How to contact someone directly about P-EBT issues? All automated systems!

I had a similar issue with my P-EBT benefits earlier this year. The frustrating thing is that P-EBT is administered differently than regular CalFresh, even though they both use EBT cards. For P-EBT specifically, try calling 877-328-9677 (the official P-EBT hotline) and immediately press 0 twice when the automated system starts. That sometimes bypasses the menu. Also, call right when they open at 8am - I've had better luck getting through then. If that doesn't work, your county social services office might be able to help or at least direct you to the right contact.

the whole p-ebt system is a mess tbh. have u tried the p-ebt website? theres a contact form somewhere on there. took them 5 weeks to get back to me tho but they did eventually. also check ur spam folder

I work with families navigating these systems, and P-EBT is particularly challenging because it's jointly managed between CDSS and the Department of Education. Here's what works best: 1. Document everything - dates you called, who you spoke with 2. Contact your school district's nutrition services department (not just the school) as they sometimes have direct channels 3. If calling the P-EBT hotline doesn't work, try contacting your local CalFresh office in person and ask them to help you navigate to the right department 4. Benefits from November should definitely have been loaded by now, so this isn't normal processing time Also, make sure your mailing address is current with the school, as P-EBT communications go to that address.

I've had TERRIBLE experiences trying to get through to anyone about P-EBT!!! It's honestly the WORST system ever designed!!! I spent TWO MONTHS trying to talk to someone when they sent us a card with my child's name misspelled (they left out a letter). Eventually I had to physically go down to the county office and refuse to leave until someone helped me. Even then, they kept saying it wasn't their department, but finally someone made some calls and fixed it. The system is BROKEN!!!

Have you tried using Claimyr? I was dealing with a similar situation (but with regular CalFresh) and couldn't get through the phone maze for weeks. Someone recommended this service where they basically wait on hold for you and call you back when a human actually picks up. I was skeptical but tried it out of desperation at claimyr.com and it actually worked. They have a video showing how it works too: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 I'm not sure if it works for the P-EBT line specifically but might be worth checking out if you keep hitting automated walls.

Just to clarify something - P-EBT distributions for 2024-2025 have had some delays in certain counties. The November issuance should have been deposited by January 15th at the latest. If you haven't received it yet, that's definitely an error. One thing to try: if your children also get regular school meals, check with the school to make sure they properly reported your children's eligibility status to the state. Sometimes the issue is that the school's reporting system didn't correctly mark eligible students. If all else fails, your county supervisor's office can sometimes help navigate these bureaucratic issues - they have connections that regular citizens don't.

Just checking back - did you have any luck getting through to someone about your P-EBT issue?