When will my child's $120 P-EBT 4.0 benefit reload? Eligibility confusion

P-EBT 4.0 payments aren't monthly - they're issued in installments based on the coverage period. That $120 is likely one payment for a specific timeframe (like one summer month). The total summer benefit for qualifying children in 2025 should be around $490 total, usually split into 2-3 payments. Check your approval letter carefully to see if it mentions the total benefit amount vs. what's been issued so far. The remaining payments should automatically load onto the same card over the next 4-6 weeks.

my kids got theirs last week too but we got $180 each?? why is yours different? this is so confusing im never sure if were getting the right amnt

P-EBT 4.0 is such a nightmare to understand compared to regular CalFresh! I spent FOUR HOURS yesterday trying to figure out the same thing for my kids. From what I gathered after finally reaching someone, if your child qualified for school lunch program for the 2024-2025 school year, they'll get the summer payments automatically in 2-3 installments. The first is $120 per child, then 1-2 more payments should come within 30-45 days to reach the full summer amount (around $490-$500 total). You don't need to do anything else if they already got the first payment. BTW, if anyone needs to actually REACH a human at the P-EBT or CalFresh office, I finally had success using Claimyr (claimyr.com). It basically waits on hold for you and calls when a real person answers. Saved my sanity watching their demo (https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8) and realizing I didn't have to spend hours on hold anymore.

you all are lucky you even got the pebt my kids qualified for free lunch all year but we havent gotten ANYTHING yet. called the school and they said "it's coming" but its been MONTHS!!! anyone know who to call that actually HELPS???

i think the p-ebt is just a one time thing this year. my sister works at school district and she said its different from the old covid p-ebt. you should apply for regular calfresh if u need monthly benefits

We received our first P-EBT payment of $120 about three weeks ago, and just yesterday, another $185 loaded automatically onto the same card. According to what I understand, there should be one more payment of approximately $185 coming in the next few weeks to complete the full summer benefit. The schedule seems to be about 3-4 weeks between payments. I'd suggest checking your balance regularly through the P-EBT website or by calling the number on the back of the card.

wait is pebt the same as calfresh? so confused about all these different benefit cards tbh

THE GOVT MAKES THIS STUFF IMPOSSIBLE TO UNDERSTAND ON PURPOSE!!!! every single time I call the "help" line I get different answers. one worker said the next payment is in 2 weeks, another said 6 weeks, another said "check your mail" for instructions that never came. they don't want us to get the benefits we deserve!!!!

Just to clarify for everyone: P-EBT 4.0 for Summer 2025 should be approximately $490 total per eligible child, distributed in 2-3 payments. The first payment is typically $120, with the remainder split into 1-2 additional payments over 6-8 weeks. The payments load automatically onto the P-EBT card - no additional action needed if your child already received the first payment. If you haven't received any payments but believe your child qualifies, contact their school first to verify they were included on the eligibility list. For those asking about regular CalFresh - that's separate from P-EBT, requires its own application, and provides monthly benefits year-round based on household income and expenses.

Just wanted to add that you can check your P-EBT card balance anytime by calling the customer service number on the back of your card or visiting the ebtEDGE website. I set up text alerts for when new payments are loaded, which has been really helpful for tracking when the next installment arrives. Also, if you're still having trouble reaching someone by phone, try calling first thing in the morning (around 8 AM) - that's when I've had the most success getting through to a real person without waiting forever on hold.