P-EBT 4.0 benefits missing for middle schooler - anyone else still waiting?
It's been nearly 3 weeks since my neighbor got P-EBT 4.0 benefits for her elementary school kids, but my 7th grader's card hasn't been loaded yet. We qualified for free lunch all year and got the notice saying we'd receive benefits by end of April 2025, but nothing has shown up. I checked the balance yesterday—still zero. Called the P-EBT hotline twice but keep getting disconnected after 45 minutes of waiting. Has anyone with middle school kids experienced delays? Should I be contacting the school instead of the P-EBT line? Really counting on these funds for summer groceries.
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Javier Hernandez
my kids both got theirs already. one in 3rd grade other in 9th. came middle of april
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Natasha Petrova
•Thanks for responding. Did both cards get loaded on the same day or did they come separately? Wondering if middle schools are on a different schedule.
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Emma Davis
P-EBT 4.0 benefits are being issued in phases based on county and school district. Middle schools are actually in the second distribution wave, which runs through May 15th for most counties. If your neighbor has elementary-aged children, they were likely in the first wave (completed April 30th). You can verify your child's eligibility status on the P-EBT Portal at ca.p-ebt.org - you'll need your child's case number from the notification letter. If the portal shows 'approved' but you haven't received benefits, and it's past May 15th, that's when you should follow up.
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Natasha Petrova
•Thank you for this detailed explanation! I didn't realize they were releasing in waves by school level. I'll check the portal today. The notification letter just said "April 2025" without specifying early or late April, so I was getting worried.
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LunarLegend
NOBODY can get through on that stupid hotline!!! I've been trying for TWO WEEKS about my kids p-ebt (10th and 3rd grade). Always disconnects!!! The school says call p-ebt, p-ebt never answers. Classic government run-around!!! So frustrating!!!
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Malik Jackson
•I was having the same problem trying to reach the P-EBT hotline for weeks - constant disconnects and hours wasted. I finally used Claimyr.com to get through to a live person after just 7 minutes. They basically hold your place in line and call you back when a rep is available. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 that shows how it works. Seriously saved me so much frustration. The P-EBT rep told me middle schools are processed on a different schedule than elementary.
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LunarLegend
•will check it out, thx! anything to avoid more wasted time on hold
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Isabella Oliveira
My daughter's in 8th grade and her P-EBT card was loaded yesterday. We're in Sacramento County. Check if your county is still in the processing window - they're doing it alphabetically by county this time. I think A-L counties were first wave and M-Z counties are second wave with a May 15 completion date. That's what the notice I got said anyway.
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Natasha Petrova
•We're in San Bernardino County, so maybe that's why? The notification didn't mention anything about county alphabetical order. Hopefully it comes in the next batch!
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Ravi Patel
Just to clarify something important - P-EBT is actually administered by CDSS (California Department of Social Services), not CalFresh specifically, though they use similar EBT card technology. If your child has never received P-EBT before, they'll send a new card. If they received benefits in previous rounds, the new benefits get added to the existing card. For middle schoolers specifically, I can confirm they're in phase 2 distribution (April 20-May 15). You can also verify status by calling your child's school nutrition services department as they submitted the eligibility data.
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Freya Andersen
•wait are P-EBT and calfresh different programs?? i thought they were the same thing and was going to apply for P-EBT using my calfresh account ugh this is so confusing
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Ravi Patel
•Yes, they're different programs though related. CalFresh is ongoing food assistance administered through your county. P-EBT is specifically for families with children who qualify for free/reduced school meals, designed to replace school meals during pandemic disruptions and has continued as additional support. You don't apply for P-EBT directly - eligibility is determined through school meal program participation data.
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Javier Hernandez
my neice didnt get hers either and shes in 7th grade too. her brother in 5th grade got his weeks ago. maybe its a middleschool thing?
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Natasha Petrova
•That's exactly what's happening with us! Maybe there is a separate middle school distribution. Thanks for sharing!
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Malik Jackson
I work with a nonprofit that helps families access benefits. P-EBT 4.0 distribution for middle school students is scheduled April 20-May 15. If nothing arrives by May 20th, I'd recommend reaching out to your school district's nutrition services office first, as they can confirm if your child's eligibility information was correctly submitted. The state hotline is overwhelmed right now with so many families calling about the new distribution.
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Natasha Petrova
•This is super helpful! I'll wait until May 20th before really worrying. Good tip about contacting the school district's nutrition services instead of the general P-EBT line.
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Isabella Oliveira
I just checked the P-EBT website and they posted an update yesterday - there's apparently a processing delay specifically affecting 7th and 8th graders in some districts due to a data transfer issue. They say benefits will still be issued but may be delayed until late May for affected students. Might explain what's happening with your kid's benefits.
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Natasha Petrova
•Thank you so much for sharing this! I couldn't find this update on the website. Really appreciate you letting us know about the data transfer issue. That makes me feel much better knowing it's a known problem they're working on.
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