Just received P-EBT 3.0 payment for teen ($391) in San Mateo County - comparing amounts?
Exciting news! Just checked my mail and found my 15-year-old son's P-EBT 3.0 card with $391 loaded on it (we're in San Mateo County). I wasn't expecting it today so it was a nice surprise! His name starts with 'A' which might explain why we got it early? I'm wondering if this amount sounds right compared to what others are receiving? Do payment amounts vary by age or county? This is our first time getting P-EBT since we only qualified for school meals this past year. Anyone else receive theirs in San Mateo or nearby counties?
16 comments
Join the conversation
Tristan Carpenter
My daughter (14) got the same amount yesterday - $391. We're in Santa Clara County, so it looks like they're rolling them out across the Bay Area. Her name starts with 'M' though, so I don't think it's alphabetical. From what I understand the P-EBT 3.0 amounts are standardized across California for kids who qualified for free/reduced lunch during the pandemic recovery period. The payments cover August 2022-May 2023. You should be able to use it anywhere that accepts EBT/CalFresh.
0 coins
Maya Jackson
•Thanks for the info! Good to know it's not alphabetical - maybe just random timing then. Do you know if these expire? I remember reading something about having to use P-EBT funds within a certain timeframe but can't find that info now.
0 coins
Amaya Watson
The amount varies based on which months your child was eligible for free or reduced-price meals during the 2022-2023 school year. The standard payment is about $39 per month of eligibility. So $391 suggests your son was eligible for all 10 school months. If anyone receives less, it's likely because their child wasn't eligible for the full school year. All P-EBT 3.0 cards should be issued by the end of July 2025, according to the CalFresh website.
0 coins
Grant Vikers
•yep my kid got $273 and thats cuz he was only elligible starting in december we moved here from out of state
0 coins
Giovanni Martello
My son got $391 too but my daughter only got $312???? They're at the same school and both on the same lunch program so I'm super confused. Anyone know why they would get different amounts? Do i need to call somebody about this??
0 coins
Savannah Weiner
•This could be due to different attendance records. P-EBT 3.0 payments are based on both eligibility AND actual attendance. If your daughter missed more school days during the covered period, she might receive a lower amount. If you think there's an error, you should contact the P-EBT helpline at 877-328-9677, but be prepared for long wait times. I'd recommend using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through faster - you can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8. It helped me get through when I had questions about my children's different P-EBT amounts back in January.
0 coins
Levi Parker
Anyone notice these P-EBT cards look different from the regular EBT cards? I almost threw mine away thinking it was junk mail! Just wanted to warn everyone to check their mail carefully. The envelope is pretty plain white with a Sacramento return address.
0 coins
Maya Jackson
•OMG yes!! I almost missed it too - they should really mark these better. Thanks for the heads up for others!
0 coins
Libby Hassan
This is so frustrating!!! We haven't received ANYTHING yet and we're also in San Mateo County. My kids definitely qualify for free lunch at school. Should I be worried or just keep waiting? How do they decide who gets cards first?
0 coins
Amaya Watson
•Distribution is happening in phases through July 2025. If you don't receive anything by mid-June, you should contact the P-EBT helpline. Make sure your school has your current mailing address, as that's where they'll send the card. Unlike regular CalFresh, P-EBT cards are sent directly to your home, not issued at the county office. If your children qualified for free/reduced meals during the 2022-2023 school year, they should receive cards eventually.
0 coins
Maya Jackson
Update: I just checked the P-EBT website and it says the benefits expire one year from when they're issued! So we have plenty of time to use them. Also, I found out these benefits are completely separate from regular CalFresh - we don't receive CalFresh normally but were still eligible for P-EBT through the school lunch program.
0 coins
Tristan Carpenter
•That's right! And just to add to that - if anyone is wondering if P-EBT affects other benefits like CalFresh, TANF, or Medi-Cal, it doesn't. It's considered disaster assistance, not income, so it won't count against other benefit eligibility or require reporting on your SAR7 form if you receive other benefits.
0 coins
Grant Vikers
can we use these at farmers markets and get the market match bonus? the regular ebt gives u extra $$ at farmers markets
0 coins
Amaya Watson
•Yes! P-EBT cards work exactly like regular EBT/CalFresh cards for food purchases. You can use them at farmers markets and qualify for Market Match programs that double your spending power (usually up to $10-20 extra per market visit). Just make sure to tell the market staff you're using an EBT card when you arrive so they can direct you to their token or scrip system.
0 coins
Giovanni Martello
WHY is this program still running??? I thought all the COVID emergency stuff ended LAST year!!! Not complaining about free money but seems weird
0 coins
Libby Hassan
•I was wondering the same thing! From what I understand, P-EBT 3.0 is covering the 2022-2023 school year which ended last summer, but the payments are just coming out now in 2025. The government is ALWAYS behind schedule 🙄 The emergency designations did end, but they're still processing benefits for periods when they were active. At least that's what I think is happening.
0 coins