P-EBT cards for J surnames still not arrived in Sacramento - should I call the county?
I'm really starting to worry about our P-EBT card that should have been issued months ago. My daughter qualifies through her school lunch program, and we're in Sacramento. They said cards were being sent out alphabetically, and names starting with J should have received them by mid-March (it's May now!!). Nothing in our mailbox yet. I keep checking BenefitsCal but there's no update. Has anyone else with last names starting with J still waiting? Should I just call the county office or is there a specific P-EBT number I should try? Really need this for summer groceries coming up.
14 comments
Join the conversation
Liam Fitzgerald
The P-EBT rollout for 2025 has been incredibly slow and disorganized. While they did say alphabetical distribution, they've fallen behind schedule. I work with several families (I'm a social worker) who have last names starting with I and J who only received their cards last week. If you're in Sacramento County, I'd recommend calling the P-EBT specific helpline at 877-328-9677 rather than the regular CalFresh number. They can check your status directly in their system. Make sure you have your child's student ID and birthdate ready when you call.
0 coins
Mei Wong
•Thank you! I'll try that number tomorrow. Do you know if there's a specific time that's better to call? I've tried calling other benefit numbers before and always get stuck on hold forever.
0 coins
PixelWarrior
mine still hasn't come either and our last name starts with J too!!! so frustrating bc we got the approval letter back in FEBRUARY saying it was coming in 'a few weeks'... checked the mail every single day. i'm in Sacramento county too and was told they were doing zip codes in batches now not alphabetical anymore? so confusing.
0 coins
Amara Adebayo
•I was told zip codes too not alphabetical! They keep changing their story. My neighbor got hers and we have different last names but same zip. Makes no sense.
0 coins
Giovanni Rossi
In case anyone needs it, I called about this exact issue two weeks ago. The P-EBT helpline told me they changed distribution from alphabetical to zip code batches due to processing delays. For Sacramento specifically, they're now sending cards for 95820-95828 this week, then 95829-95838 next week. They should be able to look up your specific status if you call. If you're tired of the long wait times, try using Claimyr (claimyr.com). It kept my place in line and called me back when a rep was available. Saved me literally hours of being on hold. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8
0 coins
Mei Wong
•Thank you for the zip code info! That makes sense why we haven't gotten ours yet (95831). I'll check out that Claimyr thing - anything to avoid being on hold all day with a toddler running around!
0 coins
Fatima Al-Mansour
LOL they ALWAYS do this with P-EBT!!! same exact thing happened with the 2024 cards. i got mine in JULY when they promised march. just plan on it taking forever and being a mess. p-ebt is run by a different department than regular calfresh btw
0 coins
Dylan Evans
•This is actually incorrect information. P-EBT is administered jointly by CDSS and CDE, not a "different department" from CalFresh. The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) handles both programs, but P-EBT requires coordination with education data which can cause delays. The correct customer service number is 877-328-9677 for specific P-EBT questions, and they can help with card status issues. The distribution timeline varies by county and funding approval.
0 coins
Sofia Gomez
me and my husband were so confused about this too!! we have 3 kids in sacramento city unified and our last name starts with J. we got 2 cards last week but still missing one for our middle child?? when i called they said something about different schools being processed in different batches even within the same family. have you checked if your address is updated with the school? apparently they use whatever address is in the school system not what's in benefitscal.
0 coins
Mei Wong
•Oh that's interesting! I didn't realize they use the school's address records. My daughter changed schools mid-year but we're at the same address. I'll double check with her school tomorrow to make sure they have our current info. Thanks for that tip!
0 coins
Amara Adebayo
anyone know how much is on the cards this time? last year it was like $120 per month per kid but i heard its less this time
0 coins
Liam Fitzgerald
•For the 2025 P-EBT issuance, benefit amounts vary based on school attendance and participation in school meal programs. The current rate is approximately $128 per month for fully eligible students, but it may be prorated based on when the student became eligible during the school year. Some students may receive partial benefits if they only qualified for a portion of the year. This is slightly higher than last year due to inflation adjustments.
0 coins
Mei Wong
Update: I finally called the P-EBT number today and after 45 minutes on hold (ugh) they told me our card was actually mailed last week! They said it might take 7-10 business days to arrive. They confirmed they're doing zip code batches now, not alphabetical. For anyone still waiting, definitely call to check your status. Thanks everyone for your help!
0 coins
PixelWarrior
•thx for updating! i'm gonna call tomorrow. hope your card comes soon!
0 coins