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does anyone know if p-ebt benefits expire? found old card from 2023 and wondering if money still on there??
Yes, P-EBT benefits do expire, but they typically remain active for at least a year from the date they were issued. If your card is from 2023, the benefits are likely still available. You can check the balance by calling the number on the back of the card. Unlike regular CalFresh benefits, P-EBT doesn't expire month-to-month - you have the full period (usually 12 months) to use the entire benefit amount.
I went through this exact same situation last year! When I moved, I updated my address with CalFresh immediately but forgot to update it with the school district. My P-EBT card ended up going to my old address and it was such a hassle to get it sorted out. The key thing is that P-EBT primarily pulls address info from the school system, not CalFresh. Since you updated both places, you should be in good shape! But definitely call that P-EBT hotline number that Sean mentioned (877-328-9677) just to double-check. When I called, they were able to confirm my kids were in the system and verify the address they had on file. Also, keep an eye on your mail around the time they're supposed to be distributed. If it doesn't show up within a week or two of when other families in your area are getting theirs, call immediately. The sooner you catch any address issues, the easier they are to fix. Good luck!
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I'm confused about this whole SAR7 thing too...is that the same as recertification? I got a packet in the mail but I'm not sure if I'm supposed to fill it out or wait for recertification. Does everybody have to do the SAR7?
SAR7 and recertification are two different things: - SAR7 (Semi-Annual Report) is a form you submit halfway through your certification period. It's a shorter form where you report any changes in income, expenses, or household composition. - Recertification happens once a year and is a more complete review of your case where you essentially reapply for benefits. All CalFresh households must complete both unless they're exempt (some elderly or disabled households). The SAR7 is due in the 6th month of your certification period, and recertification is due in the 12th month.
I called the county office today and finally got through after trying several times. They updated my information to include the childcare expenses! The worker said my benefits will increase starting next month by about $175. I'm so glad I asked here instead of just assuming what my neighbor said about extra benefits. The childcare deduction is actually going to help way more in the long run. Thank you everyone for your help!
That's awesome! Congrats on the increase! 👏
That's fantastic news! $175 more per month will make such a difference for your family. It's great that you were persistent and got through to update your case. This is a perfect example of why it's so important to report all eligible expenses - the system really doesn't automatically know about things like childcare costs. Hope this helps other people reading this thread to check their own cases too!
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Just wanted to share my experience as another family still waiting! We're the Martinez family in Orange County and haven't received our Summer 2025 P-EBT cards yet either. My kids are in Anaheim City School District and qualify for free lunch. I called the P-EBT hotline yesterday (877-328-9677) and after waiting about 90 minutes, the representative told me that Orange County is running about 2-3 weeks behind the original schedule due to processing delays. She said our cards should arrive by the end of July. It's frustrating but at least I got a timeline! For those of you in LA County, it might be worth calling to see if there are similar delays in your area. The rep also mentioned that if you don't receive your card by August 1st, you should definitely call back to report it as potentially lost in the mail.
Thank you so much for sharing this update! It's really helpful to know that Orange County is running behind schedule - that gives me hope that maybe LA County is experiencing similar delays. I'm going to wait until the end of July like your rep suggested before calling again. It's such a relief to hear from someone who actually got through and got real information. I was starting to worry that our application got lost or something went wrong with our eligibility. Fingers crossed our cards arrive soon!
I'm in a similar situation with my family - last name starts with B (Bailey) and we're in San Bernardino County. Still haven't received our Summer 2025 P-EBT cards either, even though my kids qualify through their school's free lunch program. Reading through all these comments is both reassuring and frustrating - it sounds like the distribution is way more complicated than they initially explained and there are delays everywhere! I'm going to try calling that P-EBT hotline number (877-328-9677) that several people mentioned, though I'm not looking forward to potentially waiting hours on hold. Has anyone had luck getting through during specific times of day? I'm wondering if calling first thing in the morning or later in the evening might have shorter wait times.
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Just wanted to add that you can check your Summer EBT eligibility online at ca.gov/summerf00d or call 1-877-328-9677. If your kids qualified for free or reduced-price school meals during the 2024-25 school year, they should automatically get the Summer EBT benefits loaded onto a separate card (not your regular EBT card). The benefits are loaded all at once in June for the whole summer - $135 total per eligible child ($45 x 3 months). Also, if you haven't received your card by now and think you should qualify, definitely call that number because sometimes there are processing delays!
I'm new to CalFresh and this community has been so helpful! I was also confused about the benefits this month. My case worker mentioned that the annual COLA increase might make it seem like there's "extra" money, but it's just the regular adjustment. For anyone still struggling with food costs, I found that shopping at discount grocery stores like Aldi and using the CalFresh restaurant locator for hot meals has really helped stretch my benefits. Also, don't forget about local food pantries - many don't require any paperwork and can supplement your monthly groceries. The combination of CalFresh + food banks + Summer EBT for kids (if eligible) can really make a difference during these expensive times!
Welcome to the community! Thanks for sharing those helpful tips about discount stores and food pantries. I'm still figuring out all the resources available too. Do you happen to know if there's a list somewhere of which restaurants accept CalFresh? I've heard some places do but I'm not sure how to find them in my area.
Olivia Kay
I'm in Fresno County too and just got my P-EBT SunBucks cards yesterday for my two kids. Same situation - the automated system said benefits won't load until the 31st. My last name starts with T so that matches what others are saying about the S-Z batch. It's really frustrating because my kids are asking why their friends can use their cards already but we have to wait. I understand they're trying to prevent system crashes but they really should have explained the staggered rollout better in the letters they sent. At least now I know it's normal and not a problem with our specific cards. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!
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Giovanni Martello
•I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm new to the community and just moved to Fresno County with my two kids. We got our P-EBT SunBucks cards last week and I was panicking thinking something was wrong when they wouldn't work. My last name starts with V so I guess we're in that final batch too. It's such a relief to know this is normal and not a mistake. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences - it's so helpful for those of us who are new to navigating these programs. The lack of clear information in the letter they sent was definitely confusing for a newcomer like me!
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PixelPrincess
Welcome to the community @Giovanni Martello! I'm glad you found this thread helpful. I'm also relatively new to Fresno County and had the exact same panic when my kids' cards wouldn't work right away. It's really frustrating how they don't explain the staggered rollout clearly in the materials they send. I've learned so much from this community about navigating all these different programs. If you haven't already, I'd recommend calling 2-1-1 like @Genevieve Cavalier mentioned if you need any food assistance while waiting for the 31st. They connected me with a local food pantry that really helped us get through until our cards activate. Also, once your cards do work, definitely look into that Market Match program she mentioned for farmers markets - sounds like a great way to stretch the benefits further for fresh produce!
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