First P-EBT 3.0 card for my daughter - confused about loading dates and schedule
Just got my daughter's first P-EBT 3.0 card in the mail yesterday and I'm completely lost about how these work. Do they automatically reload? I heard something about specific loading dates based on last names but can't find clear info anywhere. Her card has $650 on it right now (checked the balance online), but will more money be added next month or is this a one-time thing? Never dealt with any kind of EBT before. Also, can I use this at the same stores as regular CalFresh or are there restrictions? Any help from parents who've been through this would be awesome!
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Emma Olsen
Yes, P-EBT 3.0 cards do reload automatically! The loading dates depend on your child's last name, and they typically issue the benefits every 2-3 months. The schedule for 2025 is: - Last names A-F: Benefits load on the 10th - Last names G-N: Benefits load on the 15th - Last names O-Z: Benefits load on the 20th So depending on your daughter's last name, you'll see the next deposit in 2-3 months. The $650 you got is likely covering multiple previous months combined. You can use the P-EBT card at any store that accepts regular EBT/CalFresh, including grocery stores, farmers markets, and some online retailers now.
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Christian Bierman
•Thank you so much! That makes way more sense. Her last name starts with K, so I guess we'll see the next deposit on the 15th in a couple months? I tried calling the number on the back of the card but got stuck in this endless phone tree. Glad to know we can use it at regular grocery stores!
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Lucas Lindsey
thos cards r confusing!! my kids got them 2 and i thought it was just 1 time $ but then more showed up later!! u can use them like regular ebt at same places. don't 4get the money stays on there for like a YEAR so don't rush to spend it all at once
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Christian Bierman
•Oh that's good to know! I was thinking I needed to spend it quickly before it disappeared. A whole year gives us plenty of time to use it for what she needs.
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Sophie Duck
The P-EBT program is completely different from CalFresh, although they both use EBT cards. P-EBT is specifically for school-aged children to replace meals they would have received at school. The program was extended with version 3.0 for 2025, but it's important to know that benefits aren't monthly like regular CalFresh. Instead, they deposit accumulated benefits every 2-3 months. One thing to note - keep that card even after you spend down the balance! They will reload the same card rather than sending a new one each time. I lost my son's card after emptying it and had to go through a whole replacement process when the next payment came.
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Christian Bierman
•Thanks for the clarification! I'll definitely keep the card safe. Is there a way to check when the next deposit will be made? And does the school have anything to do with this or is it all handled by the state?
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Sophie Duck
•It's all handled at the state level through CDSS (CA Dept of Social Services), not by individual schools. Your daughter was likely automatically eligible based on school data. For checking future deposits, you can call the P-EBT hotline at 877-328-9677, but honestly they're rarely helpful. The website www.cdss.ca.gov/pebt sometimes posts updates on payment schedules. Based on past patterns, with a last name starting with K, expect the next deposit around mid-May.
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Austin Leonard
I went through the exact same confusion last year! The way these P-EBT cards work is so different from regular food assistance. One thing I learned - you NEED to create an online account at connectebt.com to track deposits and balances. Makes life so much easier than calling the useless hotline every time.
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Christian Bierman
•I'll definitely set up that online account! Already tried calling once and was on hold forever before getting disconnected.
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Anita George
I'm having the SAME EXACT PROBLEM but with TWO kids' cards!! Been trying to call the P-EBT hotline for THREE DAYS and either get disconnected or wait for 2+ hours!!! This system is BROKEN and nobody at the county office seems to know anything about P-EBT when I call them either!!! How are parents supposed to understand these benefits when nobody can answer basic questions??!!
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Abigail Spencer
•I was having the same frustrating experience trying to reach someone about my kids' P-EBT cards. After wasting hours on hold, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me through to a real person at the P-EBT department. They have this system where they wait on hold for you and call you back when a real person answers. Saved me hours of frustration. They have a demo video that explains how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8. Worth checking out if you're still struggling to get through.
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Anita George
•OMG thank you!!! Going to try this right now because I'm about to lose my mind with these endless hold times!!!!
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Logan Chiang
Just to add some important info about P-EBT 3.0 that others haven't mentioned: 1. Benefits are calculated based on school attendance - if your daughter had any extended absences, the benefit amount might be lower for those months 2. The $650 you received is likely covering September through December 2024 3. Unlike regular CalFresh, P-EBT funds expire after 274 days (about 9 months), not a full year 4. You can use P-EBT at farmers markets and many now offer matching programs (spend $10 get $10 free) 5. There's a P-EBT specific website (ca.p-ebt.org) that sometimes has more updated info than the main CDSS site Hope this helps! The program is confusing but actually pretty generous once you understand how it works.
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Christian Bierman
•This is super helpful additional info! I'll check out that website and definitely look into the farmers market matching programs - that sounds like a great way to stretch these benefits. Glad to know what period the $650 likely covers too.
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Lucas Lindsey
my kids school sent home a flyer about pebt but it was so confusingggg!!! said something about summer ebt being different? anyone know if thats the same card or different??
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Emma Olsen
•Summer EBT and P-EBT are related but distinct programs. Summer EBT is specifically for the summer months when school is out, while regular P-EBT covers the school year. In California for 2025, they're using the same card for both programs, so any Summer EBT benefits (usually distributed in June) will load onto the same P-EBT card your children already have. The Summer EBT amount is typically around $120 per eligible child for the summer period.
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Christian Bierman
Thank you all so much for the helpful information! I've set up the online account at connectebt.com to track her benefits and marked the calendar for mid-May for the next potential deposit. It's a relief to understand how this works now. One last question - does she need to be enrolled in free/reduced lunch at school for this to continue, or is it automatic for all kids in California public schools this year?
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Sophie Duck
•For the 2024-2025 school year in California, P-EBT 3.0 eligibility is primarily based on free/reduced lunch status OR attending a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) school where all students receive free meals. If your daughter's school provides universal free meals (many CA schools do now), she'll continue receiving P-EBT automatically. If not, she needs to be individually eligible for free/reduced lunch. You can check your school's status by calling the district office. The good news is that once approved, you don't need to reapply during the school year.
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