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Got my letter yesterday, but it said my kids aren't eligible for P-EBT 4.0 because they weren't enrolled in free/reduced meals. But that's WRONG! I definitely filled out the school meal application last fall and got approved. Has anyone else had this issue? Who do I need to talk to - the school or the P-EBT people?
You should contact both. Start with your children's school nutrition services department to confirm they have your children properly coded as receiving free/reduced meals. Get documentation of your approval if possible. Then contact the P-EBT hotline (877-328-9677) to report the discrepancy. There have been data matching issues between school districts and the P-EBT program in previous rounds. Be prepared for a long wait on the P-EBT hotline, or consider using a service to help connect with them more quickly. Keep documentation of all communications.
Still waiting here in West LA! Been checking my mailbox religiously for the past three weeks and nothing yet. My kids are definitely eligible since they've been getting free lunch all year. Reading everyone's updates is giving me hope though - sounds like they're still rolling out in batches. At least I know I'm not the only one still waiting! Going to give it another week before I start worrying about calling the hotline.
I'm in the same boat in West LA! Been checking daily and nothing yet. My kids have been on free lunch all year too. It's reassuring to know others are still waiting - I was starting to think mine got lost in the mail or something. From what I'm reading it sounds like they're definitely still distributing them, so I'm trying to stay patient. Maybe we'll both get ours this week!
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My cousin got the same extra $120 but then got a letter saying it was for "supply chain disruptions" or something? Anyone else see that explanation? I'm confused if it's the summer program or something else entirely.
Dylan Wright
•Those are actually two different things. The Supply Chain Supplemental Payment was a one-time payment sent out earlier this year (around February/March). This new $120 is definitely the Summer EBT program that runs June-August.
This is such a relief to read! I just discovered the extra $120 on my daughter's card this morning and was panicking that it was some kind of system error. I've been burned before by benefit overpayments that had to be paid back, so I'm always nervous about unexpected money showing up. It's great to know this is legitimate and part of the Summer EBT program. Really wish they'd communicate these changes better though - would save so many of us from the stress and confusion!
I totally understand that feeling! I had the same panic when I first saw unexpected money on benefits cards. It's so frustrating that they don't send clear notifications about these programs. Maybe we should all start following the CDSS website or their social media more closely to catch these announcements? Though honestly, they should be sending direct notifications to all P-EBT recipients when new programs start.
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Amara Nwosu
The whole P-EBT system is SO BROKEN! My neighbor's kids all got cards with $750 each and they make over $100k a year (private school with scholarship)! Meanwhile my kids who ACTUALLY NEED THE HELP are still waiting! I've called that stupid hotline 27 TIMES and either get disconnected or told they "can't look up individual cases" - WHAT IS THE POINT OF A HOTLINE THEN?!?!
omg right?? i got hung up on 3 times yesterday!! so frustrating
Jamal Carter
•Private schools can participate in the National School Lunch Program too, which would make students eligible regardless of household income if they're receiving free or reduced-price meals through a scholarship program. P-EBT eligibility is tied to the meal program participation, not family income directly. But I understand your frustration with the hotline - they're severely understaffed for the volume of calls they're receiving.
I'm going through the exact same thing! My youngest (2 years old) got her P-EBT card last Friday, but my 7-year-old who's in 2nd grade still hasn't received anything. It's so confusing because I assumed it would be the opposite. After reading through these comments, it sounds like the under-6 rule explains why the little ones are getting cards first. I'm also wondering if there might be some issue with the school data matching - my son's school uses a different spelling of his middle name than what's on our CalFresh case. Definitely going to check on that tomorrow. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - at least I know we're not alone in this chaos!
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I just called the Orange County Social Services Agency about this because I was confused too (my last name starts with I). The representative explained that this temporary schedule is part of their transition to a new benefits management system that's supposed to make everything faster in the long run. For anyone experiencing hardship due to the delay, you can apply for expedited benefits by submitting an emergency request through your BenefitsCal account. Click on "Contact My Worker" and select "Emergency Assistance Request" from the dropdown menu. Make sure to explain that the delay is causing immediate food insecurity. They're prioritizing these requests and typically processing them within 24-48 hours.
Amina Diallo
•Thank you for this info! I wish they had communicated all this better. My neighbor's last name starts with T and she's going to be waiting a while. I'll let her know about the emergency request option.
This is such a relief to read! My last name is Hamilton and I got my benefits around 2 PM today after checking obsessively since the 10th. I was starting to wonder if I had missed some important paperwork or if there was an issue with my case. The lack of communication from the county about this change is really frustrating - I would have been so much less stressed if I had known this was a planned system upgrade rather than thinking something was wrong with my account. At least now I know what to expect and can plan better. Thanks for sharing this timeline breakdown, it's super helpful for everyone else who might be panicking like I was!
Ava Johnson
You can find your local food banks by texting your zip code to 898-211 or by visiting www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank. Many don't have income requirements - they're open to anyone who needs food assistance. Also, after the emergency allotments end, you might see your benefit amount adjust slightly with the annual cost of living increase scheduled for October 2025. It won't make up for the emergency allotment loss, but every little bit helps.
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ElectricDreamer
•Just texted my zip code and found 3 food banks near me! THANK YOU! And good to know about the October increase too.
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Molly Hansen
I'm in the same boat as you @ElectricDreamer - single parent struggling with this news. One thing that helped me was requesting a copy of my benefit calculation from my worker so I could see exactly how they arrived at my regular amount. Turns out I was missing some deductions that could boost my base benefit by about $80/month. Also, if you're working, make sure they're using the correct earned income deduction (20% of gross earnings). Sometimes errors happen and it's worth double-checking. The WIC program might also help if your kids are under 5 - it provides specific foods like milk, eggs, and cereal that can free up some of your CalFresh budget for other items.
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