Do P-EBT benefits have an expiration date? Will my card stop working?

Yes, P-EBT benefits do expire but they typically stay active for at least 274 days (about 9 months) from the date they were issued to your card. If you haven't used the card at all during that period, you should check your balance right away by calling the number on the back. The good news is that if you've used the card even once during that time, the expiration clock resets. For cards issued during 2023, most benefits should still be available if you've used the card at least once.

I found one of those cards too! Mine still worked and it was from like forever ago. Just tried it last month at Food 4 Less and was shocked when it went through lol. Try it and see!

My understanding is that P-EBT benifets USED to expire after 1 year, but they changed it because of COVID. I think its now 274 days from when they were issued OR from when you last used the card. But also the rules are diffrent for each round of P-EBT they sent out. When did u get yours exactly? That matters for knowing when it expires.

To give you the official answer: P-EBT benefits remain available for 274 days from the date of your last transaction. If you haven't used the card at all, then it's 274 days from when the benefits were loaded. You can check your balance and last transaction date by calling the number on the back of your card (it should be 877-328-9677 for California P-EBT). Just follow the automated prompts. If your benefits are still active, use them soon! If they've expired, you can't get them back unfortunately. Unlike regular CalFresh EBT, P-EBT customer service is entirely through the state contractor, not your county office.

I had the EXACT same problem trying to reach P-EBT customer service!!! After trying for 3 days I found a service called Claimyr that got me through to a rep in about 20 minutes. They basically wait on hold for you and call you back when a human picks up. Saved me hours of frustration. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8. Definitely worth it for P-EBT questions since the wait times are insane right now with the new round of cards being sent out.

DONT THROW IT AWAY!!! Even if the benefits expired you might get new ones automatically added to the same card. My neighbor threw hers away and had to go through hell getting a replacement when they loaded new benefits this year. They reuse the same cards for new benefit rounds. Just saying.

Just to update you with the most recent information - for P-EBT cards issued during the 2022-2023 school year (which sounds like yours), benefits were loaded between July 2023 and January 2025. If it's been 274 days since your last transaction (or since they were issued if you never used it), they may have expired. However, once you check your balance and confirm they're still active, here's what I recommend: 1. Make a small purchase immediately to restart your 274-day clock 2. Take a photo of your card front and back (hide the card number but keep the ID number visible) in case it gets lost 3. Set a calendar reminder to use the card at least once every 6 months P-EBT funds can be used anywhere regular EBT is accepted, including most grocery stores, many farmers markets, and even Amazon Fresh and Walmart online in some areas.

That's such great news that your benefits are still active! $375 is a lot of money to lose. Just wanted to add that when you go shopping tomorrow, if you're buying a mix of EBT-eligible and non-eligible items, make sure to tell the cashier you want to use EBT first before they ring everything up. That way you can pay for the eligible groceries with your P-EBT card and then pay for any remaining items with cash or another card. Some stores can split the transaction but others make it complicated if you don't mention it upfront. Also, keep your receipt - it'll show your remaining balance so you'll know exactly how much you have left!

Grace, I'm so glad you found that card and that the benefits are still active! Just wanted to share a quick tip that might help you and others - if you have a smartphone, you can actually download the ebtEDGE mobile app to check your P-EBT balance and transaction history without having to call that customer service number. It's way faster than waiting on hold and you can check it anytime. You just need to create an account using your card number and some basic info. The app also sends you notifications when benefits are loaded, which is super helpful for keeping track of everything. It's been a lifesaver for me since I always forget to check my balance before shopping!

Wow, this thread has been so informative! I just moved to California and had no idea about P-EBT cards. My kids were doing remote learning in another state during COVID and we got similar benefits there, but I wasn't sure how it worked here. Grace, I'm so happy you found your card and the money is still there! Reading through everyone's responses, it sounds like the 274-day rule is pretty standard. I'm definitely going to look into whether my kids might be eligible for any current P-EBT benefits since they're still in school. Does anyone know if they're still issuing new P-EBT cards for the current school year, or was that just a pandemic thing?

This whole conversation has been incredibly helpful! I'm in a similar situation - found an old P-EBT card from 2023 with benefits still on it. Reading through everyone's experiences, I feel much more confident about using it now. Just wanted to add one more tip that helped me: if you're nervous about trying the card for the first time in a while, consider starting with a small purchase at a store you're familiar with. I did a $5 transaction at my local grocery store just to make sure everything worked before doing my big shopping trip. The cashier was super understanding and it gave me peace of mind. Also, for anyone else who finds old cards, definitely check multiple cards if you have them - I found three different P-EBT cards from different time periods and two of them still had active benefits! Thanks Grace for starting this thread, and thanks to everyone for sharing such useful information about the 274-day rule, the ebtEDGE app, and all the practical shopping tips.

Just wanted to chime in as someone who works with families navigating benefits - this thread is such a perfect example of how confusing the P-EBT system can be! Grace, I'm so glad you found that card and the benefits are still active. The 274-day rule trips up so many people because it's different from regular CalFresh benefits which don't expire as quickly. One thing I always tell families is to treat P-EBT cards like cash - keep them somewhere safe and visible so you don't forget about them. I've seen too many families lose hundreds of dollars in benefits simply because they misplaced their cards or forgot they had them. Also, for anyone reading this thread, if you have school-age kids, make sure you're signed up for your school district's communication system because they usually send out notifications when new P-EBT benefits are being distributed. The whole system could definitely be more user-friendly, but threads like this really help fill in the gaps!

This thread has been so educational! As someone new to the P-EBT system, I had no idea about the 274-day rule or that there was an app to check balances. I've been dealing with regular CalFresh benefits for a while, but P-EBT seems to have its own set of rules that are way more confusing. Grace, your story is probably more common than people realize - I bet tons of families have forgotten cards sitting around with money still on them. The tip about making a small test purchase first is genius, and I'm definitely downloading that ebtEDGE app right now. It's frustrating that the customer service wait times are so bad, but at least there are workarounds like the app and that Claimyr service someone mentioned. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and practical tips - this is exactly the kind of real-world advice that actually helps people navigate these systems!

This entire thread has been incredibly helpful! As a parent who's been struggling to understand P-EBT rules, I can't thank everyone enough for breaking down the 274-day expiration policy so clearly. I had no idea about the ebtEDGE app either - just downloaded it and it's a game changer compared to those awful customer service wait times. Grace, your situation probably happens to way more families than we realize. I'm definitely going to check my old cards now and set up those calendar reminders that Jayden mentioned. It's so frustrating that these important details aren't explained clearly when they send out the cards, but this community really fills in those gaps. For anyone else reading this - screenshot the important tips from this thread! The advice about starting with small test purchases, keeping cards visible, and signing up for school notifications could save families hundreds of dollars in lost benefits.

This has been such an amazing thread to read through! As a newcomer to California and the whole P-EBT system, I feel like I just got a masterclass in managing these benefits. Grace, I'm so happy you found your card and that $375 was still active - what a relief that must have been! I'm actually in a similar boat - just moved here from another state where we had pandemic EBT but the rules seemed different. Reading through everyone's experiences, I realize I should probably dig through my old paperwork to see if I have any cards I forgot about too. The 274-day rule is so important to know, and I had no clue about the ebtEDGE app until this thread. One question for the group - for someone who's new to California's system, is there a good official resource that explains all the current P-EBT programs clearly? I've tried looking at the state websites but they're pretty confusing. It sounds like this community has way better practical advice than the official channels! Thanks everyone for sharing such detailed and helpful information.

This thread has been absolutely incredible! As someone who's been navigating the California benefits system for a few years now, I'm amazed at how much useful information everyone has shared here. Grace, your story really resonates with me - I think so many of us have those "junk drawer moments" where we discover forgotten cards or paperwork that could be worth hundreds of dollars. What I love most about this discussion is how it's evolved from a simple expiration question into a comprehensive guide covering everything from the ebtEDGE app to shopping strategies to customer service workarounds. The practical tips people have shared here are honestly better than anything I've found in official documentation. For anyone new to this thread, the key takeaways are: check your cards using the ebtEDGE app, remember the 274-day rule from last use, make small test purchases if you're unsure, and never throw away P-EBT cards even if they seem expired since they might get reloaded later. Grace, I'm so glad you checked and found your benefits were still active! That $375 will definitely help with groceries. Thanks for starting such an informative discussion that's clearly helping so many families better understand and manage their P-EBT benefits!