P-EBT 4.0 in California - one-time payment or monthly benefit? New immigrant family confused

P-EBT 4.0 is definitely a one-time issuance, not monthly like regular CalFresh benefits. It was created to help families who had children eligible for free or reduced-price school meals during the 2022-2023 school year. The amount depends on your child's school attendance and eligibility status. Keep the card though! If there are any future P-EBT programs (which happened during COVID but is less common now), they'll typically load new benefits onto the same card. Also, if there was any kind of error in your benefit calculation, any corrections would be added to the existing card.

welcome to america!! p-ebt isnt the same as calfresh btw. if ur family needs ongoing food assistance u should apply for calfresh which IS monthly!! the income limits are pretty generous especially for families w/kids. u can apply online thru benefitscal.com or at the county office

As others mentioned, P-EBT 4.0 is a single payment. But since you mentioned being new to the US, I wanted to add that you should definitely apply for CalFresh if you need ongoing food assistance. Many immigrant families don't realize they qualify, especially if the children are US citizens or legal permanent residents. The income limit for a family of 4 in 2025 is around $3,750 gross monthly income, and the application requires verification of identity, residency, income, and immigration status. You'll also need to complete a phone interview, but those can be hard to schedule because county offices are overwhelmed. I recommend using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to connect with a CalFresh worker faster. They have a service that gets you through to the county phone systems without the typical 2+ hour wait. There's a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8. It saved me days of frustration when I was trying to apply.

P-EBT is definitely a one-time thing based on the previous school year. The amount is calculated based on how many days your kids were either absent due to COVID or had virtual school days. That's why some families get different amounts than others. BUT IMPORTANT - if you're new to the country, make sure your kids are signed up for free/reduced lunch at school! That's how you qualify for any future P-EBT programs if they happen again, PLUS it helps your kids get meals at school. The form is super simple and many Irvine schools have income limits that might surprise you - a family of 4 can make up to like $55K annually and still qualify!

Am I the only one confused by how new immigrants qualify for P-EBT 4.0 if it's based on the 2022-2023 school year and OP said they just moved here 2 months ago??? Not trying to be rude but something doesn't add up here. How would their kids have been in school here last year to qualify?

Since you're new to the US benefit system, I should mention that P-EBT uses the same type of EBT card as CalFresh, but they're completely different programs. P-EBT is administered by CDSS and CDE together, while CalFresh is your regular monthly food assistance program (what used to be called food stamps). As others mentioned, definitely apply for CalFresh if you need ongoing food assistance. The application process involves: 1. Submit application through BenefitsCal.com 2. Submit verification documents (ID, residency, income, etc.) 3. Complete a phone interview 4. Receive benefits on an EBT card (different from your P-EBT card) Once approved, you'll receive monthly deposits and will need to submit a SAR7 report every 6 months and complete recertification annually. The process can be confusing for anyone, but especially for newcomers to the system!

btw once u get calfresh theres other cool benefits that come with it!! like discount amazon prime, cheap internet, free museum passes, and farmers market match programs where they double ur benefits when u buy fresh fruits and veggies!!

Just a warning - make sure you're actually eligible before applying. There's a 5-year waiting period for most immigrants to get CalFresh unless you have refugee/asylee status or have children who are US citizens. The rules are super complicated and depending on your status, applying too early could potentially cause immigration issues later. Not trying to scare you, but a lot of people don't know this!

Welcome to California! Just wanted to add that if you're unsure about your eligibility, you can always contact an immigration attorney or a nonprofit legal aid organization before applying. Many counties also have CalFresh outreach coordinators who specialize in helping immigrant families navigate the eligibility requirements safely. In Orange County specifically, you might want to reach out to the Orange County Community Resources office - they have staff who are trained on the intersection of immigration status and benefits eligibility. They can do a confidential pre-screening to help you understand your options without filing an actual application first. Better to be cautious and get proper guidance than to worry about potential issues later!

Just wanted to share some additional resources that might help as you navigate this! Since you're in Irvine, the Irvine Community Services Department also has a CalFresh outreach program - they often have bilingual staff and can help walk you through the application process. They're located at the Irvine Civic Center. Also, many libraries in Orange County (including Irvine's) have computers you can use to apply online if you need help with the technology side of things, and librarians are usually great at helping people navigate government websites. The University Park Library branch is really close to many of the newer immigrant communities in Irvine. One more tip - if you do end up applying for CalFresh, try to submit your application early in the month. Benefits are processed faster at the beginning of each month, and if approved, you'll get your benefits prorated from your application date. Welcome to the community, and don't hesitate to ask more questions - we're all here to help each other!