P-EBT card blocked but has balance - can I still buy food for my son after CalFresh discontinuation?

P-EBT and CalFresh are actually separate programs, so your P-EBT benefits should still be available even if your CalFresh was discontinued. The "blocked" message might mean the card hasn't been activated yet. Did you call the number on the back of the P-EBT card and go through the activation process? Each P-EBT card needs to be activated and have a PIN set before you can use it. Try calling 877-328-9677 and follow the prompts to activate the card and set a PIN.

ya this happened to me too! the p-ebt is for school meals program its different from calfresh. you def need to activate it first time you get it. my kids card worked fine after i called the number and made a pin. we got ours after our calfresh stopped too

I work with a lot of families navigating these benefits. Here's what you need to know: 1. P-EBT and CalFresh are completely separate programs 2. P-EBT funds don't expire immediately - you have plenty of time to use them 3. The "blocked" message almost always means the card needs activation 4. Your regular CalFresh EBT card benefits won't disappear immediately after discontinuation - any benefits loaded before discontinuation remain available Call the P-EBT customer service line directly (not the regular EBT line). The process takes about 5 minutes to activate. Keep both cards - they'll work for different pools of benefits.

Ugh the whole system is designed to be confusing on purpose I swear. They never clearly explain the difference between these programs! My caseworker never even told me P-EBT existed until I got a random card in the mail. Then when I called the regular EBT number they couldn't even help with P-EBT questions! I had to call a completely different department. Classic government efficiency 🙄

btw my kid got p-ebt because of the school lunches program it has nothing 2 do with calfresh really. they sent it cuz of missed school during pandemic or something. the money stays on there for like a year i think

To address your other question - any benefits already loaded on your regular CalFresh EBT card before discontinuation will remain available until you spend them. They don't take away money already issued to your card. Benefits on EBT cards typically stay available for 12 months from the date they were added to your card. For the P-EBT program, California has continued issuing some school-related food benefits even after the pandemic emergency ended. The specific programs and eligibility requirements have evolved, but they still issue P-EBT cards to eligible children in certain situations. That's why you might receive one now even though the original pandemic program ended.

I'm just curious - did you get a letter with the P-EBT card explaining what it was for? We got a detailed letter with our card that explained everything, including how much would be loaded and why my daughter qualified. It might give you some answers about whether this is a one-time issue or if more benefits will be added.

For anyone following this thread with similar questions: 1. Regular CalFresh benefits and P-EBT are completely separate programs with separate funding sources and eligibility requirements. 2. P-EBT cards must be activated by calling the number on the back of the card (not the regular EBT customer service line). 3. If you've been discontinued from CalFresh but still have a balance, those funds remain available to you until spent or until they expire (typically 365 days from issuance). 4. If your P-EBT card says it's "blocked," this almost always means it needs activation, not that you can't access the benefits. 5. For current P-EBT programs in 2025, eligibility is now determined through school meal eligibility data, not CalFresh participation. Hope this helps clear up confusion for others!

UPDATE: Both cards worked at the store! I'm so relieved. I was able to buy groceries with both my remaining CalFresh balance and the new P-EBT card after activating it. Thank you everyone for your help. This forum has been way more helpful than any of the official government websites or phone lines!