Is P-EBT 3.0 really approved for California in 2025? Getting mixed information
Hi everyone! I've been hearing rumors that P-EBT 3.0 got approved for California. I'm a single mom with 2 kids in elementary school and this would be HUGE for us if true. My friend swears she saw something official about it last week, but when I called the county CalFresh office yesterday, the automated message didn't mention anything about it. Has anyone else heard about this? Got any official confirmation? The extra food support would really help since rent just went up AGAIN and my CalFresh benefits barely cover 3 weeks of groceries these days.
20 comments
Join the conversation
Dmitry Petrov
i heard the same thing from my daughter's school. they sent home some paper last month about p-ebt but i lost it lol. would be nice if its true, those extra benefits helped alot back when covid hit
0 coins
StormChaser
•Glad I'm not the only one who heard something! Did your paper have a website or phone number I could check?
0 coins
Ava Williams
P-EBT 3.0 is NOT approved. People are confusing it with the Summer EBT program that was approved nationally. California is implementing the permanent Summer EBT program starting summer 2025 which will provide about $120 per eligible child for summer food expenses. It's NOT the same as the old P-EBT program that provided benefits during COVID school closures.
0 coins
Miguel Castro
•This is correct. I'm a county eligibility worker and there's a lot of confusion about this. The original P-EBT was pandemic-specific and ended. The new Summer EBT program is permanent but only covers summer months for school-aged children who qualify for free/reduced lunch. The amounts and exact eligibility are different from the old P-EBT program. Your kids will likely qualify if they're already on CalFresh, but the benefits will only be for summer 2025, not year-round.
0 coins
StormChaser
•Oh, that makes more sense! So it's not P-EBT coming back, but a new summer program? Is there anything I need to do to apply for it or will it be automatic if my kids get free lunch at school?
0 coins
Zainab Ibrahim
The new Summer EBT program (not P-EBT 3.0) was approved in the 2022 federal spending bill and states had until January 1, 2025 to opt in. California did opt in, so eligible children will receive food benefits during summer break 2025. According to the info I've seen, each eligible child will receive approximately $120 for the summer to help with food costs while school is out. If your children already receive free or reduced-price school meals or are on CalFresh, you should be automatically enrolled. The benefits will be loaded onto your existing EBT card or they'll send you a new card if you don't have one.
0 coins
Connor O'Neill
•THANK YOU for the clear information! So tired of rumors spreading confusion about benefits. People still confuse CalFresh with CalWORKs all the time too. Just to double check - this Summer EBT is separate from regular CalFresh benefits, right? Like we'll get both?
0 coins
LunarEclipse
Has anyone been able to reach the county office to confirm this???? I've been calling the CalFresh number for TWO DAYS and keep getting disconnected after waiting 45+ minutes. I need to know if this is real because I'm planning my summer childcare around whether we'll have extra food money or not!!!!
0 coins
Yara Khalil
•I was having the same problem trying to get through to ask about this and my recertification! Someone on another thread recommended using Claimyr.com to get through faster - it worked for me yesterday. They have a system that waits on hold for you and calls when a real person answers. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8. The worker I talked to confirmed California is doing Summer EBT starting summer 2025, not P-EBT 3.0.
0 coins
LunarEclipse
•Thank you!!!! Gonna try that service right now. So frustrating when you need to ask a simple question and can't get through.
0 coins
Dmitry Petrov
wait so is this different from the regular ebt we already get?? i'm so confused lol
0 coins
Zainab Ibrahim
•Yes, this Summer EBT is different from your regular CalFresh benefits. You'll continue to get your regular CalFresh benefits every month as usual. The Summer EBT is an additional benefit specifically for children during summer months when they don't have access to school meals. It will be a one-time payment of about $120 per eligible child for the summer.
0 coins
Ava Williams
IMPORTANT UPDATE: I just checked the official CDSS (California Department of Social Services) website. They now have a page explaining the Summer EBT program. Here's what it says: - The benefits will be loaded automatically for eligible children - No separate application needed if your child already receives free/reduced-price school meals or is on CalFresh - Benefits will be about $120 per child for summer 2025 - These benefits are IN ADDITION TO regular CalFresh benefits - It's a PERMANENT program, not temporary like P-EBT was
0 coins
StormChaser
•Thank you so much! This is great news even if it's not P-EBT coming back. $120 extra per kid will definitely help during the summer months when food costs go up with them being home all day. I appreciate everyone clarifying!
0 coins
Connor O'Neill
Im not trying to be negative but $120 for the ENTIRE summer is only like $40 per month per kid. That's better than nothing but nowhere near what the old P-EBT provided. Still so hard to feed growing kids on these benefit amounts with food prices these days.
0 coins
Miguel Castro
•You're right that it's less than what P-EBT provided during the pandemic. However, P-EBT was a temporary emergency program specifically for when schools were closed due to COVID. This new Summer EBT program is permanent and guaranteed every summer. It's meant to supplement your regular CalFresh benefits, not replace them.
0 coins
Connor O'Neill
•Yeah I get that. Just struggling with 3 teenagers who eat like adults! Every bit helps though.
0 coins
StormChaser
So to summarize for anyone else confused like I was: P-EBT 3.0 is NOT coming back, but California is implementing the new permanent Summer EBT program starting summer 2025. It's about $120 per eligible child for the summer months, will be loaded automatically if your kids get free/reduced lunch or are on CalFresh, and this is separate from your regular monthly CalFresh benefits. Thanks everyone for clearing this up!
0 coins
Zainab Ibrahim
•Perfect summary! And if anyone needs more information, they can check the CDSS website or call their county office (though be prepared for long wait times). The official announcements for the 2025 Summer EBT program should be coming out in early spring with more specific details.
0 coins
Brady Clean
Just wanted to add that I work at a local food bank and we've been getting a lot of questions about this too. The confusion is understandable because the names are similar! We've been telling families that while the Summer EBT is great news, it's important to remember it only covers about 3 months. If you're struggling to stretch your CalFresh benefits year-round, don't forget about local food pantries and school backpack programs that can help fill the gaps. Many of us are open year-round and don't require extensive paperwork like government programs do.
0 coins