PEBT activation failure - 'call back later' message when trying to select PIN

Yes!! I'm having the exact same issue with my son's card. Got it Tuesday and been trying to activate since then. Called around 8pm, midnight, and 7am thinking maybe it was a high call volume thing but nope... same message every time. Super frustrating because we need to use it for groceries this weekend.

This happens every time they do a mass card distribution. The system gets overloaded. I work with a community resource center and we're hearing this from many families right now. A few things to try: 1. Call very early morning (5-6am) or very late (after 11pm) 2. Make sure you're entering the card number correctly when prompted 3. Try the regular EBT customer service number: 877-328-9677 Usually the system catches up within 4-5 days after a big batch of cards goes out. Your benefits won't expire - they'll stay on the card for a year, so you won't lose them even if activation takes a few days.

I had this problem last week and it drove me CRAZY. Called like 20 times! I finally got through on Sunday around 6am (I was up with my baby anyway). Seems like they can't handle the call volume when they send out a big batch of cards all at once. Keep trying at weird hours and eventually you'll get through.

This is a known issue with the current PEBT distribution. According to the official CalFresh/CDSS updates, they're experiencing high call volumes during this distribution cycle. The system isn't actually down - it's just overwhelmed. A few important points to note: 1. Your benefits are already loaded and secure on the card 2. The 'call back later' message is automated when call volume exceeds capacity 3. There's no specific "better time" to call as the system doesn't operate on standard business hours Your best approach is to keep trying periodically. The standard EBT customer service line can also sometimes help with PEBT cards, though they may direct you back to the PEBT-specific number.

mine did the same thing and I just kept calling back every few hours and eventually got through on my 9th try lol. these government systems are always a mess when they first send out benefits. classic california!

If you're still having trouble after a few days, try using the Claimyr service. It helps you get through to an actual person at CalFresh/EBT customer service without waiting on hold for hours. I've recommended it to several families who couldn't activate their cards. You can check it out at claimyr.com - they have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 Basically, it holds your place in line and calls you back when a representative is available. Especially useful for these PEBT activation issues when the automated system isn't working properly.

This happens every distribution cycle and it's SO ANNOYING. I had to wait almost 2 weeks last time before I could activate my kids' cards. The whole time I was paranoid the benefits would somehow disappear before I could use them. The county worker told me they don't expire that quickly but still, why make it so difficult?? Anyway you're definitely not alone. The entire system is basically crashed right now from everyone trying to activate at once.

my fiend just got hers 2 work by typin in the card # on connectebt.com instead of callin. might be worth a try? i dont have a pebt card myself so idk if it works for everyone but she said it went thru fine

Update for everyone: I just checked with our county liaison, and they confirmed the PEBT activation system is experiencing technical difficulties due to high call volume. They're working on expanding capacity, but in the meantime, here's the official workaround: 1. Call the regular EBT customer service number (877-328-9677) 2. Select option 2 (for lost/stolen card) 3. Then option 4 (for other card issues) 4. Tell the representative you're trying to activate a PEBT card This route is working for many families right now as a temporary solution. Hope this helps!

I'm having the same issue with my son's card that arrived yesterday! Been trying to activate it since this morning with no luck. Reading through all these comments is actually really helpful - I had no idea this was such a widespread problem during distribution cycles. I'm going to try Emily's workaround with the regular EBT customer service line tomorrow morning. It's frustrating because my son starts back at school next week and we were planning to use these benefits for his meal plan. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions!

I'm dealing with this exact same issue! Got my daughter's PEBT card on Monday and have been trying to activate it for three days straight. The "call back later" message is so frustrating, especially when you're trying to plan grocery shopping and meal prep for the week. I tried calling at different times thinking it was just peak hours, but apparently it's a system-wide issue with the distribution. Going to try the regular EBT customer service workaround that Emily shared - fingers crossed it works! It's really reassuring to see I'm not the only one struggling with this. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and the helpful tips!

I'm experiencing this exact same problem with my two kids' PEBT cards that arrived this week! It's such a relief to find this thread and realize it's not just me. I've been calling the activation number obsessively for the past two days and getting that same "call back later" message every single time. My kids are asking when we can go buy groceries and I keep having to postpone our shopping trip. I'm definitely going to try Emily's workaround with the regular EBT customer service line tomorrow - that seems to be working for a lot of people here. It's frustrating that this happens every distribution cycle, but at least now I know it's a system capacity issue and not something wrong with my specific cards. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions - this community is so helpful during these stressful situations!

I'm going through this exact same issue right now! Got my son's PEBT card yesterday and have been trying to activate it since this morning. Keep getting that frustrating "call back later" message no matter what time I call. It's such a relief to find this thread and realize it's a widespread system problem, not something wrong with my card specifically. I was starting to worry the card was defective or something. Definitely going to try Emily's workaround with the regular EBT customer service line - seems like that's been the most successful solution for people here. It's honestly crazy that this happens every single distribution cycle. You'd think after all these years they'd figure out how to handle the call volume better! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and the helpful tips. Makes this whole stressful process feel a lot less isolating.