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after i got my benefits stolen i started taking ALL my money out the DAY it hits my account!!! its the only way to be safe. my friend works at target and says they see the same people coming in with different ebt cards all the time buying expensive stuff. the system is broken!!!!!
While I understand your concern, withdrawing all benefits immediately isn't necessarily the best approach. The EBT system creates a digital record of withdrawals that helps in fraud investigations. A better approach is to change your PIN frequently and check your balance regularly. Also, CalFresh food benefits can't be withdrawn as cash - they must be used for food purchases.
Thanks everyone for all this information! I called my sister and told her about the 30-day reporting window and the documentation she needs. She's going to try that Claimyr service to get through to her worker today. I'm going to change my PIN right now and will start checking my balance every day. It's really scary to think both food and cash benefits can be stolen so easily. Hopefully the county will help her get at least some of it back. I really appreciate all your responses!
You're welcome! One more tip: when you create your new PIN, avoid using sequential numbers (1234), repeated numbers (1111), or personal dates. Thieves often try these common PINs first. And remind your sister to request a new card entirely, not just a new PIN on her existing card.
UPDATE: Just wanted to share that our funds got loaded yesterday! It showed up on the old P-EBT card just like you all said. Thanks everyone for the help!
Update: My third daughter's P-EBT card just arrived today! So all three cards came within 3 days. Thanks everyone for your help and reassurance. I activated each one as they arrived like someone suggested. The weird thing is my oldest daughter's card has $75 more on it than the other two even though they're all at the same school. Should I question this or just be grateful for the extra funds?
Glad all the cards arrived safely! Regarding the different benefit amounts, if your oldest is in a different grade level, that could explain the variance. Also, if she had perfect attendance while your younger children had some absences, that could affect the benefit calculation. P-EBT benefits are based on school attendance records and meal eligibility days. Unless the difference is extremely large, I wouldn't worry about questioning it. The benefit calculations are done automatically based on data from the schools, and small to moderate variations are normal even among siblings at the same school. If you want to understand exactly how it was calculated, you can check the P-EBT information letter that came with each card, as it sometimes explains the benefit period and calculation method.
Wait are they still giving out P-EBT in 2025?? I thought that was just a COVID thing that ended years ago. My kids haven't gotten any cards lately!
The original P-EBT was for COVID, but they've continued it under a modified program. Not all schools participate now though. Your kids' school might not be part of the program anymore, or maybe they don't qualify for free/reduced lunch? Might be worth asking at the school office.
UPDATE: My emergency allotment just posted today (the 21st)! It was 5 days late but finally showed up. For anyone else waiting, hang in there - looks like there really was just a delay.
yay!!! that's great news! gonna check mine now!!
Mine came through too! Thanks for updating us!
Glad to hear your benefits came through! For future reference, if delays happen again, you can request an emergency replacement benefit if you're in a crisis situation. You'd need to submit a form stating you have less than 3 days of food available. The county is required to process these requests within 3 business days. Also, everyone should be aware that based on current legislation, emergency allotments are scheduled to end in June 2025, unless Congress extends them again. Start planning ahead for that possibility.
I had no idea about the emergency replacement option! And thanks for the heads up about June 2025. That's going to hit a lot of families hard if they don't extend it. My family relies on that extra amount to make it through the month.
Henry Delgado
wait is this the same as regular calfresh ebt? my family gets benefits on the 10th of each month but my neighbors kid got a different card and she said it was some school thing??
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Holly Lascelles
•No, they're actually different programs. Regular CalFresh EBT benefits come monthly on a schedule based on your case number. P-EBT is specifically for eligible schoolchildren during pandemic-related school closures or limited attendance. The cards look similar but P-EBT cards have the student's name (not the parent's) and are specifically for pandemic food benefits. You can have both programs if you qualify.
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Finley Garrett
Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! I think I understand now - P-EBT isn't a regular monthly benefit but rather special payments for pandemic-related school disruptions. I'll keep the cards in case future payments are approved, but won't expect monthly reloads like I initially thought. Really appreciate all the clarification!
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Madison Tipne
•glad u got ur answer! the whole system is super confusing, ur definitely not the only one who thought they were monthly lol
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