P-EBT for school age child with name starting with 'A' never received in Santa Clara County - still eligible?
Has anyone in Santa Clara County received the school-age P-EBT cards for kids whose names start with letter 'A'? My daughter is 8 and qualifies for free lunch at school, but we never got any P-EBT card for her while seems like other parents did. I'm wondering if they're still sending them out in batches or if I missed something? The school said all eligible kids should automatically get one, but it's been months. Do I need to apply somewhere or call someone? So confused about whether she'll still get one or if it's too late now.
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Leeann Blackstein
P-EBT 4.0 cards for 2023-2024 are still being mailed out in phases based on last names, so yes, your daughter should still get one! The latest info I found says they're sending cards through June 2025 depending on eligibility verification. For Santa Clara County, I believe they just started mailing for A-F names last month. If your child qualifies for free/reduced lunch through the National School Lunch Program, you don't need to apply - it's automatic. You can check status at ca.p-ebt.org using her student ID and birth date.
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Liv Park
•Thank you so much! I'll check that website. Do you know approximately how much the benefit is? And will they backdate the benefits to when she was supposed to start receiving them? Sorry for all the questions, I'm just worried we missed out.
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Ryder Greene
my kid's name starts with C and we just got theirs last week so yours is probably on the way!! the amount was like $120 i think
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Liv Park
•Oh that's reassuring! Did your card come in a normal envelope? I'm worried I might have thrown it away thinking it was junk mail.
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Carmella Fromis
I've been waiting FOREVER for my kids' P-EBT cards too!!! It's ridiculous how they send them out in these weird batches that take MONTHS. And good luck trying to call anyone about it! I spent THREE HOURS on hold with the P-EBT hotline last week and then got disconnected!!! They need a better system because families need this help NOW, not whenever they get around to sending the cards. My kids' names start with M so I guess we're waiting even longer than you. 😡
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Theodore Nelson
•I had the exact same issue with the P-EBT hotline - kept getting disconnected after long waits. I finally was able to get through using Claimyr.com - it basically holds your place in line and calls you back when a rep is available. Saved me hours of frustration. They have a demo video here: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 that shows how it works. It's really helpful for getting through to any benefit office with long wait times.
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AaliyahAli
this isnt calfresh its p-ebt which is different program fyi
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Leeann Blackstein
•You're right that they're separate programs, but P-EBT is administered in partnership with CalFresh and many families receive both. The P-EBT cards work similarly to EBT cards used for CalFresh benefits, which is why many people discuss P-EBT questions in CalFresh forums. Both are nutrition assistance programs designed to help families, just with different eligibility requirements and application processes.
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Ellie Simpson
To give you some specific information about P-EBT distribution for 2025: 1) Children with last names starting with A-F were scheduled for mailing between February-March 2025 for Santa Clara County 2) The benefit amount is approximately $126 per eligible month for fully eligible students 3) The cards come in a white envelope that doesn't say P-EBT on the outside (many people throw them away by mistake) 4) Benefits are retroactive to the eligibility period, so you won't lose any funds due to the delayed mailing 5) If you don't receive it by April 15th, I would recommend checking the portal at ca.p-ebt.org or calling the hotline at 877-328-9677 Also, make sure your school has your current address on file, as they use that information for mailing the cards.
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Liv Park
•This is incredibly helpful! We moved last summer but I updated our address with the school right away, so hopefully that's not the issue. I'll wait until mid-April like you suggested before panicking. Thank you!
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Arjun Kurti
My son didnt get his cuz the school had our old address even tho i told them we moved like 3 times!!!! Check with ur school office to make sure they have the right address in there system. You can request a replacement if it went to wrong place but its another long wait ugh
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Raúl Mora
I think they're running behind schedule again. My nephew was supposed to get his in January (last name A) and he just got it last week. So don't worry yet!
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Liv Park
Update: I called my daughter's school today and they confirmed she's on the eligible list for P-EBT! The secretary told me the cards for A names started going out recently but it could take a few more weeks. She also said the envelope is really plain looking so I need to check my mail carefully. Thanks everyone for the helpful information! I feel much better now knowing we didn't miss out.
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Leeann Blackstein
•That's great news! And thanks for updating us. One more tip - when the card arrives, you'll need to set a PIN before using it. You'll need your child's date of birth and the last 4 digits of their case number (which will be on the letter that comes with the card). The benefits should be good for a full year after they're issued, so no rush to spend them all at once.
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