Unequal P-EBT deposits: son getting max but daughter only got minimum one-time payment?

This happened with my kids too! My high schooler gets consistent loads but my elementary kid got only one deposit. I was told by my friend who works at DCFS that different schools submit their attendance data at different times, and some schools are WAY behind on reporting. Your daughter's school might be one of the slow ones. Check if other parents from her school are having the same issue.

The P-EBT program has different issuance schedules based on several factors. For the 2024-2025 school year, there are three different distribution categories that depend on how your child's school reports data to the state. It sounds like your children's schools might be in different reporting categories. Here's what you need to know: - Some schools report monthly (Category 1) - Some report quarterly (Category 2) - Some submit annually (Category 3) Your son's school appears to be in Category 1, while your daughter's might be in Category 3. The minimum payment you mentioned ($175) is typically the initial deposit while they process the full attendance data. You should contact your daughter's school administration directly and ask which P-EBT reporting category they fall under. They should be able to confirm when the next issuance is expected.

the PEBT system is COMPLETELY BROKEN!!!!! my twins got different amounts too and they're in the SAME CLASS!!!! i spent 6 HOURS trying to get someone on the phone last month. when i finally got through they said they'd "note my account" and NOTHING HAPPENED. the whole system is designed to frustrate parents until we give up. its disgusting how they treat families who need help feeding their kids!!!!!

I had the same problem and was finally able to get it resolved last week. The P-EBT hotline is basically useless because they don't have access to the actual case details - they just read from scripts. You need to speak directly with someone at your county CalFresh office who handles P-EBT distribution discrepancies. I was getting disconnected constantly until I tried using Claimyr to get through to an actual person. It's a service that waits on hold for you and calls you back when a real person answers. Made a huge difference! Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 When I got through, I learned that my daughter's benefits were delayed because of a name mismatch between her school records and her CalFresh case. Small difference (middle initial included in one system but not the other) but it held up everything. The county worker was able to fix it and release the back payments.

Check if your daugters birthday might be entered wrong in the system? My son had issue where his birthdate was off by one digit in school records vs calfresh record, and that caused his p-ebt to be less. Also make sure both kids are linked correctly to your case. Sometimes the system doesn't recognize them as the same household if theres any data mismatches.

i heard u have to update their school info in benefitscal every year or the system doesnt know they qualify. did u update both kids?

Has your daughter switched schools or been absent a lot? My cousin works for CDSS and told me that P-EBT benefits for 2025 are calculated based on actual attendance records, not just enrollment. If your daughter has had significant absences or transferred mid-year, that might explain the difference. Also, double-check that both P-EBT cards are properly activated. Sometimes when they issue new cards, the old ones stop working, and you might be checking an old balance instead of the new card. The county workers can fix this with backdated payments, but you definitely need to reach someone on the phone who specifically handles P-EBT issues, not just the general CalFresh line.

Did u ever get this resolved? Having the exact same issue with my kids right now and getting nowhere with the hotline