Frustrated that P-EBT eligibility requires household already on CalFresh - single parent provider excluded

same boat here!!! its BS how they keep helping the same people over and over while those of us BARELY above the limits get ZERO help. My kids school lunch is $7.50 per day now and I cant afford it but we don't get free lunch either. system is broke!!!

I understand your frustration, but there's some misunderstanding about how these programs work. P-EBT was specifically designed as an extension of the free/reduced school meal program during school closures or disruptions. The income eligibility for P-EBT is actually tied to the National School Lunch Program income guidelines, not strictly CalFresh eligibility. Have you tried applying for the reduced-price meal program directly through your children's school? The threshold is higher than CalFresh - 185% of the federal poverty level instead of 130%. If you're only $37 over, you might qualify after certain deductions. Also, emergency allotments for CalFresh ended in early 2023, so families aren't receiving those anymore. The regular CalFresh benefit amount is calculated based on household size, income, and expenses.

have u tried WIC? even if u dont get calfresh u might get WIC if u have kids under 5. also food banks dont check income usually

I feel your frustration! The system has SO MANY gaps where people fall through. I'm a benefits eligibility worker (not for CalFresh though), and I see this all the time. Have you tried recalculating your income eligibility with all possible deductions? For school meals and potentially CalFresh, you can deduct childcare expenses, some medical costs for your special needs child, and possibly your housing costs if they exceed 50% of your income. Also, there's a separate program called "School Breakfast Program" that sometimes has different eligibility than the lunch program. Worth checking! Lastly, when you applied for CalFresh, was it through the BenefitsCal website or did you speak with an actual worker? Sometimes the online system misses nuances in complicated situations.

I had similar issues getting through to my county CalFresh office to discuss my specific situation. After being on hold for hours and getting disconnected multiple times, I tried Claimyr (claimyr.com) and they got me connected to a live worker in about 15 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 The worker I spoke with helped me identify several deductions I wasn't aware of that got me under the income limit. Special needs expenses can make a huge difference in eligibility calculations, but sometimes you need to actually talk to someone who can properly assess your specific situation rather than just the online system.

The income limits for these programs are completely unrealistic! I'm also a single parent and make $3,100 a month, which sounds like a lot but after rent ($2,200) and utilities ($350), I have barely anything left for food and other expenses. Yet according to the system, we make too much for assistance. It makes no sense that the income limits don't account for the actual cost of living in California in 2025. Have you contacted your state representatives? I started doing that because honestly the whole system needs to be updated. The CalFresh income limits and P-EBT rules were created when $3,000/month was actually a living wage.

Just wanted to follow up on the medical expenses deduction for CalFresh since you mentioned your son's special needs. Make sure you gather documentation of ALL medical expenses - transportation to appointments, special dietary needs, therapy costs, medication, medical equipment, and even health insurance premiums. For a special needs child, these deductions can be substantial. When you speak with a CalFresh worker, specifically mention the "medical deduction for disabled household members" and ask them to walk through all possible expenses that qualify. Many applicants don't realize the full scope of what can be deducted. If your son receives SSI, that's actually excluded from the income calculation for CalFresh as well.

The P-EBT system IS pretty unfair. My sister gets CalFresh and her kids automatically got P-EBT cards with like $1,200 on them last year, while my kids who aren't on any benefits but still need food got nothing. And I'm paying the same taxes that fund these programs! I think they should either expand eligibility or create something for families just above the cutoff. There's so many working families struggling with food costs that get zero help.

try the calfresh again! i got denied then my friend told me to apply again and tell them about all my bills and i got approved the 2nd time. make sure u tell them EVERYTHING u pay for