like old statements or the welcome letter). My replacement card came in exactly 7 business days, and they immediately canceled the old card when I called so no one could use it if they found it. Make sure to ask them to confirm the cancellation! Hang in there - I know how stressful this is when you're counting on those benefits. You'll get through this!

Thanks everyone for your advice! I think I'm going to start changing my PIN quarterly as suggested, and be more careful about where I use my card. I had no idea skimming was such an issue with EBT cards. Going to download the app to monitor my balance too. Really appreciate all the information!

Just wanted to add that if you do decide to change your PIN regularly, try using a pattern or system that makes sense to you so you don't forget it. I use the last 4 digits of the month/year plus a number that corresponds to the season (like 0125-1 for January 2025, winter = 1). This way I can always reconstruct it if I forget, but it's still secure and changes regularly. Also, I've found that grocery stores with newer chip readers tend to be safer than older swipe-only machines. Stay safe everyone!

I'm so relieved to find this thread! I'm pretty new to using CalFresh (just got approved last month) and had the exact same thing happen at the Aldi near me two weeks ago. I was already feeling anxious about using my EBT card for the first time in public, and then when it got declined I was mortified. The cashier kept trying to swipe it and other customers in line were getting impatient. I ended up just leaving without buying anything and went home feeling like I had done something wrong with my application. Reading everyone's experiences here makes me realize it wasn't my fault at all! Thank you all for sharing - this community has been so welcoming and informative. I'm going to download that CalFresh app to check for the green checkmarks and maybe try that other Aldi location that someone mentioned has the updated system. It's such a relief to know I'm not alone in this!

This whole thread has been such a lifesaver! I've been dealing with the same issue at my local Aldi for about three weeks now. What really gets to me is how the staff sometimes act like it's YOUR fault when the card gets declined - like one cashier actually rolled her eyes and said "maybe you should check your balance" even though I had just checked it on my phone and had over $180 available. It's so frustrating when you're already feeling vulnerable using benefits and then you get treated like you're trying to pull a fast one. I'm definitely going to try that manual entry trick next time, and the credit instead of debit option sounds promising too. Really grateful for everyone sharing their experiences because it makes you realize you're not alone in dealing with this stuff. Can't wait for May 15th when hopefully this will all be resolved!

Another thing that might help - if your sister's son has any after school activities or sports, check if the school district has a "supper program" or evening meal service. Some California districts expanded their meal programs to include dinner for kids who stay late for activities or tutoring. It's usually free just like breakfast and lunch now. Also, during school breaks (winter, spring break), some districts continue offering grab-and-go meals even when regular classes aren't in session. Worth calling the school's main office or nutrition services to ask what's available - these programs aren't always well advertised but can really help bridge those gaps when kids are home more and eating more meals at home.

I'm new to this community but wanted to share something that helped us when we were in a similar situation. Besides all the great advice already given, I'd suggest your sister also check if her local library has any food assistance programs. Our library partners with local food banks to distribute boxes of groceries once a month - no questions asked, just show up. They also sometimes have cooking classes that include take-home ingredients. Libraries are becoming real community hubs for all kinds of support services, not just books! Also, if she's on social media, many neighborhoods have "Buy Nothing" groups where people share extra groceries, especially bulk items from Costco that families can't use up. It's a great way to get fresh produce and pantry staples without any paperwork or waiting in lines.