Why hasn't Bakersfield received P-EBT 2025 benefits while other counties have?
Anyone else in Bakersfield still waiting for their kids' P-EBT benefits to hit their cards? I've checked BenefitsCal and nothing's showing up, but I'm seeing all over Facebook that families in Sacramento and LA counties already got theirs last week! My neighbor's sister in Fresno got hers too. Is Kern County always the last to get these rollouts? My 3 kids qualify for free lunch at school so they should definitely be getting it. This is so frustrating when grocery prices are through the roof right now. Has anyone local actually received theirs yet?
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StellarSurfer
P-EBT isn't distributed through the regular CalFresh system anymore, and the rollout schedule is different by county. According to the latest CDSS information, Kern County (including Bakersfield) is scheduled for distribution in the third wave, which won't start until the second week of July 2025. The first wave was Northern California counties, second was LA and Orange County, and we're in the third. Your kids will still get it if they qualify for free/reduced lunch, just need to wait a few more weeks.
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Anastasia Romanov
•Ugh! Why do we always get pushed to the back of the line? My kids are home all summer and our food budget is stretched so thin already. Do you know how much it'll be per child this time? Last year it was something like $480 per kid if I remember right.
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Sean Kelly
the p-ebt isnt even real calfresh its different program. i got confused about this too because they use the same card but its totally separate money. did u check ur mail maybe they sent u a new card? my cousins kids got theirs but shes in modesto.
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Zara Malik
•This is correct - P-EBT (Pandemic EBT) is separate from regular CalFresh, though they both use EBT cards. For the 2025 Summer P-EBT program, most eligible children will receive benefits on their family's existing P-EBT card. If you've never received P-EBT before or lost your card, you'll get a new card in the mail. Important to note that the P-EBT Helpline (877-328-9677) is separate from the regular CalFresh customer service number. Might be worth calling to check your status, though getting through can take hours.
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Luca Greco
Anyone else notice how they ALWAYS prioritize LA and the Bay Area for everything? It's not just P-EBT, it's every single program. We pay the same taxes but get treated like second-class citizens in the Central Valley. My kids are on the free lunch program too and we haven't received anything yet. Called the number multiple times but it just disconnects after the automated message. SO FRUSTRATING!!!!
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Nia Thompson
•i know right?? same thing happened with the water assistance program last year. my sister in oakland got approved in like 2 weeks and i waited 3 months for the same exact program! and then they wonder why ppl get fed up with the system.
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Mateo Rodriguez
I work for a nonprofit that helps families navigate benefit systems, and there's often confusion about P-EBT timelines. The benefit for Summer 2025 is $625 per eligible child (up from $487 last year), and as mentioned, Kern County is in the third distribution wave. For those struggling while waiting, please remember you can also contact your local food bank or check if your kids' schools are participating in the Summer Food Service Program which provides free meals regardless of P-EBT status. Many Bakersfield schools are offering grab-and-go lunches throughout summer.
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Anastasia Romanov
•Thank you so much for that info! $625 will help tremendously when it finally comes. I didn't know about the summer lunch program - do you know which schools in Bakersfield are doing this? We're near Voorhies Elementary.
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Sean Kelly
is p-ebt even still pandemic related? like covid is over why they still calling it that lol
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StellarSurfer
•They kept the name but it's evolved into a permanent summer feeding program. Congress authorized it to continue as Summer P-EBT in the 2025 budget since it was so effective at reducing child hunger. The pandemic might be over but food insecurity isn't, especially with these inflation rates.
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Anastasia Romanov
Update: Just called the County office and they confirmed Bakersfield cards should start getting loaded next Tuesday! The lady said they're doing it alphabetically by last name, A-M first week and N-Z the following week. Thanks everyone for the help and information!
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Yuki Watanabe
•That's great news! Finally some concrete information. My last name starts with P so looks like I'll be waiting until the second week, but at least now I know when to expect it. Really appreciate you calling and sharing the update with everyone here!
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Nia Harris
Thanks for calling and getting that update! I'm in the same boat waiting for my two kids' benefits. Quick question - did they mention anything about whether you need to do anything if you moved recently? We relocated within Bakersfield in May and I'm worried our address change might delay things. I updated it with the school district but not sure if I need to update it somewhere else for P-EBT specifically.
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Ava Thompson
•Good question about the address change! From what I understand, P-EBT eligibility is tied to your child's school enrollment records, so updating with the school district should be sufficient since they're the ones who submit the eligible student lists to the state. However, if you want to be extra safe, you might want to call the P-EBT helpline at 877-328-9677 to confirm your current address is on file. I'd hate for your benefits to get delayed because of a mailing address issue, especially since some people do get new cards mailed out.
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