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Just to clarify some information in this thread: 1. The program changed names from P-EBT (pandemic-related) to Summer EBT (federal name) to Summer Food Benefits (California's implementation name) 2. Each county follows the same state distribution schedule, but some counties may be processing faster than others 3. Children in the same household may receive cards on different days even with the same last name - this is normal 4. The benefit amount is $43.50 per child per month (June, July, August) totaling $130.50 per child for summer 2025 5. Once activated, benefits remain available for 274 days If you're having trouble reaching someone, you can also check status at calfresh.dss.ca.gov/summer or text SUMMEREBT to 877-877.
Thank you for these additional details! I'll try texting that number to check our status. Just curious - do these Summer Food Benefits get loaded onto our regular CalFresh EBT card or is it a completely separate card? Trying to know exactly what I'm looking for in the mail.
It's a completely separate white card that looks different from your regular Golden State Advantage EBT card. It will come in a white envelope addressed to your child (not to you), which is why these sometimes get overlooked in the mail. The card itself will say "California Summer Food Benefits" on it.
omg this explains why i almost threw mine away!!! it was addressed to my 3 year old son not me lol. who sends mail to toddlers?? so weird
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I made this EXACT mistake last year and it was so embarrassing!!! Was at Denny's with my kids, tried to use my P-EBT card since my regular CalFresh was low, and it got declined. The waitress told me "you can't use WELFARE here" really loud and everyone stared at us. I wanted to tell her actually my REGULAR EBT would work just fine there but I was too mortified. Now I keep the cards in separate wallet sections so I don't mix them up. But yeah, P-EBT = groceries only, regular CalFresh = both groceries AND restaurants (if you qualify for RMP).
Ugh, I'm so sorry that happened to you! That's exactly what I was worried about - the embarrassment factor. Thanks for the tip about keeping the cards separate. I'm going to do that too.
stupid question maybe but why cant they just make the rules the same for both cards?? its confusing when they work different
It's actually because they're funded by different federal programs with different purposes. Regular CalFresh (SNAP) has the Restaurant Meals Program exception that was created specifically for vulnerable populations who might struggle to prepare meals. P-EBT was created under pandemic legislation specifically to replace school meals children would have received, so it follows the standard SNAP rules without exceptions. I agree it would be less confusing if they worked the same way!
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my kid's card came with wrong name on it!! they spelled his last name wrong and now i gotta go thru this whole process again smh the system is such a mess
That's awful! Did you have to send the card back or can you just request a new one with the correct spelling? I was really worried about mistakes like that which is why I triple-checked all our info during recertification.
hey did ur kids get the same amount on their cards or different? my caseworker said something about an allotment per person but i didn't really understand how they calculate it
CalFresh benefits are calculated for the entire household, then typically loaded onto the primary cardholder's EBT card. If additional household members have their own cards, they're usually all linked to the same account and share the total household benefit. The calculation is based on household size, income, and eligible deductions. Each person doesn't get a separate "allotment" - instead, the total household benefit is what matters. You can give each person access to whatever portion of the total you want by requesting separate cards, but they all draw from the same monthly benefit amount.
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update!!!! just checked my card this morning and the money is there!!!!! $483 for my youngest and $483 for my twins too!!! check ur cards everyone in fresno!!!
Just checked and nothing for me yet. Maybe they're loading them in batches? What's the first letter of your last name? Wondering if they're going alphabetically.
I found the official P-EBT 3.0 schedule on the CDSS website (it was buried pretty deep). Here's the link: [https://www.cdss.ca.gov/pebt-program-updates](https://www.cdss.ca.gov/pebt-program-updates) It confirms what others have said - Fresno County is scheduled for April 10-25, and they're issuing in batches based on case numbers, not alphabetically. Also, there's a note that some cards may take 1-3 business days to show the new balance after issuance, so keep checking even if it's not there immediately.
Thank you for finding this! Bookmarking that page now. Will keep checking my card daily - fingers crossed it comes through soon.
Sophia Nguyen
As someone who's helped several clients with this issue, I want to clarify some information: 1. Yes, California now has a limited EBT theft reimbursement program as of October 2024 2. You must report the theft within 10 days of discovery 3. You need to submit form CF 303 along with a police report 4. The county can replace benefits stolen via skimming/electronic theft (not PIN-based transactions) 5. There's a maximum of two months of replacements per federal fiscal year 6. Processing time is typically 15-30 days The most critical factor is documenting everything and following up persistently. Many county workers aren't fully trained on the new replacement program yet, so you might need to specifically mention "Administrative Notice 24-12 regarding EBT benefit theft replacement" to get to the right person. Also, request a PIN change and new card immediately to prevent further theft.
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Carmen Diaz
•Thank you for this detailed information! I've been trying to reach my county office all day without success. I'll definitely mention that Administrative Notice when I finally get through. Do you happen to know if there's an online way to submit the CF 303 form? Or does it have to be done over the phone or in person?
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Sophia Nguyen
•Unfortunately, the CF 303 still requires a signature, so it can't be submitted entirely online. However, you can download the form from the CDSS website, fill it out, and then either: 1. Upload the signed form through your BenefitsCal account under "Submit Verification" 2. Email it to your county office (if they accept emails) 3. Fax it 4. Bring it in person I recommend option #1 or #4 for fastest processing. And make sure to follow up by phone after submitting to confirm they received it!
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Andre Laurent
Update on this issue: The state recently announced additional EBT security measures rolling out in 2025. They're finally adding chip technology to new cards and implementing transaction alerts via text message. But that doesn't help right now, unfortunately. One thing I didn't see mentioned - if you're approved for replacement benefits, make sure you request a new card with a different card number before those replacement benefits are loaded. Otherwise, if your card information was compromised through skimming, thieves could potentially access the replacement benefits too.
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Carmen Diaz
•I had no idea they were finally adding chip technology - that's long overdue! And thank you for the tip about getting a new card before replacement benefits are loaded. I wouldn't have thought of that. I was able to reach my county worker today (after many tries) and they're sending me the CF 303 form. Fingers crossed this works out!
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