Thank you everyone for all this information! It's been so helpful. I'm going to check my kids' school tomorrow to confirm they're on the CEP list and then just plan on getting new cards in June. I'll make sure to budget accordingly and not count on the current cards being reloaded. I really appreciate all the detailed responses - this community is amazing!

As someone who just went through this whole process, I can confirm what others have said - the Summer 2025 P-EBT cards will be NEW cards, not reloads of existing ones. I spent weeks trying to get a straight answer too! Here's what I learned from finally getting through to someone at CDSS: Keep your current P-EBT cards even after they're empty because sometimes they add retroactive adjustments months later (happened to me last year). The summer cards should arrive between mid-June and early July, and you don't need to apply if your kids already qualify for free/reduced lunch or if you're on CalFresh. One tip that helped me - if you need to call about anything CalFresh related, try calling right when they open at 8am. I had much better luck getting through then instead of calling in the afternoon when everyone else is trying to reach them during lunch breaks. Really hoping they improve the communication next year because this guessing game every season is exhausting for families trying to budget!

One more thing - make sure you keep the P-EBT card even after you use up the benefits. If they issue additional pandemic-related food benefits in the future (which seems likely given the new assistance programs being discussed), they'll reload the same card rather than sending a new one.

Anyone know if the P-EBT 4.0 benefits expire? The P-EBT 3.0 benefits had some kind of expiration date and I lost like $200 because I didn't know about it until too late 😡

I've been through this exact situation with LA County DPSS. A few things that really helped me: 1. When you call, ask specifically for "Permanent Homeless Assistance" - don't let them transfer you around or tell you it doesn't exist. Some workers try to push you toward temporary assistance because it's easier for them to process. 2. The landlord will need to fill out a verification form, but DPSS has a template they can email you. Make sure your landlord is willing to work with government assistance before you get too far in the process. 3. If you're having trouble reaching your worker, try calling the main DPSS line early (like 7:30 AM) right when they open. You'll get through faster than calling mid-day. 4. Keep receipts for everything - your current housing situation, any money you've spent on temporary housing, etc. They want documentation of your homelessness. 5. The whole process took about 10 days for me from application to getting approved, but the actual payment to my landlord was within 2-3 days after approval. Don't give up if they tell you no initially - sometimes you have to advocate for yourself. Your kids need stable housing and you're doing the right thing by pursuing every option available. You've got this!

I'm a single mom who went through something similar in Orange County last year. One thing I learned that might help you - if the $2400 deposit is more than what CalWORKs Permanent Homeless Assistance will cover, ask your potential landlord if they'd be willing to split it differently. Some landlords will accept first month's rent + partial security deposit upfront, then let you pay the rest over the first few months. Also, make sure to mention to your CalWORKs worker that you're facing a custody issue - sometimes that can expedite processing since stable housing is considered in the best interest of the children. Document everything you're doing to secure housing in case you need it for court. LA County also has the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) that might still have funds available - it's separate from CalWORKs and could potentially help with move-in costs. Worth asking about when you call 211. You're doing an amazing job advocating for your family. Housing insecurity doesn't define you as a parent - your determination to find solutions does.

Update: I called the number on my letter today and actually got through after only waiting 20 minutes! The person confirmed it's just an internal reorganization and my benefits and certification period aren't changing. They also gave me an email address specific to Team 24 that wasn't on the letter: team24.calfresh@countydss.gov (sharing in case it helps someone else). Thanks everyone for the help and advice!

Just wanted to add - if you're worried about the transition, you can also request a case summary or status letter from Team 24 once they're fully handling your case. This will show your current benefit amount, certification period, and any pending actions. It's free and gives you peace of mind that everything transferred correctly. I always do this when there's any kind of change to my case, even if it's just administrative. Better to have documentation showing everything is still on track!

Update: I called my county office and they explained that we ARE getting the correct amount based on our income and expenses. The worker confirmed that since we're getting less than $200, we don't have an IRT but still need to do the SAR7 in six months. She said if my husband's income drops significantly before then (like if his hours get cut), we should report it anyway because we might qualify for more. Thanks everyone for your help understanding this!

Thanks for sharing this update! It's really helpful to see how this all worked out. I'm in a similar situation with a family of 5 and was wondering about the IRT thing too. Quick question - when the worker said to report if your husband's income drops significantly, did she give you any specific threshold? Like how much of a drop would be worth reporting? I'm trying to figure out if small weekly variations in my spouse's hours are worth calling about or if I should wait for bigger changes.