Confused about P-EBT 4.0 - Will benefits reload on old card or should I expect a new one?

my kid got p-ebt 3.0 on his old card from 2.0 last year but my sisters kid got a whole new card so idk maybe it depends on ur county? the whole p-ebt thing is super confusing

For P-EBT 4.0, they are issuing new cards to most households. The official guidance states that cards should arrive by the end of September 2025, but some counties are already beginning their distribution. Here's why it can be confusing: Some households who received P-EBT 3.0 did get reloads on their existing cards IF those cards were still active and hadn't expired. But the majority of P-EBT cards from earlier phases (1.0 and 2.0) would have already expired, so those households automatically get new cards. The best practice is to: 1. Keep your most recent P-EBT card until you either receive a new one or confirm benefits were loaded on it 2. Check the P-EBT portal at ca.p-ebt.org to see your benefit status 3. Make sure your mailing address is current with your child's school You can also call the P-EBT hotline at 877-328-9677, but be prepared for long wait times this time of year.

I JUST got my kid's P-EBT 4.0 card yesterday and it was DEFINITELY a new card, not a reload. I don't know why they waste all that plastic when they COULD just reload the old ones!! I've been through this 4 times now and EVERY SINGLE TIME they send a new card. It's so wasteful and confusing!!! Make sure you don't throw away ANY mail from "P-EBT" because the card comes in a very plain envelope that looks like junk mail. My first one almost went straight into the trash!!!

To clarify some confusion: P-EBT 4.0 has a variable distribution method. For families who received P-EBT 3.0 and still have an active, non-expired card, benefits MAY be reloaded onto that card. However, most households will receive new cards because: 1. Many previous P-EBT cards have reached their expiration dates 2. Some families have changed addresses since the last distribution 3. Some children have changed schools or districts The September 2025 end date refers to the completion of the distribution process, not when you should expect your card. Cards are being mailed in phases based on school district and age group. If you're concerned about missing your benefits, have you tried using Claimyr to get through to a real person at the P-EBT hotline? The wait times are crazy right now (2+ hours), but Claimyr (claimyr.com) can hold your place in line and call you back when an agent is available. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 It helped me resolve an issue with my daughter's missing P-EBT 3.0 card last year when I couldn't get through on my own.

i got a new card for each of my kids for 4.0 but my cousin said her benefits just got added to her old card so i think they doing both? idk the whole thing is confusing but i just activated our new cards yesterday so maybe check your mail again

I work for a community resource center that helps families with benefits, and I can share what we've been told about P-EBT 4.0. The distribution plan is a bit different this time: - Families with active P-EBT 3.0 cards (issued within the last year) MAY get reloads on those cards - Most families will receive new cards due to the extended time between distributions - Distribution is happening in phases based on county and age group - Some counties started as early as July 2025, others won't begin until late August - All cards should be distributed by end of September 2025 The most reliable way to check your status is through the portal at ca.p-ebt.org or by calling the hotline. Just be aware that the system is overwhelmed right now with the new distribution.

Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! I think I'll keep my old cards for now just in case, but it sounds like I should expect a new one based on what most of you have experienced. I'll keep checking my mail carefully and make sure I don't throw away anything that might look like junk mail. I did try the portal but it's been giving errors. Maybe I'll try that Claimyr service if I don't see anything by mid-September. Really appreciate all the info!

my kids teacher sent home a note yesterday saying they should all have their pebt by october so maybe theres delays? idk schools always the last to know anything lol

As a parent who's been through this P-EBT process multiple times, I can confirm it's definitely confusing! For P-EBT 4.0, I received a new card for my daughter last week here in Orange County. The card came in a plain white envelope with just "P-EBT California" as the return address - almost looked like a credit card offer. One thing I learned from previous rounds is to call your child's school office to make sure they have your current address on file. My friend missed her P-EBT 2.0 card because she had moved but forgot to update her address with the school district. The benefits were still issued, but the card went to her old address. Also, if you do get a new card, make sure to activate it right away! I made the mistake of putting it aside "for safekeeping" with my first P-EBT card and then couldn't find it when I needed groceries. The activation phone number is on the sticker attached to the card. Hope this helps ease some of the anxiety around waiting for these cards to arrive!