Lost my child's P-EBT 3.0 card - need urgent replacement number for CalFresh

The P-EBT replacement hotline is 877-328-9677. It's different from the regular EBT customer service line. When you call, make sure you have your child's information ready (name, DOB, school) and possibly the card number if you can find it on any paperwork. They can cancel the lost card and issue a new one, but unfortunately it usually takes 7-10 business days to arrive. \n\nIf you need food assistance right away while waiting for the replacement, you might want to check if you qualify for emergency CalFresh benefits. That's a separate program but could help bridge the gap.

Thank you so much! I'll call that number right away. Do you know if they're open on weekends? My son's dad is pretty upset since he counts on that money for their food when my son visits. I don't think we qualify for emergency CalFresh since our income is probably too high, but maybe I should check anyway.

i had this happen last yr and it was a HUGE hassle!!!! the number is def different from regular ebt. took them like 3 weeks to send the new card and they make u verify like a million things. so annoying. good luck

Oh no, 3 weeks?! That's way too long. Did you call that same number the other person posted? I'm hoping they've gotten faster with replacements by now...

Just to clarify, P-EBT 3.0 and regular CalFresh EBT are completely separate programs, so that's why you got redirected. The P-EBT customer service line (877-328-9677) handles all P-EBT card replacements. Call between 8am-8pm any day of the week.\n\nWhen I helped my nephew replace his, we had to provide:\n- Child's full name as it appears on school records\n- Date of birth\n- School name\n- Mailing address for the replacement card\n\nThey can usually tell you the balance remaining on the card as well. The card does take 7-10 business days to arrive, but I've seen some come quicker. Until then, unfortunately there's no way to access those specific benefits.

is there a website for this too? the phone lines are always so packed when i try calling about my kids benefits 😫 i can never get through!!

Try this if you have the card number written down somewhere - you can actually check the P-EBT balance online at www.ebt.ca.gov or the ConnectEBT mobile app. That way at least you know exactly how much is on there. Not that it helps with replacement but good to know the exact amount.

I don't have the card number written down anywhere. I should have done that! Lesson learned for sure. Will definitely be keeping a record of the new card once it comes.

I had this exact same issue last month trying to replace my daughter's P-EBT card. Calling that 877 number is a NIGHTMARE - I was on hold for over 2 hours before getting disconnected. Then tried again the next day with the same result. I finally got through using Claimyr (claimyr.com) - it's a service that basically waits on hold for you then calls you when a real person picks up. Saved me hours of frustration! They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8\n\nAfter that, the replacement process was pretty straightforward. They cancelled the old card and sent a new one that arrived in about 8 days.

does that claimr thing actually work?? i get so annoyed with the ebt phone system i usually just give up after 20 mins lol

@SoCalifornia22 It worked great for me! Instead of being stuck listening to that awful hold music for hours, I just went about my day and my phone rang when they got a real person. Definitely worth it for me since I was getting nowhere with the regular hold system.

btw make sure u tell them to CANCEL the old card!!!! my friend didnt do this and someone found her kids card and spent all the benefits before she got the new 1

Omg that's terrible! Thanks for the warning - I'll definitely make sure they cancel it right away. That's my biggest worry, that someone will find it and use it before I can get it replaced.

When you get the new card, take a picture of the front and back and email it to yourself with

That's a great tip, thank you! I'll definitely do that with the replacement. My son is usually pretty responsible but kids will be kids... I should have done this from the beginning.

Just a heads-up: make sure when you call that you clarify it's specifically a P-EBT 3.0 card (from the 2022-2023 school year program). P-EBT has had multiple rounds with different policies. For the 3.0 version, replacement cards go through the state P-EBT office, not your local county office.\n\nAlso, once you get the replacement process started, you might want to check with your son's school to confirm they have your current mailing address on file, as P-EBT uses school databases for student information and card delivery.

Thank you for mentioning that! I'll definitely specify it's the 3.0 card when I call. And that's a good point about the address - we moved last summer but I did update it with the school. I'll double-check just to be sure.

I went through this same situation about 6 months ago when my daughter lost her P-EBT card. The 877-328-9677 number is definitely correct, but here's what I wish someone had told me: call first thing in the morning (right at 8am) or try calling around 7pm - those seem to be the times when wait times are shortest. Also, if you have any old paperwork from when the P-EBT card was first issued, bring that with you when you call. They asked me for some reference numbers that were on the original mailing. It's not required but it speeds up the process. One more thing - while you're waiting for the replacement, you might want to contact your local food bank or check if your son's school has a weekend food backpack program. Many schools have these programs specifically for situations like this. It won't replace the P-EBT benefits but could help bridge the gap until the new card arrives.

Just wanted to give you a quick update on timing - I called that 877-328-9677 number last week for my son's lost P-EBT card and got through in about 45 minutes around 2pm on a Tuesday. The rep was really helpful and walked me through everything step by step. One thing that might help speed up your call: they asked for my son's student ID number, which I didn't have ready. If you can find that on any school paperwork or report cards before you call, it'll save you some time. They were able to look him up without it, but having it would have been faster. The replacement card actually came in 6 business days, which was quicker than the 7-10 they told me to expect. Hang in there - I know it's stressful when you're counting on those benefits!

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!