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Important reminder for everyone receiving P-EBT cards: These benefits will EXPIRE if not used within 274 days (about 9 months) from issuance. Don't set it aside and forget about it! Also, P-EBT has fewer restrictions than regular CalFresh - you CAN purchase hot prepared foods with P-EBT at any location that accepts EBT.
wait REALLY?? u can buy hot food with the p-ebt but not regular ebt? thats so backwards! so i can get my kid a rotisserie chicken with his p-ebt but cant buy one with my regular calfresh?? make it make sense 🙄
Yep, it's confusing! P-EBT was created with different rules during the pandemic. Regular CalFresh has the hot food restriction except in counties with disaster waivers. The logic is that P-EBT replaces school meals (which are served hot), while regular CalFresh is for groceries. I agree it's not very logical when you think about it practically!
Update: I called the P-EBT hotline (took forever to get through) and you all were right! The amount is based on actual attendance. My son missed 17 school days due to that pneumonia plus some other absences, and they subtract approximately $8.28 per day missed. Mystery solved! Thanks everyone for your help. Now to figure out what to spend this on since apparently it expires faster than regular benefits!
This happened to my sister too!!! She never got her benefits back tho cuz she waited too long to report it!! Make sure u do the police report ASAP!! There's like a 30 day window or something
UPDATE: I filed the police report this morning (they gave me a case number) and finally got through to P-EBT customer service using that Claimyr service someone suggested. The rep confirmed I need to submit Form PEBT-10 with the police report number and proof of my current address. She said processing takes around 2-3 months but the full benefit amount ($1,465) should be replaced if my claim is approved. Thanks everyone for the guidance - will update again when I hear something!
so glad u got thru to them!! did they say anything about if the person who stole ur benefits will get in trouble??
The P-EBT rep said they don't handle the legal side of things directly, but the police report gets forwarded to a benefits fraud investigation unit. The officer I talked to at the police station said these cases are prosecuted when they have clear evidence of who did it (like if it was a specific person at my old address). Fingers crossed they figure it out AND I get the benefits replaced!
guys make sure ur also checking the right card!! i was checking my regular ebt for days and panicking but then realized p-ebt is on that SEPERATE blue card they sent us last year lol felt like such an idiot
omg i just checked and youre right!!! mine was there all along!! THANK YOU!!!!!
I'm definitely checking the blue P-EBT card, but still nothing there. Glad it worked out for you though!
UPDATE: My benefits just loaded this morning!!! $188 for each of my kids! So relieved. Looks like they're just rolling them out gradually like you all said. Thanks everyone for your help and support!
Great news! Glad it worked out. The system may have its flaws, but at least the benefits do come through eventually.
My baby goes through formula pretty fast so I'd still need to buy more before next month, but that's definitely an option if the other suggestions don't work out. Thanks!
Just to summarize the best options based on everyone's advice: 1. Contact Target to see if they'll process a special return/repurchase with your WIC card 2. Call your WIC office to see if they can adjust next month's benefits 3. Contact your CalFresh worker to explain the situation 4. Use the formula and adjust your budget for the month The most important thing is NOT to sell or exchange the formula for cash, as that could result in program violations. These programs take trafficking very seriously, and the consequences can be severe (disqualification periods of 1 year or more).
Thank you so much for laying out all the options! I'll try calling Target first thing tomorrow, and if that doesn't work, I'll contact my WIC office. I appreciate everyone's help - definitely won't risk selling it now that I understand the potential consequences.
Yara Khalil
my friend who works for the county says theres talk about inflation increases to calfresh coming soon maybe next years benefits will go up alittle fingers crossed
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Paolo Esposito
•I'll believe that when I see it! They always TALK about helping but then nothing happens! Meanwhile grocery prices keep going UP!
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LunarEclipse
Just to clarify something important - your regular CalFresh benefits DO increase each year with the cost of living adjustment (COLA). This usually happens in October. Last October (2024), benefits increased by about 3%. While this doesn't fully cover inflation for many families, there is an automatic annual adjustment. And yes, definitely report your rent increase - shelter costs are a major factor in benefit calculation.
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Zainab Ibrahim
•I had no idea benefits increase automatically each year, even a little bit helps. I'm going to report my rent increase tomorrow and see if that helps my situation. Thanks for all the information, everyone!
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