Hey everyone! I'm new to this community but this thread is so helpful - I literally just got my daughter's P-EBT card yesterday and was about to try setting up the PIN. After reading all your experiences, I'm mentally prepared for that weird error message now! It's frustrating that California's P-EBT system has such consistent technical issues, but at least it sounds like the PIN actually gets set up despite the confusing error. I'll definitely try using the card at a store first before panicking if I get that "Can't access your account" message. Thanks Isabella for starting this thread and everyone for sharing your experiences - this saved me a lot of stress!

Hi Isabella and everyone! I'm new to this community but just wanted to share that I experienced this exact same issue with my twin daughters' P-EBT cards about two weeks ago. Got the same "Can't access your account" error after setting up both PINs, and I was so worried I'd have to start over. But both cards worked perfectly at Safeway the next day with the PINs I had originally set up! It's clearly a widespread system glitch with their confirmation process. For anyone dealing with this in the future - the PIN setup actually goes through despite that scary error message. Just wait about 24 hours and try using the card at any store that accepts EBT. The P-EBT system definitely needs some serious technical improvements, but at least the benefits are still accessible once you get past this initial hurdle.

I've been through this exact scenario with Safeway pickup and wanted to share my experience to help ease your stress! In my case, it took exactly 3 business days for the EBT refund to appear back on my card. What I found really helpful was checking my balance first thing in the morning each day, because the refund actually showed up around 5 AM rather than during regular business hours. Also, make sure you save that cancellation confirmation email - I had one situation where the refund got delayed and customer service needed that confirmation to track it down. The waiting is definitely nerve-wracking when you're on a tight budget, but Safeway has been pretty reliable in my experience. One tip: if you don't see the refund by day 4, call the EBT customer service number and ask them to check for "pending credits" - sometimes they can see it in the system before it hits your available balance. Hang in there, it should show up soon!

I just wanted to add something that might help while you're waiting - if you have any other stores in your area that accept EBT and have competitive prices, it might be worth checking them out while you wait for your Safeway refund. I've been in similar tight budget situations and sometimes found that places like WinCo or even some smaller ethnic grocery stores have really good deals that can stretch your remaining EBT balance further. Also, don't forget about discount grocery stores like Grocery Outlet if you have one nearby - they often have name brand items at significantly lower prices. I know it's frustrating to have that money tied up, but there are ways to make your remaining balance work harder while you wait. Based on everyone's experiences here, you should definitely see those funds back within the next few days!

I went through a very similar situation last year! You can absolutely apply for CalFresh without applying for cash aid - they're completely separate programs. When you fill out the application (either online through BenefitsCal or on paper), you'll see checkboxes for different programs and you can just select CalFresh and leave the CalWORKs box unchecked. For your household situation, since your children's father doesn't live with you and doesn't purchase/prepare food with your household, he wouldn't be counted as part of your CalFresh household. The key factor for CalFresh is who lives together and shares meals, not relationship status. However, you will need to report any regular financial support he provides as income. During the interview process, they'll ask about your living situation and any income coming into your household. Just be honest and straightforward - your situation isn't unusual and the eligibility workers have seen all kinds of family arrangements. They're not trying to catch you in anything, they just need accurate information to determine your benefits. One thing that really helped me was writing down a brief summary of my living situation before my phone interview so I could explain it clearly without getting flustered. Good luck with your application - the food assistance can really make a difference for your family's budget!

I just wanted to add my experience as someone who recently went through this process! You can definitely apply for CalFresh only - I did the same thing about 8 months ago. The application is straightforward once you understand that you're just checking the box for food benefits and leaving cash aid unchecked. Your situation with your children's father is actually pretty common. Since he doesn't live in your home or share meals with you, he's not part of your CalFresh household regardless of your relationship status. The main thing they care about is the actual living arrangement and who buys/prepares food together. During my interview, they asked basic questions about who lives with me, my income, and my expenses. They did ask if I receive any child support, but when I explained that the father helps occasionally but doesn't provide regular monthly support, they just made a note of it. The worker was professional and not judgmental at all. One tip that helped me: when they ask about "household composition," think of it as "who eats meals together in this house" rather than getting caught up in relationship details. That simple reframe made it much easier for me to answer their questions clearly. You've got this - don't let the application intimidate you!

Hey Amina! Congratulations on getting approved - that 5 week wait must have been incredibly stressful! I'm in Alameda County and just went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago. My benefits were loaded within 2 business days of approval, but my card took almost a full week to arrive in the mail. The anxiety of not knowing when you'll be able to buy groceries is real! A couple of tips that helped me: First, if you have your case number, you can call 1-877-328-9677 (the EBT customer service line) to check if your benefits have been loaded even before your card arrives. Second, if you're really running low on food, most LA County offices can issue an emergency/temporary card the same day if you go in person with your ID and approval notice. And finally, don't forget that food banks are always an option to help bridge the gap - no waiting required. You've made it through the hardest part of this whole process, so hang in there! That $487/month is going to make such a difference for your food security. Hoping your card shows up in the next few days!

Congratulations on your approval, Amina! That 5-week wait must have been so stressful, but you made it through! I'm in San Bernardino County and went through this same situation recently. My benefits were loaded within 2 business days of approval, but my physical EBT card took about 6 days to arrive in the mail. The good news is that when the card finally showed up, all the money was already there waiting for me! Since you're in LA County and were approved yesterday, there's a really good chance your benefits are already loaded or will be by tomorrow. If you want to check without waiting for the card, you can call the EBT customer service line at 1-877-328-9677 with your case number - they can tell you your balance over the phone. Also, if you're really running low on groceries and can't wait for the mail, definitely consider going to your county office with your ID and approval paperwork to get an emergency card issued same-day. Most offices can do this when you explain you have an urgent food need. You've gotten through the hardest part of this whole process - just hang in there a few more days! That $487/month is going to make such a difference. Wishing you the best!

So glad you got it resolved! This is exactly why I always recommend people be persistent and try multiple approaches. The fact that a trainee never sent the verification request notice is unfortunately typical - there seems to be a breakdown in communication when cases get passed between trainees and supervisors. For anyone else reading this thread who might be in a similar situation: Alice's experience shows how important it is to actually speak with someone rather than just waiting. Whether you use Claimyr, go in person, or keep calling until you get through, don't just assume "no news is good news" when it comes to recertifications. The system has too many gaps right now. Also worth noting that Alice's case shows why it's so important to check your BenefitsCal account regularly for any electronic notices, since paper notices sometimes don't get mailed out properly.

Welcome to the community, Miguel! You're absolutely right to be proactive about your application. One thing I learned from going through this nightmare is to always screenshot or print confirmation pages when you submit documents online - I'm so glad I had that December submission confirmation because it proved I submitted on time. Also, if your case seems to be taking longer than 30 days, don't hesitate to ask specifically about the status and whether any additional verification is needed. The squeaky wheel definitely gets the grease with these county offices. Good luck with your application!