P-EBT card activation confusion - no PIN setup option when calling?

The same EXACT thing happened to me last week with my daughter's P-EBT card!! I called 3 TIMES thinking I was doing something wrong! Each time it just asked for the card number and then told me the balance. I was like ??? where's the PIN setup part??? I ended up just trying to use it at the grocery store and it asked for a PIN and I panicked, but then I tried the last 4 digits of my daughter's social and IT WORKED! Apparently they pre-assign the PINs now for the 2025 P-EBT cards. Try that and see if it works for you.

This is normal for the new 2025 P-EBT cards. The default PIN is set to the last 4 digits of the child's Social Security Number. This is different from regular CalFresh EBT cards which do require PIN setup during activation. The P-EBT program uses this pre-assigned PIN system to streamline distribution to families with school-age children. You can still change the PIN if you want by calling the customer service number on the back of the card and selecting the PIN change option from the main menu. Just make sure to keep the cards in a secure location since they come with a pre-set PIN.

my nephew got one but i dont think his has money on it yet the balance was $0 when his mom called. anyone know how long it takes for the funds to show up?

If you're having trouble reaching someone about your P-EBT cards, I was in the same boat last month. I needed to change the PIN but kept getting stuck in the automated system. I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got through to a real person in about 10 minutes. They have this service where they wait on hold for you and call you back when they reach someone. Saved me hours of frustration! There's a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8

UPDATE: I tried using the last 4 of my kids' socials as the PIN at the grocery store today and it worked! Thanks everyone for the help. I'm going to call and change the PINs to something more secure now that I know how it works.

wait is p-ebt the same as calfresh? im confused

i just got my kids cards 2 and was so confused by the activation too! thx everyone for clearing this up

Just to add some helpful information: if you're having trouble with your P-EBT cards and need to speak with someone, the best number to call is 877-328-9677. Unlike regular CalFresh, P-EBT is administered at the state level rather than county level. The customer service hours are 8am-8pm Monday-Friday. Be prepared with your case number (on your approval letter) and the card numbers when you call. They can help with activation issues, balance inquiries, PIN changes, and replacement cards.

This thread has been super helpful! I just got my daughter's P-EBT card yesterday and was totally confused about the activation process too. I kept waiting for it to ask me to set up a PIN and when it didn't, I thought maybe I had called the wrong number or something. It's reassuring to know this is normal for the 2025 cards. I'm definitely going to try using the last 4 of her social as the PIN when we go grocery shopping this weekend, and then call to change it to something more secure. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it really helps to know we're not alone in this confusion!

Just want to add my experience - I got my two kids' P-EBT cards last week and had the exact same confusion! The activation process was so different from what I expected. When I called, it just asked for the card number and told me the balance, no PIN setup at all. I was so worried I had done something wrong. Thanks to everyone who explained about the last 4 digits of the SSN being the default PIN - that saved me so much stress! I used that PIN at Target yesterday and it worked perfectly. Already called to change both PINs to something more secure. Really wish they would include this information in the packet with the cards because it would save a lot of families from panicking like we all did!

This is such a helpful thread! I just received my P-EBT cards for my two kids today and was completely baffled by the activation process. Like everyone else here, I kept waiting for the system to ask me to set up a PIN and was so confused when it just gave me the balance and hung up. I actually called back twice thinking I had somehow skipped a step or pressed the wrong button! It's really frustrating that the materials they send with the cards don't explain that the PIN is automatically set to the last 4 digits of the child's SSN. That seems like crucial information that should be included right on the activation instructions. I'm so grateful I found this discussion - it's saved me from a lot more confusion and worry. Planning to test out the cards this weekend using the SSN method and then definitely calling to change the PINs to something more secure. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences!

Just got my P-EBT cards for my twins yesterday and went through the exact same confusing activation experience as everyone else here! I called the number expecting to set up PINs like I did years ago with regular CalFresh, but it just asked for the card numbers and gave me balances. I was so worried I had messed something up. Reading all your comments has been such a relief - knowing that the last 4 digits of their SSNs are the default PINs is incredibly helpful information that definitely should have been included in the packet! Planning to test this out at the store tomorrow and then immediately call to change the PINs to something more secure. It's so frustrating that they don't explain this process clearly, but I'm grateful for this community where we can help each other figure these things out. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!