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Just wanted to update everyone - my son's P-EBT card with the M code arrived today! We're in Redlands area. It came in a plain white envelope like others mentioned, very easy to miss. The card had $490 on it which I think covers summer meals. I noticed something weird though - my son's card says benefits expire in April 2026, but my daughter's card from last year (different last name, different code) expires this August. Does anyone know why they'd have different expiration dates when they're both for the 2024-2025 school year?
The P-EBT benefits typically have a 12-month expiration from the date they're issued, not a fixed calendar date for everyone. So if your daughter received her benefits last August, they expire this August. Your son's benefits issued now in May 2025 would expire in April/May 2026. This is different from regular CalFresh which operates on a benefit month system. With P-EBT, you have a full year to use the benefits from whatever date they're loaded onto the card. This is why the expiration dates differ even though they're both for the same school year program.
UPDATE: We got our cards today!! All three came at once in separate envelopes. I almost missed them because they were mixed in with credit card offers! Each card has the child's name on it and came with instructions. For anyone still waiting - they're definitely coming, just be patient a few more days. Thanks everyone for the help and info!
When I got my notice about the increase I thought it was a scam at first lol. But then I got my increased amount last week no problem. Maybe it depends on which county you're in? I'm in Alameda.
UPDATE: The supplement posted this morning! It was actually more than I expected - $387 for adding my nephew to the household mid-month. So relieved. Thanks everyone for your help!
For anyone finding this thread later: Supplemental payments for household adjustments typically post on whatever date the eligibility worker enters into the system. They don't show as pending in advance, and won't follow your regular issuance date. If you're expecting a supplement and it doesn't arrive when promised, contact your county office immediately as there may have been an entry error or processing delay.
Makes me SO ANGRY how these scammers target families who are just trying to feed their kids!!!!!! I hope everyone forwards these texts to 7726 and reports them. The county worker told me they've seen a 300% increase in these scams since January 2025. NEVER give your EBT card # or PIN to ANYONE who calls or texts you!!!
Paolo Romano
Does anyone know if homeschooled kids qualify for any of this? My children were homeschooled during 2021-2022 and we were on CalFresh, but I haven't received anything. Not sure if I should be expecting cards or not.
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StarGazer101
•Unfortunately, homeschooled children generally don't qualify for the school-aged P-EBT benefits unless they were enrolled in a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program. However, if any of your children were under 6 as of August 1, 2021, AND your household received CalFresh between August 2021-August 2022, those younger children would qualify for the under-6 benefit regardless of schooling status.
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Yara Nassar
Update: Just wanted to share that I checked my son's P-EBT card balance today and there was an additional $147 added! Must be for his COVID absences in January. So it does look like they're automatically adding those funds if your school reported the absences correctly. Still nothing extra on my daughter's card, but that makes sense since she wasn't school-aged. Thanks everyone for your help understanding this complicated program!
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Oliver Schmidt
•nice!! i just checked mine and nothing extra yet. gonna call tomorrow
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Natasha Volkov
•That's excellent news! Thanks for updating us. For everyone's information, the state is processing the COVID absence supplements in batches through July 2025, so some eligible families may not see those additional funds for several more weeks. If you don't see anything by August, that would be the time to pursue the appeals process.
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