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Just wanted to add that if you're still waiting, don't panic! I got mine about 2 weeks after my sister got hers and we live in the same zip code. The distribution really is random within each phase. Also, for anyone who's cards might get lost or stolen, you can report them through the EBT customer service line and they'll send replacements. Had to do this last year when my daughter's card never showed up - turns out our mail carrier was having issues. The replacement came within about 10 days. Hang in there everyone!
Thanks for sharing that! It's really reassuring to know the distribution timing can vary so much even within the same area. Good to know about the replacement process too - I never thought about what happens if they get lost in the mail. These days with package theft being so common, it's probably more of an issue than people realize. Definitely going to keep checking my mail carefully for those plain white envelopes everyone's mentioning!
Been following this thread anxiously since I'm in the same boat! Got 2 kids in elementary and we qualify for free lunch but haven't seen our cards yet. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences - especially the tip about the plain white envelopes. I've probably been tossing mail thinking it was spam! Going to start checking everything more carefully now. Also good to know about Claimyr if I need to call the hotline. The waiting is so stressful when you're budgeting tight and counting on this help. Thanks for keeping us all updated!
I totally feel you on the stress of waiting! I'm new to this community but going through the exact same thing with my twin boys in 3rd grade. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been so helpful - I had no idea the cards looked so much like junk mail. I've definitely thrown away stuff thinking it was spam too! It's reassuring to see that people are still getting their cards and that the timing really is all over the place. Fingers crossed we both see ours soon! This community seems really supportive for navigating all this stuff.
UPDATE: Just got our P-EBT card in the mail today!! (May 17) We're in the Sherman Oaks area of LA. It did come in a very plain envelope that I almost missed. It has the full amount for all months! Such a relief. Hope everyone else gets theirs soon!
Congrats Malik! So happy to hear you finally got yours! I'm in Van Nuys and still waiting but this gives me hope that they're working through the San Fernando Valley area. Going to be extra careful checking my mail now. Thanks for the update and glad you got the full amount!
Thanks for sharing! I'm also in the Valley area (North Hollywood) and haven't gotten mine yet either. It's encouraging to see the cards are finally making their way through different parts of LA County. Fingers crossed we both get ours soon! The plain envelope tip has been so helpful - I've been checking every piece of mail super carefully now.
I work with several families in Salinas who received their P-EBT 4.0 benefits this week (specifically Monday and Tuesday). It seems to be coming in waves. One thing to check - are you sure you have the correct P-EBT card? Some families still try to use the original P-EBT 1.0 card, but P-EBT 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0 all use the same newer card that was issued later. The original white P-EBT cards from the first pandemic round won't receive new benefits.
UPDATE: Just wanted to let everyone know that our benefits finally arrived this morning! Checked the cards and each of my kids got $402 for the summer benefits. So if you're in Salinas and still waiting, they're definitely rolling out now. Thanks everyone for the helpful info!
That's awesome news Andre! So glad it finally came through for your family. $402 per kid is really helpful with how expensive groceries have gotten. I'm still waiting on mine (my daughter goes to Roosevelt Elementary) but seeing that Sherwood got theirs gives me hope ours will show up in the next day or two. Thanks for updating us - it's really helpful to know the distribution is actually happening!
Congratulations Andre! That's such a relief. I'm new to this community but have been following this thread because I'm in the same boat - still waiting for my son's P-EBT benefits here in Salinas. He goes to Lincoln Elementary. Seeing that benefits are actually hitting accounts now gives me hope that ours will come through soon too. Quick question - did you get any notification when the funds were loaded, or did you just happen to check the balance? I've been checking every morning but wondering if there's a better way to stay on top of it.
UPDATE: Our benefits just loaded today! Full $575 per child as expected. Thanks everyone for the help and information! For anyone else waiting in Manteca Unified, check your cards now!
Just wanted to add my experience for anyone still waiting - I'm new to the P-EBT program and had to learn everything from scratch this year. My kids attend a school in San Joaquin County that participates in the Community Eligibility Provision (free meals for all students), but I never knew about P-EBT until a friend mentioned it. I applied late through the ca.p-ebt.org website in May and just received our cards in the mail yesterday. The benefits were already loaded with the full summer amount! So for anyone who might have missed out on automatic enrollment, it's not too late to apply directly through the website. The application was pretty straightforward and asked for basic info about my kids and their school.
This is so helpful! I had no idea you could still apply directly if you missed the automatic enrollment. My sister's kids go to a different district and she's been waiting forever with no luck. I'm definitely going to share this with her - sounds like applying through the website might be faster than waiting for the automatic rollout. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Thank you for sharing this! I'm actually in a similar situation - my kids go to a school with free lunch for everyone but I somehow never got the P-EBT cards automatically. I didn't even know this program existed until I saw this thread. Quick question - when you applied through the website, did you need any specific documents or just basic info like school name and your kids' details? And how long did it take from application to receiving the cards? Really appreciate you posting about the direct application option!
Aisha Mohammed
This entire thread has been such a lifesaver to read! I'm brand new to both this community and CalFresh (literally just got my card yesterday), and Connor's situation was exactly what I was worried about happening to me. I had no idea there was a separate EBT customer service number - I thought you had to go through the county office for absolutely everything! Reading everyone's real experiences and practical solutions has been so much more helpful than any official government website. I'm definitely saving that 1-877-328-9677 number and all the identity verification tips right now. It's terrifying how something as simple as forgetting your PIN can turn into a food crisis when you're relying on these benefits. Connor, I'm so glad you got everything sorted out quickly! Thank you to everyone who shared their knowledge and experiences - this is exactly the kind of community support that makes these overwhelming government systems feel less scary for newcomers like me. I feel so much more prepared now knowing what to do if I ever run into EBT issues!
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Isabella Santos
•Welcome to the community Aisha! It's so reassuring to see how this thread has helped so many newcomers like us. I just joined this community a few days ago and I'm also very new to CalFresh (got approved about 3 weeks ago). Reading Connor's experience was honestly terrifying because I realized how unprepared I was for any EBT issues. Like everyone else here, I had no clue about the separate customer service line and would have definitely been calling the wrong number in a panic! I've learned so much from everyone's shared experiences - it's amazing how this community provides the real practical information that you just can't find in official resources. I'm definitely bookmarking this entire thread and saving all the important numbers and tips. Connor, thank you for sharing your situation and the resolution - it's going to help so many people who find themselves in similar emergencies. This is exactly the kind of supportive community that makes navigating these complex government programs feel less overwhelming!
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Mateo Sanchez
Wow, this thread has been incredibly educational for me too! I'm also new to this community and fairly new to CalFresh (about 4 months now), and I honestly had no idea about that separate EBT customer service line. Like so many others here, I've been calling my county office for everything and wondering why it takes hours to get through to anyone. Connor, reading about your situation gave me such anxiety because I can totally picture myself in that exact same panic - trying to buy groceries for my family and having the card get locked. I'm so relieved you got it resolved quickly! I've already saved that 1-877-328-9677 number in my contacts and taken screenshots of all the verification info everyone mentioned. It's incredible how this community comes together with real, practical solutions instead of just empty sympathy. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - this is exactly the kind of information that actually helps people navigate these complicated systems. I feel so much more prepared now knowing what to do if I ever face an EBT emergency!
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