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The whole program is a scam to make us dependent on government handouts. They deliberately make it confusing so people give up applying. My sister works in a school and says half the cards never even reach families because they get lost in the mail or sent to old addresses. They should just increase regular CalFresh benefits instead of creating these complicated new programs every year that barely work.
P-EBT was actually created as an emergency program during COVID to ensure children who normally received meals at school could still access food when schools were closed. It's since been extended to help address ongoing food insecurity. The program has actually been quite successful overall, distributing over $2.2 billion in food assistance to California children in previous phases. The implementation certainly has room for improvement, but the program itself has helped millions of families put food on the table. For families who don't qualify for regular CalFresh (due to income limits), P-EBT is often their only food assistance option.
Update: I finally got through to someone helpful! Called the P-EBT specific number (877-328-9677) that was suggested here and after waiting about 45 minutes, I spoke with someone who actually knew what they were talking about. She confirmed my kids ARE in the system and eligible. The cards for our county are being mailed out next week! The three categories thing was just about how they're prioritizing card distribution. She also said to make sure our address is updated in both the school system AND on the ca.p-ebt.org portal. For anyone else dealing with this confusion, definitely use the P-EBT specific number instead of the regular CalFresh line. The regular CalFresh workers don't seem to have accurate info about P-EBT at all!
Great news! I'm so glad you got accurate information. This is exactly why I suggested the dedicated P-EBT line - they have direct access to the P-EBT database and actual training on the program. Regular CalFresh workers are only trained on SNAP/CalFresh benefits and often give incorrect information about P-EBT. Make sure to activate the cards as soon as you receive them. The benefits don't expire for at least a year, so you can use them gradually if needed.
my sister got hers yesterday and she said it was $250 for her two kids. someone told her its gonna happen every summer now not just this year which would be really helpful
UPDATE: You guys were right! Just checked my EBT card balance this morning and the Summer Nutrition money was added yesterday evening. Exactly $250 for my two kids. What a relief! Thanks everyone for your help explaining this - the official website was so confusing compared to the clear info you all provided here.
When I called about this last week they told me the cards were delayed because of a "printing issue" whatever that means. The whole system is so frustrating! Last year my daughter got a card but my son didn't even though they're at the same school with the same lunch program. Make it make sense!!!
Thanks everyone for the helpful information. I called my kids' school this morning and they confirmed all student information was submitted to the P-EBT program in February. They said cards for our district should start arriving mid-April through May based on alphabetical order. I'll watch for the white envelope and make sure not to throw it out! Really appreciate all your help figuring this out.
Great to hear you got some clarity! One more tip: when the cards arrive, activate them immediately. The P-EBT phone system can get overwhelmed when many cards arrive at once, and some people report waiting days to get through. Also, write down the card numbers and PINs somewhere safe after activation in case you need to report a lost card later.
i dont get why they make u wait so long when its obvious fraud??? like how would u buy food in nevada and california in the same hour lol. the whole system is messed up and they dont care about us. my friend had her benefits stolen twice and second time they accused HER of fraud and cut off her benefits for 6 months!!! be carful what u say to them
This is misinformation that could scare people from reporting legitimate theft. EBT theft investigations don't result in fraud accusations against the victim unless there's evidence they participated in the fraud. While the system has many problems, reporting theft won't get your benefits cut off. The second theft may have triggered additional security questions, but a 6-month disqualification only happens after an administrative hearing with evidence of intentional program violation. Please don't discourage people from reporting theft - it's the only way to get replacement benefits.
UPDATE: Called using that Claimyr service someone recommended below and FINALLY got through to a supervisor after trying for days! She said I qualify for emergency replacement benefits under AB 1168 and they can issue provisional benefits while investigating. Should have them within 3 business days! Also filed police report which will help the investigation. Going to food bank tomorrow to get through until replacement comes. THANK YOU all for advice - might have gone hungry for weeks without your help! Will update when benefits actually arrive.
So glad you got through! This is exactly why it's important to know your rights and keep advocating. Many caseworkers aren't fully trained on the newer EBT theft provisions. Make sure to document everything - names of who you spoke with, reference numbers, and follow up if the provisional benefits don't arrive as promised. And definitely change your PIN regularly going forward as a precaution.
Tyrone Hill
THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO KEEP US CONFUSED AND UNDERPAID!!! They intentionally make the process complicated so fewer people get the benefits they deserve. I had to fight for months to get my correct benefit amount after they 'lost' my verification documents THREE TIMES. And now they just cancel extra benefits with barely any notice???
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Natalie Khan
•for real!! so true. my friend had to submit her pay stubs like 5 times last year cuz they kept saying they never got them even tho she uploaded them online with confirmation numbers and everything
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Rudy Cenizo
UPDATE: I finally got through to someone at my county office! They confirmed what several of you said - the extra supplement ended in May. The worker actually was really helpful and went through all my expenses with me. Turns out I've been undercounting my housing and childcare costs. She said my regular benefits should increase by about $80/month after she processes the updated information, which doesn't completely replace the supplement but helps a lot. Thanks everyone for your advice!
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Kirsuktow DarkBlade
•That's great news! So glad you were able to get some of the benefit back through proper expense reporting. This is exactly why it's so important to report ALL qualifying expenses. For anyone else reading this thread, remember that even things like child support payments and certain educational expenses can count as deductions for CalFresh calculations.
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