When will California load next P-EBT benefits? No updates since October 2024
Does anyone have info about when California is issuing the next P-EBT benefits? My kids qualified for the summer 2024 program but we only got one payment back in October. The school said there should be more coming but nothing has shown up on our card. I checked the P-EBT website but it just says 'benefit issuance ongoing' which isn't helpful. Called the P-EBT hotline twice but couldn't get through to a real person. Are they still loading cards in 2025 or was that October payment the final one? Getting desperate since groceries are so expensive now.
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Ethan Wilson
The state announced they're doing P-EBT in phases this year. If your kids got the October payment, you should be getting the next issuance sometime in February 2025. They're behind schedule because of system upgrades. Check your mailbox for a letter from CDSS explaining the new timeline - they sent those out 2 weeks ago. Not everyone gets benefits at the same time, they're doing it by last name alphabetically this time around.
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Aisha Abdullah
•Thank you!! I didnt get any letter yet, but our last name starts with W so maybe that's why? Do you know how much the February payment is supposed to be? The October one was only $395 for both kids combined.
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Yuki Tanaka
i think it depends on ur county too. my sister in san diego already got hers last week but im in sacramento and nothing yet. the amounts r different 2, she got $412 for her one kid
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Carmen Diaz
•That's not actually how P-EBT works. It's a state-administered program with standardized benefit amounts based on the school year and how many days the child qualified for free/reduced meals. County doesn't affect issuance timing - it's based on processing capacity and alphabetical groups this year. The $412 amount sounds like a school-day calculation for a child who had more qualifying days.
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Andre Laurent
Anyone else think its RIDICULOUS we have to keep guessing when these benefits will come?!? I've been waiting since NOVEMBER and my kids need to eat NOW not whenever some bureaucrat decides to push the button!!!! The P-EBT website hasnt been updated since September and the phone line is a JOKE. This is our CHILDREN'S FOOD we're talking about!!!!!
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AstroAce
•I understand your frustration. The P-EBT program has had significant delays this cycle due to the implementation of the new distribution system. If you're in immediate need, please contact your local food bank or apply for emergency CalFresh benefits, which is separate from P-EBT. You can call your county office to request expedited services, which can provide benefits within 3 days if you qualify.
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Zoe Kyriakidou
Ive been wondering this too! My daughter's school said something about there being a total of 3 payments for this program year but i only got the 1st one back in october. tried calling the p-ebt number like 5 times but it always disconnects me after being on hold for 30+ minutes...... super frustrating
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Jamal Brown
•I had the exact same problem trying to get through on the P-EBT hotline. After my 6th attempt, I tried using Claimyr.com instead and actually got through to someone in about 15 minutes. They confirmed the next issuance is scheduled for February for most families. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 showing how it works. It saved me hours of redial frustration and I actually got the information I needed.
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Carmen Diaz
To clarify some misinformation in this thread: P-EBT for the 2024-2025 program year will be distributed in three phases. Phase 1 was October 2024 (which you received). Phase 2 is scheduled for February 2025, and Phase 3 will be in May 2025. The benefit amounts vary based on your child's eligibility period and school attendance. Also important to note: P-EBT is separate from regular CalFresh benefits. If your P-EBT isn't enough, you may still qualify for regular CalFresh regardless of whether you received P-EBT. Apply through BenefitsCal.com if you haven't already.
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Aisha Abdullah
•This is so helpful, thank you! Do you know if we'll receive letters before each phase? I'm worried we might miss a notification or something. And should the card still work even though it's from the 2022 program? Ours looks pretty worn out now.
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AstroAce
According to the latest CDSS statement (released January 10, 2025), the February P-EBT issuance will be approximately $455 per eligible child for families who received the October payment. They're sending notification letters 7-10 days before loading benefits. Your existing P-EBT card will still work - only request a replacement if it's damaged or lost. If you're experiencing immediate food insecurity while waiting, please consider applying for regular CalFresh benefits. Many families qualify for both programs, and CalFresh provides monthly benefits that can supplement the periodic P-EBT payments.
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Aisha Abdullah
•Thank you so much! Where did you find that January statement? I've been checking their website but couldn't find anything that recent. $455 would be a huge help right now. We do have regular CalFresh but only get $275/month for our family of 4 since my husband got a small raise.
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Yuki Tanaka
wait is P-EBT the same as calfresh? i thought they were different things? my neighbor said p-ebt is only for kids but im confused now
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Ethan Wilson
•They're different programs that both provide food assistance. P-EBT is specifically for school-aged children who qualify for free or reduced-price school meals, and the benefits come periodically. CalFresh (California's SNAP program) is for low-income households of any composition, and benefits are issued monthly. You can receive both if you qualify for both. They might be loaded onto the same EBT card in some cases, which causes confusion.
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Zoe Kyriakidou
just as an update i called yesterday and they finally answered! the lady said benefits for next phase are coming between feb 12-27 depending on the first letter of your last name. A-G is feb 12-15, H-M is feb 16-20, N-S is feb 21-24, and T-Z is feb 25-27. hope this helps someone!
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Aisha Abdullah
•That's exactly what I needed to know! Since our last name starts with W, we'll be in the last group. Thanks so much for sharing this!
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