Update: I called this morning after gathering all our expense info. Turns out there were TWO issues: 1) They had my husband's income entered incorrectly - they had him earning $600 more per month than he actually does! 2) They didn't have our updated rent amount. After fixing both issues, our benefits are going up to $380 per month plus the COLA adjustment which will make it about $425! That's a HUGE difference from $150. The worker said the changes should show up in the next issuance. Thank you all for encouraging me to call and for explaining what to ask about!

This is such great news! I'm so glad you called and got everything straightened out. Going from $150 to $425 is life-changing for a family of 4. Your story is a perfect example of why it's so important to advocate for yourself and not just accept what you're given. Income reporting errors happen way too often in the system, and many people probably don't even realize their benefits are calculated wrong. Thanks for sharing the update - it will definitely help other families who might be in similar situations know that it's worth making that call even when it seems overwhelming!

I'm so glad to see the P names are finally starting to come through! My son's name is Pablo and we just got our payment this morning too. I was getting really worried because we had already planned our grocery budget around that $535. For anyone still waiting, I noticed mine posted around 6 AM, so definitely check early in the morning. The whole alphabetical rollout system really needs to be reconsidered - it puts so much unnecessary stress on families who are already struggling. At least now we know the technical issues have been resolved!

Just wanted to add my experience - I'm also a parent with a child whose name starts with P (Priya) and we FINALLY received our P-EBT payment yesterday! After reading through all these comments, I checked with some other parents in my daughter's class and it looks like most of the P names in our area got their payments between Monday and Wednesday of this week. For anyone still waiting, I'd definitely recommend checking your balance first thing in the morning like Jacob mentioned - ours posted around 5:30 AM on Tuesday. I also want to echo what others have said about the food banks being understanding about the P-EBT delays. We ended up going to our local food pantry last week when we were running low on groceries, and they were super helpful and didn't make us jump through any extra hoops. Hang in there everyone who's still waiting - it really does seem like they've worked through the technical issues now!

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.