Can I still claim my child's 2020-2021 Pandemic EBT card if I never received it? (CalFresh family)

Unfortunately, P-EBT from the 2020-2021 period had a deadline for requesting replacement cards or reporting non-receipt. The last extension for claims was in early 2023, so it's now past the timeframe where they're issuing those benefits. The P-EBT program was specifically for school-aged children and some younger children in CalFresh households during the pandemic emergency period, which officially ended in May 2023. If your son was turning 1 during 2020-2021, he should have qualified as a "child under 6" in a CalFresh household. Did you ever contact the P-EBT hotline back then about not receiving his card?

my daughter wuz 2 during covid and we got a pebt card for her in like late 2021, it just showed up in the mail we didnt have to apply or anything. i think they sent them automatic to calfresh households w/ kids under 6. maybe urs got lost in mail?? did u move during that time?

I HATE how they handled the P-EBT rollout!! So many eligible families never got their cards or had addresses wrong because they just used whatever was on file! My nephew's card went to his mom's old address and by the time they figured it out, the benefits expired!!! SUCH A WASTE and no accountability from the state at all. You probably aren't the only one who missed out. Did you ever try calling the special P-EBT hotline back then?

You might still be able to file an appeal, even though it's past the deadline. The normal time limit for requesting benefits you were eligible for but didn't receive is usually one year, but there have been exceptions for P-EBT due to all the confusion with the program. Try calling the California P-EBT information line at 877-328-9677 and explain your situation. They may tell you it's too late, but it's worth a try. Be sure to mention that you moved during the pandemic and that you weren't aware your young child qualified for the program. If that doesn't work, you might try reaching your county CalFresh office directly to see if they have any additional options. The standard phone lines can be hard to get through, but I've had success using a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that gets you connected to a live person much faster. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8. Might be worth it if you're serious about trying to recover those benefits.

i had a similar problem but with my niece who i got custody of during covid. never got her card even tho she was 4 and we were on calfresh. when i finally figured it out and called in 2022 they said too late sorry!!!! its ridiculous how they handled this whole program honestly

Unfortunately, I don't think they'll reopen P-EBT applications from that period. The federal funding for those specific benefits has been allocated and distributed. The program itself has evolved into different phases and years. For the original poster: If you call and they say it's too late (which is likely), make sure you're familiar with current benefits your family might qualify for instead. For example, if your son is in school now, make sure he's enrolled for free/reduced lunch if eligible. And if you're still on CalFresh, make sure your benefit amount is correct for your current household size and income. It's disappointing to miss out on past benefits, but focusing on maximizing your current ones is probably the best approach now.

hey did u ever call that pebt number??? curious what they said. my cousin is in similar boat and wondering if its worth her trying

I'm so sorry this happened to your family! This is unfortunately a really common story - the P-EBT rollout was such a mess, especially for families with young children. The state really should have done better outreach about the under-6 eligibility since so many parents had no idea their babies and toddlers qualified. Since you mentioned you're in Sacramento County, you might also want to double-check that your current CalFresh case worker has your son properly listed in your household. Sometimes when kids age up from babies to school-age, there can be changes in how benefits are calculated. And definitely make sure he's signed up for free school meals now that he's in kindergarten - that's at least one current benefit you can secure for him. It's really frustrating that the state had such poor communication about this program. You're definitely not alone in missing out on these benefits due to address changes and lack of awareness about the age requirements.