P-EBT card delay for 5-year-old with last name starting with G - how to check delivery status?

they send out the cards in batches based on last name but sometimes they get delayed. did u check ur mail carfully? my sons card came in a plain white envelope that looked like junk mail almost threw it away lol

P-EBT distribution for 2025 is being handled by the California Department of Education, not CalFresh directly. For children with last names starting with G, cards should have been mailed between March 12-20, 2025. If you haven't received it, you should call the P-EBT Helpline at 877-328-9677. They can verify if a card was issued and its mailing status. Be prepared with your child's full name, date of birth, and school information. If the card was lost in the mail, they can cancel it and issue a replacement, but that might take another 2-3 weeks.

I had a similar issue with my son's P-EBT card last month. The P-EBT helpline is absolutely swamped right now with the new distribution cycle. I was getting disconnected constantly or waiting for hours. I finally used Claimyr to get through (claimyr.com) - it holds your place in line and calls you back when a rep is available. Worked perfectly and I found out my son's card had been returned to sender because our apartment number was missing. They reissued it that same day. Check out their demo: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8

Just to clarify some misinformation - P-EBT is not the same as CalFresh, though they both provide food benefits. P-EBT was created during the pandemic but has been extended through the 2024-2025 school year. For a 5-year-old, you're likely dealing with the School P-EBT program. For the 2025 distribution, children with last names G-K should have been mailed between March 12-20 as mentioned above. However, there have been significant delays reported in several counties. Besides calling the helpline, you can also check status at ca.p-ebt.org if you have the CDC number from your child's school. If you moved, even within the same building, this could definitely affect delivery - make sure to update your address when you speak with them.

MY DAUGHTERS P-EBT FROM LAST YEAR NEVER SHOWED UP!!! I called like 20 times and they kept saying "it's in the mail" then finally admitted they never sent it!!! They made me verify her identity AGAIN and then took another 5 WEEKS to send a new one. The whole system is BROKEN! And they never give us the benefits retroactively even though it's THEIR ERROR!!!

Update on 2025 P-EBT distributions: There was actually a statewide delay announced for G-H last names specifically due to a printing error with some of the cards. The revised distribution date is now April 10-17, 2025. So your daughter's card might just be in the delayed batch. I'd still recommend checking the online portal at ca.p-ebt.org first to confirm her eligibility status, then if nothing shows up by April 20th, definitely call the helpline.

one more thing make sure u activate the card as soon as it comes! my friends kid got the card but she didnt activate it for like a month and by then the first months benefits had already expired!! they only stay on the card for a limited time

Just wanted to add that if you do end up needing to call the P-EBT helpline, try calling right when they open at 8 AM - that's when you'll have the best chance of getting through quickly. I learned this the hard way after spending days trying to reach them during peak hours. Also, have all your documents ready before you call: your daughter's full name, DOB, school name, and your current address. They'll ask for all of this to verify her case. Hope the delayed batch explanation helps and you get her card soon!