Has anyone received their P-EBT for under-6 kids with names starting with P or O yet?
Just wondering if anyone has gotten their P-EBT cards for kids under 6 years old whose names start with P or O? I have a 4-year-old named Olivia and we're supposed to be eligible since we get CalFresh, but nothing's come in the mail yet. My neighbor with kids whose names start with A and B got theirs last week, and I know they're sending them out alphabetically. Getting worried since we're counting on those funds for summer groceries. Anyone know the current distribution schedule for 2025 P-EBT cards? This is separate from our regular CalFresh benefits, right?
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Zara Rashid
my daughter penelope (shes 5) just got hers yesturday! we're in Sacramento county if that helps. think they're still sending em out so u might get urs this week
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Sean Doyle
•That's good to hear! We're in LA County so maybe they're working through different regions at different speeds? Did they send you any notification before it arrived or did it just show up?
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Luca Romano
The P-EBT distribution for children under 6 is happening on a rolling basis through summer 2025. They're working alphabetically by first name, and they're currently in the N-P range for most counties. Children with names starting with O should be receiving cards very soon. And yes, this is completely separate from your regular CalFresh benefits - P-EBT is a supplemental program specifically to help with additional food costs for children. The current phase is providing approximately $455 per eligible child for the summer period. Your regular CalFresh benefits won't be affected.
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Sean Doyle
•Thank you so much for that information! $455 would be a huge help right now. I've been checking the mail every day hoping it would come. Do you know if there's any way to check the status online or do we just have to wait?
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Nia Jackson
•just wondering but what about kids with names starting with Z? my grandson Zack hasnt got his and nobody tells us anything
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Mateo Hernandez
TYPICAL GOVERNMENT INEFFICIENCY!! They've been promising these P-EBT cards since APRIL and it's now JUNE and half the families haven't received them!! My son Owen should have received his WEEKS ago based on their so-called "schedule" but NOTHING yet. Called the P-EBT hotline and got disconnected THREE TIMES after waiting 45+ minutes each time!!! Meanwhile we're supposed to somehow feed our kids with the pathetic regular CalFresh amount that doesn't even cover two weeks of groceries with these insane inflation prices!!
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CosmicCruiser
•I had the same frustrating experience trying to reach someone about my daughter's P-EBT card. What finally worked for me was using Claimyr to get through to an actual person at the P-EBT helpline. It got me past those awful disconnects and I finally got confirmation that my daughter's card was being processed. You might want to check out their video that explains how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 or go to claimyr.com. Saved me hours of frustration and I finally got a straight answer.
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Aisha Khan
This is so confusing to me. I have twins - Olivia and Peter - and Olivia got her P-EBT card last week but Peter hasn't gotten his?? Aren't they supposed to be doing this alphabetically? We get CalFresh and WIC so I know they're both eligible. Has anyone else had this happen with siblings?
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Luca Romano
•That's unusual but not unheard of. The P-EBT cards are processed in batches based on first name, but sometimes siblings get split between batches. Also, the alphabetical distribution is happening within county groupings, so that can affect timing too. If Olivia received hers but Peter hasn't within 10 business days, you should contact the P-EBT hotline as there might be an issue with his card.
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Ethan Taylor
wait i thought P-EBT was only for school age kids?? my daughter olivia is 4 and in preschool but we never got anything about P-EBT. we get calfresh too. do i need to apply somewhere or is it automatic??
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Luca Romano
•P-EBT has different phases. The current 2025 distribution includes children under 6 who are in CalFresh households, even if they're not in school yet. It should be automatic if you're already receiving CalFresh and have a child under 6 - no separate application needed. The card will come in your child's name, not the parent's, so keep an eye out for mail addressed to your daughter.
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Sean Doyle
Update: We finally got Olivia's P-EBT card today! It came in an unmarked white envelope addressed to her, so check your mail carefully. It had $455 on it just like someone mentioned above. For anyone else waiting, hang in there!
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Zara Rashid
•congrats! glad u got it! the card looks different from regular ebt right? ours is like a yellowish color
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Nia Jackson
I actually work at a grocery store and we've had lots of confusion with these P-EBT cards lately. Just FYI they work exactly like regular EBT cards but they're separate accounts. You can only use them for food items not prepared hot foods just like regular CalFresh. Lots of parents don't realize that and get upset at checkout.
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Sean Doyle
•Thanks for the heads up! Is there a way to check the balance on these P-EBT cards? Same phone number as regular EBT?
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Nia Jackson
•Yup same phone number on the back of the card. Or you can check balance at checkout before they start scanning groceries.
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Mateo Hernandez
I'm still waiting for my son Owen's card!!! Everyone else seems to be getting theirs but nothing for us yet. This is so FRUSTRATING. Has anyone in Riverside County received cards for kids with O names yet??!!
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Ethan Taylor
•my friend in riverside got one for her daughter olivia last thursday so theyre definitely doing O names there now. maybe call that claimyr thing someone mentioned above?
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