the whole system is RIGGED against us!!! my friend had her benefits stolen 3 TIMES and they accused HER of selling her benefits!!! this is why i keep telling everyone to withdraw all your money as soon as it hits your account and just use cash!!

I'm so sorry you're going through this - EBT theft is absolutely devastating, especially when you have kids depending on those benefits. Since you mentioned the county is questioning the second theft, make sure you emphasize that you DID change your card after the first incident and that you've been following security protocols. Document everything - save all your police reports, correspondence with the county, and any evidence of the theft. One thing that helped me was creating a "theft protection checklist" after my benefits were stolen: 1) Only shop at stores with good lighting and visible security cameras, 2) Never use your card at gas stations or convenience stores (higher risk for skimmers), 3) Always cover your PIN entry with your other hand, and 4) Check your balance daily through the app so you catch any unauthorized use immediately. For immediate food help while waiting for replacement, also try reaching out to local churches and community centers - many have emergency food pantries that don't require extensive paperwork. Hang in there - this isn't your fault, and you WILL get through this.

I'm also confused about this whole situation! My kids are in 2nd and 4th grade and we definitely got P-EBT benefits in 2024 that helped so much. Reading through these comments, it sounds like California isn't doing P-EBT 4.0 but maybe there's still the Summer EBT program? Can someone explain the difference between P-EBT and Summer EBT? I want to make sure I understand what my family might be eligible for going forward. Also, should I be doing anything now to make sure we get the Summer EBT benefits when they come available?

Thanks everyone for all the helpful information! I'm still hoping California will announce something similar to what Oregon is doing, but it sounds like I should focus on what's actually available. I'm going to check with my kids' school to make sure they're still enrolled in the free lunch program and that our address is current. The Summer EBT program sounds like it will be helpful even if it's not as much as the old P-EBT payments. I also want to double-check that I'm reporting all our expenses correctly on our CalFresh application - someone mentioned childcare costs and I'm not sure if I included those properly. Does anyone know if after-school care expenses count as childcare deductions for CalFresh purposes?

One important thing to know - if your income is low enough to qualify for CalFresh, you might also qualify for LIHEAP (energy assistance) and the Affordable Connectivity Program (internet discount). These can free up money in your overall budget. Also, don't forget that when you recertify for CalFresh, submit ALL documentation about your expenses. The more verified expenses you have, the higher your benefit calculation can be.

I feel your pain so much! Same thing happened to me last month - got my benefits and thought I could finally stock up, but everything is SO expensive now. One thing that's helped me is meal prepping with cheap ingredients. I make huge batches of things like lentil soup, bean and rice dishes, and pasta with whatever vegetables are on sale. Also, if you have any Asian markets near you, they often have much cheaper produce and pantry staples. And definitely look into those medical expense deductions others mentioned - every little bit helps when the benefits are this inadequate compared to actual food costs.

hey did u ever call that pebt number??? curious what they said. my cousin is in similar boat and wondering if its worth her trying

I'm so sorry this happened to your family! This is unfortunately a really common story - the P-EBT rollout was such a mess, especially for families with young children. The state really should have done better outreach about the under-6 eligibility since so many parents had no idea their babies and toddlers qualified. Since you mentioned you're in Sacramento County, you might also want to double-check that your current CalFresh case worker has your son properly listed in your household. Sometimes when kids age up from babies to school-age, there can be changes in how benefits are calculated. And definitely make sure he's signed up for free school meals now that he's in kindergarten - that's at least one current benefit you can secure for him. It's really frustrating that the state had such poor communication about this program. You're definitely not alone in missing out on these benefits due to address changes and lack of awareness about the age requirements.

One time I froze my card and completely forgot about it. Went to the grocery store, loaded up $200 worth of food, and then couldn't figure out why my card kept getting declined. The cashier was giving me THE LOOK while the line grew behind me. Had to abandon my cart and call from the parking lot to unfreeze it. So embarrassing! Now I set a reminder in my phone whenever I freeze it lol.

To clarify about benefit replacement since there's some confusion in this thread: California has the EBT Theft Reimbursement program that CAN replace stolen benefits in many cases. Requirements: 1) Report within 10 days of discovering the theft, 2) File a police report, 3) Complete the specific theft report form from your county, 4) You can be reimbursed up to twice in a federal fiscal year. This is for electronic theft OR physical card theft. The law was expanded in 2025 to cover more situations. Don't let anyone tell you it's not possible!