Has anyone else had trouble with their EBT card not working at certain stores? I've had my card for about 2 years now and sometimes the chip doesn't read right. I've found I have to swipe it at some places but others require the chip. Just something to be aware of if you're new to using the card.

i was confused about this too when i first got calfresh!! but yeh u keep the same card and they just put the $$ on it each month. u can also check ur balance by calling the number on the back or use the app. the app is actually pretty good.

That's awesome that you got it resolved so quickly! Thanks for updating us - I was wondering how this would turn out. It's good to know the P-EBT office is aware of the system glitch and that they're actually thanking people for reporting it instead of making them feel bad about it. I'm definitely going to look into that Claimyr service too since I always seem to have issues getting through to government offices. Glad you did the right thing and got it sorted out properly!

I'm so glad you got this resolved and shared the update! This is really helpful info for others who might face the same situation. It's reassuring to know that the P-EBT office is aware of the system glitch and that they actually appreciate people reporting these duplicates instead of treating it like you did something wrong. The fact that they gave you a confirmation number shows they're taking it seriously too. Thanks for doing the right thing and letting us know how it turned out - posts like this really help the community!

While ur waiting for this to get fixed try 211 for emergency food resources. They can connect u with food pantries in ur area. Also check if ur school district is still doing grab-n-go meals - some still have this from the pandemic. My kids school does free dinner pickup for any family that needs it no questions asked

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stress - I've been there and it's awful. One thing that helped me was also contacting your local community action agency or United Way chapter. They often have emergency food vouchers or direct assistance programs separate from CalFresh. Also, WIC might be able to help with your younger kids if you're not already enrolled - they serve families with children under 5 and the income limits are higher than CalFresh. Some churches also do "blessing boxes" or community fridges where you can grab groceries without paperwork. Hang in there - this is fixable but I know waiting is the hardest part when you have little ones to feed.

I wanted to add one more thing - when you talk to the school district, ask specifically about their "direct certification" system. This is what they use to identify students eligible for free/reduced meals, which is what P-EBT is based on. Sometimes there are errors in how that information is transmitted to the state. Also, P-EBT cards for different age groups sometimes get sent out in different batches. So it's possible your younger kids' cards are still coming in a later mailing. The address issue is still worth fixing, but I wouldn't panic just yet about the missing cards.

I'm dealing with something similar right now! Just wanted to add that if you have any older P-EBT cards from previous years that worked fine, keep those handy when you call. Sometimes the customer service reps can reference the address from those older cards to help verify your identity, even if they can't tell you what address is currently in their system. Also, I found it helpful to keep a detailed log of every call I made (date, time, representative name if they give it, and what they told me). When I finally got someone who could help, having that record made it easier to explain all the steps I'd already tried. The whole system is definitely frustrating, but don't give up - your kids deserve those benefits!

just fyi the ebt customer service number is different from the county office. u need 2 call the actual county calfresh office not just the ebt card number

I work at a legal aid office and see cases like this regularly. You're doing the right thing by not using the card and calling immediately. One thing I'd add - if you can't get through to your county office by phone, many counties also accept reports through their online portals or you can visit in person. Some counties even have secure email addresses for reporting benefit discrepancies. Also, keep that card in a safe place - don't destroy it even after this gets resolved, as they may need the card number for their investigation. Document everything with dates and times, and if possible, get a case number when you report this so you can reference it in future calls.