Best P-EBT phone prompts to actually reach a human representative?
I've been trying to call about my kid's P-EBT card issues for THREE DAYS and keep getting stuck in that automated phone system loop. I press options but never get to talk to an actual person! I know the P-EBT program is different from regular CalFresh, but has anyone figured out what buttons to press or what to say to get through to a real human? Our card shows a balance but won't work at any store, and my 8-year-old is getting cranky without his usual after-school snacks. Getting desperate here!
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Ellie Kim
same problem here!!! been calling the P-EBT number like crazy and just hear the robot lady telling me about the website WHICH DOESNT HELP!!!! did u try pressing 0 repeatedly? i heard that works for some systems
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Luis Johnson
•I tried pressing 0 about 20 times and it just kept repeating the same menu options. So frustrating! Did it actually work for you?
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Fiona Sand
The P-EBT phone system is a nightmare compared to regular CalFresh! What worked for me was calling at exactly 8:01 AM when they first open, then pressing 1 for English (or 2 for Spanish), then 3 for card issues, then 2 for balance problems, then wait until they ask about your case number and press # twice. That sequence got me to a human after only 25 minutes on hold instead of getting stuck in the loop.
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Mohammad Khaled
•thank u for this!!!! gonna try tomorrow morning
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Alina Rosenthal
Former eligibility worker here - the P-EBT IVR system is different from the regular CalFresh system. For P-EBT specifically, the best sequence is: 1. Call the main P-EBT number (877-328-9677) 2. Press 1 (or appropriate language option) 3. Press 4 for "all other questions" 4. Then press 2 when it asks about card issues 5. When it asks for your case number, don't enter anything and wait - after 3 attempts it should transfer you to a queue for a representative Be prepared to wait 30-45 minutes even after getting in the queue. The system is designed to direct most people to self-service options, but these steps should get you to a human eventually. Always have your P-EBT card number ready when you call.
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Luis Johnson
•THANK YOU! I'll try this sequence tomorrow morning. Really appreciate the specific steps since the recorded messages all sound the same after a while. I'll report back if it works!
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Finnegan Gunn
Have you tried using Claimyr to get through? I was having the exact same problem with P-EBT and someone on this forum recommended it. They basically wait on hold for you and call you when a human picks up. Saved me hours of frustration with those automated systems. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 - it worked well for my P-EBT issue when the card kept getting declined despite showing a balance.
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Miguel Harvey
•Is that service really worth it? I've been trying to reach P-EBT for my grandkids cards for a week now with no luck. Do they actually get you through faster or just wait on hold for you? Genuine question cuz at this point I'm willing to try anything.
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Finnegan Gunn
•They don't get you through any faster - they just wait on hold so you don't have to. For P-EBT specifically it was worth it to me because those hold times can be 2+ hours. They call you when a real person answers, so you can go about your day instead of listening to that awful hold music.
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Ashley Simian
U know the P-EBT is total different from calfresh rite??? Like they don't even have the same workers or phone systems. I spent 3 weeks trying to get my daughters card fixed cuz the school put in wrong birthdate. What finally worked was calling the COUNTY CalFresh office and explaining that it was about P-EBT - they transfered me to someone who could actually help!! The state P-EBt line is useless but county CalFresh sometimes can help!!
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Luis Johnson
•Wait, I thought the county offices can't help with P-EBT since it's a state program? Did you call your regular CalFresh worker or just the main county line?
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Ashley Simian
•I called main county line but told them it was urgent because my kid wasnt getting meals. They said theyre not supposed to help with PEBT but the supervisor made an exception and got someone from state on 3-way call. Worth trying if ur desperate!!
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Fiona Sand
Just wanted to update - I actually got through to a human on the P-EBT line this morning! Called at 8:00am sharp, pressed 1, then 4, then 2, then just stayed silent when it asked for my case number. After about 3 minutes of automated prompts trying to get me to enter something, it finally said "transferring you to a representative" and I was on hold for about 20 minutes before someone picked up. They were able to fix the issue with my card - turns out it was flagged for suspicious activity because I tried to use it at three different stores in one day.
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Luis Johnson
•That's really helpful - thank you! I'll try this exact sequence tomorrow morning. Did they ask for any specific information when you finally got through to verify your identity?
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Fiona Sand
•Yes, they asked for the P-EBT card number, my child's name, date of birth, and the last four digits of their student ID number. The rep was actually really helpful once I got through!
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Ellie Kim
my neighbor works for social services (not p-ebt but she knows people) and she told me the secret is to select the option for LOST OR STOLEN CARD even if thats not ur problem!!! those calls get priority and u get a human faster. then just explain ur real problem when they answer. might not be ethical but it WORKS
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Alina Rosenthal
•Please don't do this. I understand the frustration, but selecting the wrong options just to get through faster actually makes the wait times worse for everyone. The system prioritizes certain call types for genuine emergencies, and misusing those options can prevent people with actual lost/stolen cards from getting timely help. The steps I mentioned above will work without gaming the system.
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