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be carful some markets say they do the program but then the machines are broke or the person doesn't know how to use it. happened to me twice now and i got all the way there with my kids just to be told "sorry not today". frustrating!!!
Just wanted to add some important details: The official name is California's CalFresh Healthy Nutrition Incentive Program (HNIP), which includes several initiatives like Market Match, California Nutrition Incentive Program (CNIP), and GusNIP. For 2025, the program has expanded to more retailers and the match amount has increased in some locations to $15-20. The key is that you need to use your EBT card to make eligible purchases, and the additional benefits are provided immediately during that transaction. These incentives don't count against your regular monthly CalFresh benefit amount and don't need to be reported as income on your SAR7 or recertification.
The fruit and vegetable benefit amounts vary by county and implementation phase. The full program rollout with $67/person isn't complete statewide yet. Some counties are still in phase one with lower amounts. The amount also depends on whether you're in the control or test group for the pilot program. It's supposed to be fully implemented by July 2025.
Just to clarify some confusion in this thread: 1. P-EBT 4.0 is being distributed August-October 2025 for eligible children who received free or reduced-price school meals during the 2024-2025 school year 2. Distribution is happening in batches based on multiple factors (not strictly alphabetical): - First letter of child's first name - School district/county - Previous P-EBT card issuance - Type of eligibility (direct certification vs. application) 3. Children in the same household may receive cards at different times 4. Benefit amounts can vary based on: - Number of school days the child was enrolled - Type of meal program eligibility (free vs. reduced-price) - Absences exceeding 15 consecutive days If you need specific information about your child's P-EBT status, call the hotline at 877-328-9677 (but be prepared for long wait times
has anyone had issues with activating the p-ebt cards once u get them? we got one for my grandson last week but the pin setup isn't working when we call the number on the back of the card
This happened to me with my kid's card last year. You need to make sure you're entering their exact birth date as it appears in the school system. If that doesn't work, there's a special P-EBT PIN helpline at 877-328-9677 - select the option for PIN issues. Sometimes there's a delay between when cards are received and when they're actually activated in their system.
One more thing about P-EBT that's confusing people - if your kid changed schools during the eligibility period, benefits might be split or delayed. My neighbor's kids switched from one Riverside school to another in January, and she had to call to get it straightened out. Just something to keep in mind if anyone is in that situation.
just checked my mail today and got the NOTICE saying cards coming in 5-10 business days!!! im in riverside/moreno valley area so there definitely sending them out now!!
Yara Sayegh
Just to give you some hope - I had benefits stolen last month ($875) and although it took almost 10 days to get the claim processed, they did eventually restore the full amount. The key was persistent follow-up and getting my county worker involved directly when the EBT customer service wasn't helping. The EBT card system really needs better security. Until then, remember to: 1. Change your PIN regularly 2. Check your balance frequently 3. Consider transferring benefits to your bank account if possible (though this has its own risks) 4. Never respond to texts/emails about your EBT benefits - they're all scams
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Miguel Ortiz
•10 days is a long time to wait when you have hungry kids, but I'm glad you eventually got your benefits back. I didn't know you could transfer benefits to a bank account - I'm going to look into that option too. Thanks for the security tips!
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Zainab Omar
update?? did u get thru to anyone yet??
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Miguel Ortiz
•YES! Finally got through this morning. You guys were right - I called my county office directly instead of the EBT line and spoke to a real person after about 45 minutes on hold. They took my claim and said they're processing an emergency replacement that should be available within 3 days. They also said they've never heard of being "out of claim numbers" so that first rep was definitely giving me incorrect info. Thanks everyone for your help!
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