Why is my CalFresh P-EBT card showing 'contact issuer' error at checkout?
I'm having the most frustrating experience with my P-EBT card that just arrived last week. Every time I try to use it at the grocery store, the terminal says 'contact issuer' and declines the transaction. I've called the number on the back FOUR times but when I enter my DOB for verification, the system says 'information doesn't match records.' My previous P-EBT cards worked perfectly fine with no issues! I'm definitely selecting SNAP as the payment type at checkout (at least I think so - maybe that changed?). Has anyone else had this problem with the new 2025 P-EBT cards? I have three kids who qualify for school meals and we really rely on these benefits for groceries. It's been a week and we're getting desperate.
22 comments
Join the conversation
Aisha Rahman
Same thing happened to me last month! The new P-EBT cards look different too, more bluish? Anyway I kept getting that error and apparently they changed something in their system. When you call try using the child's DOB not yours.
0 coins
Mateo Perez
Wait, really? I've been using MY date of birth this whole time! I'll try my oldest child's DOB. Thank you so much for the tip.
0 coins
CosmicCrusader
ugh the whole P-EBT program is such a mess. my card worked fine for 2 months then suddenly stopped. called the number and waited for 3 HOURS!! they finally told me there was a
0 coins
Mateo Perez
That's exactly what it feels like! I can't wait 2 weeks - my kids need to eat now. Did they at least backpay you for the time you couldn't access your benefits?
0 coins
Ethan Brown
I had this exact issue in January. Here's what's happening: The new P-EBT cards issued for 2025 require you to use the date of birth of the YOUNGEST child in your household who qualifies for the program, not your DOB or your oldest child's. This changed from previous years. Also, make sure you're selecting EBT, not SNAP at the terminal - some stores updated their systems and now specifically use
0 coins
Mateo Perez
Thank you for this detailed explanation! I'll try my youngest's DOB tonight when I go shopping. I didn't realize they changed the verification process. If that doesn't work, I guess I'll have to request the PIN reset by mail, but really hoping it doesn't come to that.
0 coins
Yuki Yamamoto
did u activate it first??? my sister had same problem turns out she never activated it lol
0 coins
Mateo Perez
Yes, I did activate it - that's when I first ran into the DOB verification issue. But I think the problem might be that I was using MY date of birth instead of my child's, based on what others are saying.
0 coins
Carmen Ortiz
The P-EBT program is different from regular CalFresh/EBT, which might be causing confusion. For P-EBT specifically, I recommend trying these steps: 1. Use the youngest qualifying child's DOB when calling 2. Select
0 coins
Andre Rousseau
I had the exact same problem last month and was going crazy trying to get help. After wasting hours on hold with the regular number, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an actual human at the P-EBT office in less than 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8. The agent was able to verify my youngest child's info didn't match what they had in the system (they had the wrong birth year!). Got it fixed and my card worked the next day.
0 coins
Mateo Perez
Thank you for these detailed steps! I'll try the youngest child's DOB first, and if that doesn't work, I'll try asking the cashier for help with manual entry. Really hoping one of these solutions works!
0 coins
Aisha Rahman
also make sure ur not tryin to buy non-food items with it! some stores have weird systems that reject the whole transaction even if just one item isn't eligible
0 coins
Mateo Perez
That's a good point! I was buying only food items (at least I think so). I'll double check my cart next time to be 100% sure everything is eligible.
0 coins
Zoe Papadakis
Has anyone actually gotten through to a real person at the P-EBT help line lately? I've been trying for DAYS and keep getting disconnected after waiting for an hour. This whole program is so frustrating. My sister told me they might be phasing out P-EBT in California but I haven't seen anything official about that.
0 coins
Andre Rousseau
Check out Claimyr - that's the only way I finally got through. And no, they're not phasing out P-EBT. They actually just approved the 2025-2026 extension but they changed a bunch of eligibility requirements which is probably causing all these system issues.
0 coins
Zoe Papadakis
Thanks, I'll look into that service. And good to know they're not phasing it out! The misinformation just adds to the stress.
0 coins
Mateo Perez
UPDATE: IT WORKED! I tried using my youngest child's DOB when calling the number, and I was able to verify and set a new PIN! Then I made sure to select
0 coins
Zoe Papadopoulos
That's amazing news, Mateo! So glad you got it working. Your experience is going to help so many other families who are dealing with the same frustrating issue. It's ridiculous that they changed the verification process without clearly communicating it to cardholders. Thanks for sharing the update - I'm sure other parents in this group will find your solution really helpful!
0 coins
Luca Ferrari
This is such great news! I'm a newcomer here and have been lurking while dealing with the exact same P-EBT card issues. Reading through this thread has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea about using the youngest child's DOB instead of my own. That explains why I've been stuck in verification hell for the past two weeks! Going to try this solution tonight. Thank you Mateo for sharing your update and everyone else for the troubleshooting tips. It's so frustrating when these systems change without proper notice, but at least we have this community to help each other figure it out.
0 coins
Amina Toure
Welcome to the community, Luca! I'm relatively new here too and this thread has been a lifesaver. I was having the same exact problem with my P-EBT card - kept getting the "contact issuer" error and was using my own DOB for verification. Just tried Mateo's solution with my youngest child's DOB and it worked perfectly! Got through the phone system, reset my PIN, and was able to use the card at the store this morning. It's crazy how such a simple change in their system can cause so much confusion for families who really depend on these benefits. Hope this solution works for you too!
0 coins
Emma Wilson
Welcome to the community, Luca! I'm also relatively new here but have been following this thread closely since I've had similar P-EBT issues with my two kids. It's crazy how many families are dealing with this same problem right now. The youngest child's DOB tip was a game-changer for me too - tried it yesterday and finally got through the phone system after weeks of frustration. Also wanted to add that if anyone is still having trouble even with the correct DOB, double-check that your child's information matches exactly what the school district has on file, including spelling of names. My friend had an issue where her daughter's name was spelled differently in the P-EBT system vs. school records. Hope this helps other parents who might be stuck!
0 coins
NebulaNova
Welcome to the community, Luca! I'm glad this thread helped you figure out the DOB issue. I went through the same frustrating experience just a few weeks ago with my new P-EBT card. The lack of clear communication from the program administrators is really disappointing - they should have sent out notices about the verification changes. Definitely try the youngest child's DOB trick, and if you're still having trouble, that Claimyr service that Andre mentioned actually does work for getting through to a real person quickly. Good luck with your card tonight!
0 coins