btw for everyone the p-ebt 3.0 benefits dont expire for like a year so u don't have to spend it all at once. and u can use it at farmers markets for double value with market match program

Just wanted to add another data point - I'm in San Bernardino County and got my P-EBT 3.0 card yesterday (April 15th). It came with a letter explaining the benefits and had $1,760 loaded for my daughter. The letter mentioned that if you don't receive your card by 30 days after your county's distribution phase, you should contact your local county office to request a replacement. Also, for anyone who moved recently, you can update your address by calling the P-EBT customer service line at 877-382-8622 - they can help make sure future cards get to the right place. Really glad this thread exists because it helped me realize I should check for the card!

Thanks everyone for clearing this up! I'm going to stop by our school office tomorrow and make sure they have our current information for the Summer EBT program. My sister must have gotten confused about the name - seems like she was talking about Summer EBT but called it "P-EBT 4.0" which makes sense why I couldn't find any information about it. Really appreciate all the helpful responses!

Just wanted to add that you can also check your eligibility status online through the BenefitsCal website at benefitscal.com. They have a section specifically for Summer EBT where you can see if your kids are already in the system and what your current status is. It's much faster than calling sometimes! Also, make sure your school has your current mailing address AND phone number - I almost missed out last year because they had my old cell number and I didn't get the text notifications.

UPDATE: I wanted to let everyone know what happened in case it helps someone else. I finally got through to my county worker yesterday (took forever!) and submitted the police report and CF 303 form. They approved emergency replacement benefits that will be loaded onto my new card as soon as I receive it (should arrive tomorrow). The worker said they're seeing dozens of these cases every week now. Thanks everyone for your help! I'm still angry this happened but at least my kids won't go hungry now. And I'm definitely changing my PIN regularly from now on.

This is such important information to share! I'm glad Alice was able to get her benefits restored quickly. For anyone else dealing with EBT theft, I'd also recommend covering your PIN when entering it at stores and checking your balance regularly through the ConnectEBT app. Some stores have been better about checking their card readers for skimmers, but it's still happening way too often. The fact that dozens of cases are being reported weekly shows this is becoming a real crisis for families relying on CalFresh benefits.

Just remember that P-EBT balances expire after a certain period (I think it's something like 274 days from when they're issued) so make sure to use them before they disappear! I lost about $300 last year because I forgot about some funds on my kids' cards.

For road trips with P-EBT, I've found it really helpful to plan grocery stops at larger chain stores like Safeway, Kroger, or even Walmart since they're usually easy to find along highways and accept EBT. You can grab things like individual bags of chips, crackers, string cheese, apples, bananas, and juice boxes - stuff that doesn't need refrigeration and is easy for kids to eat in the car. I also recommend checking if your route goes through any areas with WinCo or other budget grocery stores since you can stretch those P-EBT dollars further there. Safe travels!

I wanted to add one more resource that might help - the San Diego Food Bank has a Senior Food Rescue program where they deliver fresh produce and pantry items directly to seniors who have transportation challenges. You can call them at (858) 527-1419 to see if you qualify. They also partner with some senior housing complexes to do mobile food distributions. Also, if you're comfortable with technology, there's an app called "FlashFood" that shows discounted groceries at stores near you - sometimes up to 50% off items that are close to their sell-by date but still perfectly good. It's helped me stretch my food budget when money is tight. You can pay with your EBT card at participating stores. Keep us updated on how the recertification goes - I'm rooting for you to get those medical deductions applied!

I'm a senior food advocate and wanted to add a few more resources that might help you stretch your benefits: 1. **Senior Gleaning Programs** - Many farms in North County San Diego let seniors pick leftover produce for free after harvest. Contact the San Diego County Farm Bureau at (760) 745-3023 for current opportunities. 2. **WIC Senior Farmers Market Program** - If you're not already enrolled, this gives you additional coupons ($20-40 per season) specifically for fresh produce at farmers markets. It's separate from CalFresh. 3. **Food 4 Less discount days** - Many locations offer 10% senior discounts on Wednesdays, and they accept EBT. Combined with sales, this can really help your $47 go further. 4. **Community fridges** - There are several "blessing boxes" and community fridges around San Diego where people leave free food. The Little Free Pantry map shows locations near you. Regarding your medical expenses - $320/month should definitely increase your benefits significantly! When you call for recertification, also ask if you qualify for "expedited processing" since you're a senior with very low benefits. This can speed up the review process. You're doing great by reaching out for help - that takes courage. The combination of all these resources should make a real difference in your food security.