Confused about P-EBT card for my 12-year-old - is this one-time payment?
I just got a P-EBT card in the mail yesterday for one of my kids but I'm super confused about the whole thing. Is this just a one-time payment or will it reload monthly like regular CalFresh? The letter wasn't very clear. Also, my 12-year-old hasn't received anything yet but my younger one did. Should I be concerned? Do I need to call the county about this or is there a separate number for P-EBT issues? I tried calling the number on the back of the card but just got stuck in an automated system for 45 minutes before giving up.
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Gabriel Freeman
P-EBT is different from regular CalFresh benefits. The current P-EBT 4.0 program (2025) is typically a one-time payment for students who qualified for free or reduced-price school meals during the previous school year. The fact that your 12-year-old hasn't received one could be for several reasons: different distribution schedules based on school district, delays in processing, or possibly eligibility differences. There's a specific P-EBT helpline at 877-328-9677 you should call, not the regular CalFresh number.
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Debra Bai
•Thank you! I'll try that number tomorrow. Do you know if they have better wait times than the regular EBT customer service? And should I be worried that only one of my kids got it when they're both enrolled in the same school with free lunch program?
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Laura Lopez
theyre sending them out in batches!!! my older kid got hers like 3 weeks before my younger one even tho they go to same school. just wait another week or two before panicking
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Debra Bai
•Oh that's a relief! I'll try to be patient then. Did both your kids get the same amount? I'm wondering if age affects the benefit amount.
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Victoria Brown
To add to what others said - yes it's a one-time payment for the 2024-2025 school year. The amounts are around $950 per eligible child (exact amount depends on how many school days they qualified). And yes, definitely use the P-EBT hotline and NOT the regular CalFresh number since they're completely separate programs with different administration. And while you're waiting for your 12-year-old's card, make sure you activate and use the one you did receive! The funds expire after a year if not used. They work at the same places that accept regular EBT.
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Debra Bai
•Thanks for the detailed info! I did activate the card we received. $950 is a huge help right now with food prices so high. I'll definitely keep checking the mail for my other child's card.
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Samuel Robinson
Omg I've been trying to call that P-EBT line for DAYS and can't get through!!! It just disconnects me after 30 minutes on hold every single time. So frustrating! Neither of my kids have gotten cards yet and school says they can't help.
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Camila Castillo
•Have you tried using Claimyr to get through to them? I was having the same problem with endless holds and disconnects until my sister told me about it. Basically, the service waits on hold for you and calls you back when a real person is on the line. I used it last week for my P-EBT question and it saved me hours of waiting. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8. It's the only way I could get answers about my kids' cards.
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Brianna Muhammad
For the P-EBT 4.0 program, they're issuing cards based on verification data from schools and districts. Here's what you need to know: 1. It is a ONE-TIME payment, not monthly like regular CalFresh 2. Cards are being mailed between January and May 2025 (staggered release) 3. Same household/different cards: Each eligible child gets their own card 4. The P-EBT hotline (877-328-9677) is extremely backed up right now 5. You don't need to apply - if your child qualifies, a card will come If your 12-year-old doesn't receive a card by mid-May, then it would be worth pursuing further. But right now, it's likely just in the distribution queue.
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Debra Bai
•This is really helpful, thank you! I'll wait until mid-May before worrying too much. It's just confusing when one child gets it and the other doesn't, makes you think something went wrong.
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Samuel Robinson
•Wait mine were supposed to come in JANUARY?! it's already April!!!
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JaylinCharles
This whole P-EBT program is a JOKE! Every year they roll it out differently and the communication is TERRIBLE. Last year they said my kids would get cards and they never came. After 5 months of calling I FINALLY got someone who told me they weren't eligible after all because of some technicality with their school classification even though they get free lunch!!! Don't hold your breath waiting for answers...
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Gabriel Freeman
•While there have definitely been frustrations with P-EBT rollout, the program has actually helped millions of families. The eligibility criteria are set by federal guidelines, not local whims. Schools must participate in the National School Lunch Program and students must qualify for free/reduced meals. If your school uses a different program for providing meals (like Community Eligibility Provision), the verification process works differently.
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Laura Lopez
btw make sure u activate it RIGHT AWAY!! my neighbor waited like 2 weeks and then couldnt remember what PIN they chose when setting it up...huge hassle to reset it
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Debra Bai
Update: My 12-year-old's P-EBT card finally came in the mail today! Both kids got the same amount ($958). Thanks everyone for your help and reassurance that I just needed to be patient. For anyone else waiting, they really are sending them in batches even within the same household.
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Victoria Brown
•Great news! Make sure to activate it right away and keep both cards in a safe place. Remember these benefits will expire one year from the issue date, so use them before then!
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Laura Lopez
•see told ya!! glad it worked out :
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