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 😡

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!

Just wanted to update my earlier comment - since your rent would be $1200 and your income is $1416, you're actually at about 85% of your income, which is slightly above the 80% threshold. However, don't give up! There are two approaches: 1. Ask your eligibility worker if there are any exemptions available based on your local housing market 2. See if you qualify for any additional income that could be counted (child support, earned income, etc.) to raise the threshold Also, once you're stably housed, make sure to apply for Section 8/Housing Choice Voucher if you haven't already. The waitlist is long but getting on it now means eventually you'll have more affordable housing.

I work at a nonprofit that helps families navigate housing assistance in LA County. A few additional things to know about the CalWORKs Permanent Homeless Assistance: 1. The payment typically goes directly to the landlord, not to you - this protects both parties 2. You'll need to provide a rental agreement or statement from the landlord showing the deposit amount 3. The 80% rule can sometimes have flexibility if you can demonstrate this is the most affordable suitable housing available in your area 4. Make sure to mention you have children when applying - families with kids often get priority processing Also, don't overlook the CalWORKs Diversion program if you haven't used it yet - it can provide up to $1,000 in emergency assistance that might help bridge any gap between what Permanent Homeless Assistance covers and what you need. One more tip: if your worker seems unfamiliar with these programs, ask to speak with a supervisor. Not all eligibility workers are equally knowledgeable about all available benefits, and you shouldn't miss out on assistance because of that. You're doing everything right by seeking help and planning ahead. Your kids are lucky to have a parent who's fighting so hard for their stability.

im so glad u asked this i was confused too!! got 4 cards for my 2 kids (2 rounds of benefits) and thought maybe they sent duplicates by accident lol

I'm in the same boat as you! Just got my second round of P-EBT cards and was super confused at first. Reading through all these comments has been really helpful - I had no idea each kid was supposed to get their own card. I've been treating them like regular EBT where the whole family shares one card. Good thing I kept all the cards from the first round! Now I need to figure out which card belongs to which kid since they all look pretty similar. Does anyone have tips for keeping track of multiple P-EBT cards?

hey just wondering did u ever get ur sun bucks? my cousins in san bernardino still waiting too

Hey @Skylar! So glad to hear you finally got your Summer EBT benefits! I'm actually in a similar situation - my last name starts with Y and I'm also in San Bernardino County. Still haven't received mine yet but after reading this whole thread I feel way more informed about how the system works. It's my first time dealing with Summer EBT too and I was totally confused about the timing. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - especially the info about the R-Z batch processing. I'll keep checking my balance over the next few days!