Is P-EBT 4.0 really happening? Just found out my kids might qualify in 2025

yep its real! my neighbor works at the county office and said theyre rolling out new p-ebt 4.0 for eligible kids starting march 2025. something about continuing support for families affected by inflation. if ur kids get free lunch they should qualify automatically

I need to correct some misinformation here. There is NO confirmed P-EBT 4.0 program for 2025. The pandemic-era P-EBT programs ended with P-EBT 3.0. What your sister might be referring to is the Summer EBT program, which is different from P-EBT and was authorized as a permanent program starting summer 2024. It provides $120 per eligible child for summer food benefits. If your children qualify for free or reduced-price school meals through the National School Lunch Program, they would likely be eligible for Summer EBT, but NOT a new round of P-EBT. I recommend checking the BenefitsCal website or contacting your county CalFresh office for accurate information. Be cautious about texts or calls asking for personal information regarding benefits - these could be scams.

So FRUSTRATING how they keep changing these programs and the names!!! Why can't they just stick with ONE system?? My kids got P-EBT during COVID then it stopped then it changed to something else and now it's "Summer EBT"?? And the county NEVER sends clear information. I had to call SIX TIMES last year about my kids' benefits and half the time the workers gave contradictory information!!!

If you're having trouble getting through to CalFresh on the phone, you might want to try Claimyr. I was getting disconnected repeatedly when trying to ask about my kids' eligibility for the Summer EBT program, then someone in another thread recommended it. Basically they wait on hold with CalFresh for you and call you when a real person answers. Saved me hours of frustration! You can see how it works at https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 or go to claimyr.com. I was skeptical at first but it actually worked great for getting through to someone who could explain all the eligibility requirements.

Let me provide some clear information on this topic. What's happening in 2025 is the continuation of the Summer EBT program, not a new P-EBT initiative. P-EBT (Pandemic EBT) was specifically created as a temporary program during COVID-19 school closures. It went through several phases (1.0, 2.0, 3.0) before ending. Summer EBT is a newer, permanent program that provides nutrition benefits during summer months when schools are closed. For 2025, eligible children will receive approximately $120 per child for the summer period. Eligibility is typically based on: 1. Children who receive free or reduced-price school meals 2. Children in SNAP/CalFresh households 3. Children in certain other categories (foster, homeless, migrant) Notifications typically go out 1-2 months before summer break. If your children qualify for free school lunch, they will likely be automatically enrolled, but it's always good to check with your county office to confirm eligibility. The benefits are loaded onto either an existing EBT card or a specially issued card, depending on your current benefits situation.

My kids got those summer benefits last year and it was like $120 per kid. Helped alot with groceries!!!! I think they just automatically gave them to anyone getting free lunch at school.

wait do homeschool kids qualify for this summer ebt thing? we get calfresh already

Thanks everyone for clearing this up! I'm going to stop by our school office tomorrow and make sure they have our current information for the Summer EBT program. My sister must have gotten confused about the name - seems like she was talking about Summer EBT but called it "P-EBT 4.0" which makes sense why I couldn't find any information about it. Really appreciate all the helpful responses!

Just wanted to add that you can also check your eligibility status online through the BenefitsCal website at benefitscal.com. They have a section specifically for Summer EBT where you can see if your kids are already in the system and what your current status is. It's much faster than calling sometimes! Also, make sure your school has your current mailing address AND phone number - I almost missed out last year because they had my old cell number and I didn't get the text notifications.