Will California distribute P-EBT cards summer 2025? My kids need summer food assistance

nobodys heard anythng yet for 2025. P-EBT was a pandemic program that ended basiclly. some states got extensions but CA hasnt announced anything for this summer that i know of. my kids school sent home papers for summer food program where you can pick up meals at certain schools though, maybe check if your district has that?

Thanks for responding. Do you think they'll bring it back because of inflation? The summer meal pickup locations don't work for us because I work during the day and the closest site is 4 miles from our apartment :

P-EBT was specifically a pandemic emergency program, and there's been no federal legislation to bring it back for 2025. The program officially ended nationwide in 2022, though some states received extensions through 2023 due to continued hardship. California isn't currently slated to receive any P-EBT funds for summer 2025.\n\nInstead, look into these options:\n1. Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) - many schools and community organizations offer free meals to children during summer\n2. Ask about increasing your regular CalFresh benefits - if your circumstances have changed, you might qualify for more\n3. Check with your county office about any local summer food assistance programs\n\nIf your income has decreased or expenses increased since your last CalFresh assessment, you should definitely report those changes as they might increase your regular benefit amount.

this! i work at a community center and we do the summer food program. most sites have multiple pickup times including early morning and evening to accommodate working parents. also some allow you to pick up multiple days at once now. worth checking the full schedule of sites in your area!

Thank you for the detailed response. I'm disappointed about P-EBT but I'll check out the SFSP options again. I didn't know they might have evening pickups now. My rent actually increased by $300 last month - should I report that to CalFresh? I wasn't sure if that would help with our benefit amount.

THEY BETTER DO SOMETHING!! Grocery prices are INSANE now and they expect us to feed our kids how exactly?? My CalFresh barely lasts 3 weeks and I have to use food banks to get through the month. The whole system is designed to keep us struggling. Summer without school meals is a NIGHTMARE for low income families!!

I understand your frustration. While P-EBT isn't currently planned for 2025, you should definitely report your increased expenses to CalFresh. Rent increases and utility costs can affect your benefit calculation. When I had a similar situation last year, I couldn't get through the phone system for days. I ended up using Claimyr.com to connect with an actual person at the county office instead of waiting on hold forever. You can see how it works in their video demo: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8. They got me through to a worker who helped update my case with my new expenses, and my benefits increased by $180/month.

I actually work with a nonprofit that partners with schools on food security issues. From what I understand, traditional P-EBT is not returning for summer 2025. However, California is exploring a state-funded program similar to P-EBT called

That's really helpful information, thank you! I hadn't heard about a possible CalFresh Summer Supplement or the Summer EBT pilot. I'll definitely report my rent increase - we're really struggling with the higher housing costs.

Just to clarify some information here - Summer EBT and the CalFresh Summer Supplement are actually the same program, just different names being used. The federal government passed permanent Summer EBT funding starting summer 2024, providing $120 per eligible child for summer food assistance. California is calling their implementation the \

my cousin in Oregon said they got somthing called Summer EBT last year, $40 per kid per month durng summer. not as good as the old P-EBT but better than nothing! maybe CA will get that too??

yea i heard about that too! my sister in washington state said they got summer ebt last year for her kids. $40 isn't much tho with food prices these days lol

UPDATE: I just checked the CDSS website and they've now posted preliminary information about Summer EBT for 2025. All children who qualify for free or reduced-price school meals will automatically receive $120 per child for the summer (June-August). The benefit will be loaded onto a card similar to the old P-EBT cards. If you already receive CalFresh, the amount may be added to your existing EBT card. No application is needed if your children are already enrolled in free/reduced lunch programs.\n\nThe official announcement with all details is expected in April, with benefits being distributed in June. This is a permanent federal program now, not a temporary pandemic measure like P-EBT was.

That's AMAZING news! $120 per child would be $240 for my two kids, which would help so much during the summer months. Thank you for sharing this information - I feel so relieved now. I'll keep an eye out for the official announcement in April.

$120 for THE WHOLE SUMMER?? That's like $40 a month per kid. Have these people bought groceries lately?? That barely covers a week of food. Better than nothing I guess but still ridiculous how little they think our kids need to eat.

While $120 per child isn't as much as we'd hope, it's important to note this is a supplement to your regular CalFresh benefits, not a replacement. Combined with the Summer Food Service Program sites and potentially increased regular benefits (if you report rent increases), families should be able to piece together enough resources. It's definitely challenging though.

I'm also a working parent struggling with summer food costs! For the Summer Food Service Program, I've found that some sites partner with local organizations to offer delivery or extended pickup windows. Also, if you qualify for WIC, they sometimes have summer produce vouchers that can help stretch your food budget. It's worth calling 211 (dial 2-1-1) to ask about all available summer food programs in your specific area - they maintain a comprehensive database of local resources that might not be widely advertised.