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This whole P-EBT thing is so frustrating. My friend in Elk Grove got cards for her kids who AREN'T even on free lunch while my kids who DEFINITELY qualify haven't gotten anything. The entire system is broken and they just don't care about getting food to kids who need it!!! I spent HOURS trying to talk to someone just to be told to "wait" - like my kids can wait to eat??????
That's concerning about your friend in Elk Grove. P-EBT 4.0 should only go to students who qualify for free/reduced meals through the National School Lunch Program. If your friend's children aren't eligible, that could be an error. Regarding your situation, if you've confirmed your children are approved for free/reduced lunch and your school district's distribution period has passed, you should definitely request a replacement card through the hotline.
UPDATE: Our P-EBT card finally arrived yesterday! You were right about the alphabetical distribution - our last name starts with W so we got it toward the end. The card had combined benefits for both kids ($2,856 total). Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions!
can someone tell me where to even find the renewal form? mine was supposed to come in the mail but i never got it and now im worried my benefits will stop
If you didn't receive your renewal form, you should log into BenefitsCal.com immediately and complete your renewal there. You can also call your county office to request a new form or ask if you can do it by phone. Don't wait - if you miss your renewal deadline, your benefits will stop and you'll have to reapply from scratch, which takes longer than renewing.
To summarize what everyone has correctly said: NO, you do not report P-EBT as income on your CalFresh renewal. Here's why: 1. P-EBT is a benefit program, not income 2. CalFresh regulations specifically exclude other food assistance benefits when calculating income 3. P-EBT was created as an extension of the school meals program during COVID 4. Even though we're past the peak of COVID, the P-EBT 4 distribution follows the same rules If you encounter any issues during your renewal because of confusion about this, request to speak with a supervisor immediately and cite the CalFresh Program Guide that excludes other food assistance programs from countable income.
Just to provide some additional context: CalFresh benefits in California are distributed over the first 10 days of each month based on the last digit of your case number. If your case number ends in 4, you'll get benefits on the 4th. Benefits are uploaded overnight, usually starting around midnight, but the exact timing varies by county and processing systems. One thing to note - if the 4th falls on a weekend or holiday, your benefits should still be deposited on that day (unlike some other government benefits that shift to the previous business day).
Hey, just wanted to check if your benefits came through this morning? I've been hearing about some counties having system delays this month and was curious if you got yours as expected.
Just to clarify a few things about Summer EBT since there seems to be some confusion: 1. It's a new permanent program, not the same as P-EBT 2. California has opted in, but implementation is still in progress 3. Eligible children will likely receive about $120 total for summer 2024 4. Most CalFresh households with school-age children should qualify automatically 5. The state must develop an implementation plan, so timing and details are still being finalized The best thing to do is stay informed through official channels and prepare alternative food budgeting plans just in case the benefits are delayed or eligibility requirements change.
Has anyone actually CONFIRMED with their county worker that this Summer EBT is happening FOR SURE? I don't want to get my hopes up again. Last time I called my county about a benefits question, they gave me completely WRONG information and I ended up with a gap in coverage!!
I called San Bernardino County last week about something else but asked about Summer EBT while I had them on the phone. The worker confirmed California is participating but said they're still waiting on guidance from the state about implementation. She couldn't give specifics on dates or amounts yet.
QuantumQuest
my aunt said she heard something about extra winter benefits starting in december not october maybe thats what the person at the store meant????
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Keisha Johnson
•There are currently no plans for additional CalFresh benefits in winter 2025 at the state or federal level. The regular COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment) will happen in October, but that's just the annual adjustment to regular benefits, not extra benefits. Always best to get information directly from your county office rather than word-of-mouth.
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Miguel Ramos
FINAL UPDATE: Used that Claimyr service this morning and got through to a worker in about 30 minutes! They confirmed they received my verification documents and processed them today. My October benefits should be on my card by tomorrow! Thanks again everyone for your help. And lesson learned - check BenefitsCal regularly!
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Zainab Ibrahim
•glad it worked out! ya always check benefitscal like once a week minimum, thats where they hide all the important stuff lol
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