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Liam McConnell

Lost my son's P-EBT card - need direct number to replace it ASAP?

Help!! My 8-year-old son's P-EBT card from last month is missing - I've turned the house upside down looking for it. I know there's regular EBT customer service but I've heard the P-EBT cards have a different department/process? Does anyone have the direct phone number to report and replace a missing P-EBT card? I'm worried someone might be using it since there's still about $450 on it for his school meals. Don't want to go through the general CalFresh line if there's a faster way. Thanks in advance for any help!!

Call 877-328-9677 for P-EBT issues. its the same number on the back of the card. they can cancel it and send u a new one

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Thank you! Do you know how long a replacement usually takes? I'm worried about him missing out on benefits while we wait for the new one.

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CosmicCaptain

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The P-EBT customer service number is actually 877-328-9677. This is specifically for P-EBT cards, not regular CalFresh EBT. When you call, you'll need your child's information and the P-EBT case number if you have it (should be on any letters you received). They can deactivate the old card immediately to prevent anyone from using it and issue a replacement. Replacement cards typically take 7-10 business days to arrive by mail. Also, just to clarify, P-EBT is separate from regular CalFresh benefits. It's specifically for school-aged children who would have received free or reduced-price meals at school. The benefit amount is standard based on your school district's status, not specifically calculated for your household like regular CalFresh.

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Thank you so much for all this information! I didn't realize P-EBT is completely separate from our regular CalFresh. I'll call that number right now to get it deactivated. Do you know if they have a way to expedite the replacement card? 7-10 days is a long time since we rely on those benefits for his lunches.

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i lost my kids card last year too and when i called they said someone already used some of the money!!!! make sure u report it FAST!!!!!

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Oh no, that's exactly what I'm worried about! Did they reimburse you for the stolen benefits? I'm calling right now!

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CosmicCaptain

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They cannot expedite P-EBT replacement cards unfortunately - the 7-10 business day timeframe is standard. Unlike regular CalFresh/EBT, the P-EBT program doesn't have emergency replacement options. However, once you report it lost, they'll deactivate the old card immediately to prevent unauthorized use. Regarding benefits being used fraudulently - if you report unauthorized transactions, they'll investigate, but reimbursement isn't guaranteed with P-EBT the way it sometimes is with regular EBT. That's why reporting it missing immediately is so important.

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I tried calling that P-EBT number last week and was on hold for TWO HOURS before I got disconnected. Called back and same thing happened. The system is completely broken and they don't care about families trying to feed their kids. Complete disaster!

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I had the same frustrating experience with the P-EBT line last month. I found a service called Claimyr that actually helped me get through to a real person at the P-EBT office without the endless hold times. They have this system where they wait on hold for you then call you when a live person answers. I used it at claimyr.com and it actually worked - had my issue resolved in one day instead of a week of trying. There's a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8

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Yes, it worked specifically with the P-EBT line. The service works with most government benefit phone systems - they basically navigate the phone tree and wait on hold so you don't have to. When a live person answers, they connect you. Saved me hours of frustration!

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why are they even still issuing p-ebt cards in 2025?? i thought that was just a covid thing that ended years ago

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CosmicCaptain

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They reestablished the P-EBT program in late 2024 as part of the expanded child nutrition initiative. It's no longer COVID-related but continues to provide supplemental food benefits for eligible school-aged children. The eligibility criteria and benefit amounts have changed from the original pandemic version, but the program name and card system remain the same.

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Dmitry Petrov

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Just a tip - when you receive the replacement P-EBT card, immediately create an online account at connectebt.com to monitor activity. You can set up text alerts for transactions, check balances, and review transaction history. This way, if your card ever gets lost again, you'll know immediately if someone is using it. Also, don't forget to destroy the old card if you find it later, as it will no longer work and could create confusion.

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Thank you for this advice! I didn't realize I could set up text alerts. That would definitely give me peace of mind. I'm going to set that up as soon as we get the replacement card.

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UPDATE: I called the P-EBT number (877-328-9677) and after about 45 minutes on hold, finally spoke to someone. They canceled the old card and are sending a replacement. They confirmed no one had used any benefits since I last used it three days ago. The new card should arrive in 7-10 business days. Thanks everyone for your help!

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glad u got it sorted!! good thing nobody stole ur benefits!

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