New to California - Will my homeschooled kids qualify for P-EBT on CalFresh card with 4 weeks left in school year?

Unfortunately, for kids to qualify for P-EBT, they need to be enrolled in a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program. Homeschooled children typically don't qualify unless they're enrolled through a school that participates in these federal meal programs. Since you didn't enroll them in the public school system at all, they probably won't be eligible for the P-EBT benefits this school year.

My sister homeschools her kids and she got P-EBT last year somehow. I think you should call and check specifically about your situation. Sometimes the rules have exceptions.

To clarify some misinformation here - P-EBT eligibility specifically requires enrollment in a school that participates in federal meal programs. Simply being on CalFresh doesn't automatically qualify your children for P-EBT if they're homeschooled independently. However, if your homeschool program is affiliated with a district or charter school that participates in the National School Lunch Program, then they might qualify. For the 2024-2025 school year, kids need to be: 1. Enrolled in a participating school 2. Eligible for free or reduced-price meals through that school Since you just moved to California and didn't enroll them at all, it's unlikely they'll qualify for this school year's P-EBT benefits. I'd recommend enrolling them in school for the next academic year to ensure eligibility going forward.

The whole P-EBT system is so FRUSTRATING! When I moved here with my kids mid-year in 2023, I got bounced between CalFresh, the school district, and the P-EBT hotline at least SIX TIMES trying to figure out if my kids qualified. Nobody seemed to know the actual rules! Then when we finally did qualify months later, they sent the cards to our old address even though I'd updated everything. The system is BROKEN!!!!

Have you tried calling the P-EBT helpline directly? The number is 877-328-9677. When I was having trouble reaching someone at my county CalFresh office about a similar issue, I used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to a live person without waiting on hold forever. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8. The P-EBT rules can be confusing and sometimes the frontline workers give different answers depending on who you talk to. Better to get official confirmation directly from the P-EBT department about your specific situation with homeschooling.

My kids got like $120 each month for P-EBT last year which was super helpful for groceries. But I think it's only for kids who would normally get free lunch at school, since that's what the program is replacing. So if your kids aren't in school at all...

While P-EBT might not be available for your homeschooled children this year, make sure you're reporting them correctly on your CalFresh case to maximize your regular CalFresh benefits. A household with children typically qualifies for higher benefit amounts. Also, when you do enroll them in school for the next academic year, remember to ask about applying for free/reduced lunch right away - that's what triggers P-EBT eligibility during school years when the program is active. P-EBT isn't guaranteed every year - it's authorized based on federal decisions, so always good to ensure you're maximizing your regular benefits too.

The free/reduced lunch application is pretty straightforward. Schools typically send the forms home during the first week of school, or you can ask for one during enrollment. If you're already approved for CalFresh, your children automatically qualify for free school meals - you'll just need to provide your CalFresh case number on the form. This automatic eligibility is called "direct certification" and should make the process very simple for you next year.

Just wanted to add that some school districts in California offer "hybrid" or "independent study" programs that might be perfect for families like yours who want to homeschool but still maintain school enrollment. These programs often allow kids to do most of their work at home while being officially enrolled in the district, which would make them eligible for P-EBT and free lunch programs. It might be worth looking into for next year - you'd get the flexibility of homeschooling with the benefits of being in the system. My neighbor's kids are in one of these programs and she loves it!