CalFresh Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) eligibility question - not just for kids under 2?

Your caseworker is giving you wrong info!!! P-EBT is NOT just for kids under 2!!! My kids are 6, 8, and 10 and they ALL got the P-EBT cards last month. It's for ANY school-age child who qualifies for free or reduced lunch at school. Your kids should definitely be getting it if you're on CalFresh because they automatically qualify for school meals. Call the main EBT customer service number (not your county office) and ask them directly. The county workers often have NO IDEA about P-EBT because it's run by a different department!!!

Actually, there's some confusion here that needs clearing up. The original Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) program has changed significantly since the public health emergency ended. In 2025, there is a limited version called P-EBT 2.0 that primarily serves children under 6 who were enrolled in CalFresh during specific periods. School-aged children (K-12) are only eligible under very specific circumstances now, like extended school closures due to unforeseen circumstances. Your neighbor's children might have received benefits from a previous distribution or a local supplemental program. The best way to verify eligibility is to check the official CA P-EBT website or call the dedicated P-EBT helpline at 877-328-9677 (not the regular EBT customer service number).

I was confused about this too! From what I understand, there's a few different P-EBT programs now: 1. Regular P-EBT (ended after pandemic) 2. Summer P-EBT (still running in some places) 3. The new P-EBT 2.0 for young kids It depends on which one your county is currently implementing. My daughter is 3 and we got P-EBT funds, but my friend's older kids didn't. I think they prioritize younger kids now but the rules keep changing!

To clarify the P-EBT situation as of 2025: 1. The original pandemic-era P-EBT program ended when the federal public health emergency ended. 2. California implemented a modified program called P-EBT 2.0 that primarily serves children under 6 who are enrolled in CalFresh. 3. Summer P-EBT is a separate program that provides benefits during summer months to children who receive free/reduced school meals during the academic year. 4. Some counties may have local supplemental food benefit programs that use the same EBT delivery system. The confusion happens because these programs have overlapping names and eligibility requirements, plus implementation varies by county. Your best resource is the dedicated P-EBT helpline at 877-328-9677 or the official website at cdss.ca.gov/pebt.

my kids r 7 and 9 they got pebt last summer but nothing this year. i called like 50 times to the pbt number and NEVER got thru just the stupid recording. finally went to the office in person and they said we didn't qualify this time becuz of income but we still get calfresh so makes no sense

did u check ur mail carefully? sometimes the pebt cards look like junk mail & ppl throw em away. happened to my sister lol

Just to provide the latest update on P-EBT eligibility as of mid-2025: - Children under 6 who receive CalFresh: Eligible for P-EBT 2.0 - School-age children (K-12): May be eligible for Summer P-EBT if they receive free/reduced meals during the school year - All ages: May be eligible for emergency P-EBT if their school closed for 5+ consecutive days due to emergencies The distribution schedule varies by county and is often staggered over several months. This is why some families receive benefits while others are still waiting. The official CDSS website has an eligibility checker tool now, which is more reliable than calling or asking caseworkers who may not have the most current information.

The P-EBT eligibility checker is on the dedicated P-EBT portal (not the main CalFresh site). Go to ca.p-ebt.org and select "Check Eligibility" from the menu. You'll need your child's student ID or date of birth and the school information. Also, for the original poster: if your children are 4 and 6, they would fall into different eligibility categories. The 4-year-old would be evaluated under the under-6 criteria (if enrolled in CalFresh), while the 6-year-old would be evaluated under the school-age criteria (if receiving free/reduced meals). This might explain some of the confusion from your caseworker.