Will homeschooled kids still qualify for P-EBT with CalWORKs? Summer benefits question

i homeschool my kids and they dont get pebt anymore. something about how the program is tied to the national school lunch program. if ur kids dont go to a school thats part of that program then they dont qualify

This is actually a complicated question. P-EBT eligibility is primarily tied to the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or School Breakfast Program (SBP). Most homeschooled children don't qualify for P-EBT because they're not enrolled in schools that participate in these programs. However, there are some exceptions. If your homeschool is part of a charter school program that participates in NSLP, your children might still qualify. Some virtual charter schools that support homeschooling do participate in these programs. You should contact your county CalWORKs office directly to ask about your specific situation, as policies can change. Also consider that your children might still qualify for other nutrition benefits through CalWORKs even without P-EBT.

just fyi getting thru to CalWORKs on the phone is TORTURE!!! I was trying to ask about something similar (adding my nephew to my case) and kept getting disconnected or waiting for hours. Found this service called Claimyr that got me connected to a real person in about 10 min. might save u some time if u need to call about this - claimyr.com - they have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE

SCHOOLS ARE A SCAM ANYWAY!! I homeschool all my kids and they learn WAY more than they would in those indoctrination centers!!! We don't need their food or their CONTROL!!!! You can feed your kids better food without the government anyway!!

I'm currently homeschooling my daughter who has special needs, and we're on CalWORKs too. From my experience, you have a couple options: 1. Enroll in a public charter school that offers a homeschool program - these often still qualify for P-EBT because they're technically public schools participating in NSLP 2. If you do independent homeschooling (filing a private school affidavit), you'll likely lose P-EBT but your CalWORKs cash aid should include money for food Also, make sure you're getting the maximum CalFresh (food stamps) you qualify for - sometimes when kids get P-EBT your CalFresh is reduced, so when P-EBT stops, your CalFresh should increase to compensate. Don't forget to ask about the childcare portion of CalWORKs too. In some counties, your homeschooling can count toward your Welfare to Work hours, and you might qualify for supportive services.

I work with families navigating benefits, and here's what you need to know specifically about P-EBT and homeschooling: 1. Traditional homeschooling (filing a private school affidavit) = No P-EBT eligibility 2. Charter school homeschool programs MAY qualify IF that specific charter participates in NSLP/SBP 3. Some charter schools offer a hybrid model where students attend campus certain days - those usually qualify for P-EBT 4. Summer P-EBT eligibility is based on your status during the regular school year For the 2024-2025 school year, call your county's CalWORKs office and specifically ask about homeschooling options that maintain P-EBT eligibility. Ask them to note your case that you're considering this change and need guidance. Also request information about how this change might impact your overall CalFresh benefits and WTW requirements. Sometimes the increase in CalFresh can offset the loss of P-EBT.

just wanted to add my daughter goes to a charter school where she's home 3 days and at school 2 days each week and she DOES still get P-EBT so thats probably your best option if food money is important!!

Have you looked into co-op homeschooling groups in your area? I was in a similar situation last year, and I found a homeschool co-op that met twice a week. Some parents taught subjects they were good at, and we shared resources. Made homeschooling much more manageable with support from other parents. Regarding P-EBT specifically, I did lose that benefit when I withdrew my son from public school, but my CalFresh amount went up by about $120/month which helped offset it. Still was a net loss compared to having both, but something to consider in your planning.

I'm going through a similar situation with my two kids. After researching this extensively, I found that the key is finding a charter school that operates a homeschool program AND participates in the National School Lunch Program. In my county, there are 3 charter schools that offer this - they basically provide you with curriculum and some oversight while you homeschool, but your kids are still considered "enrolled" in their system. This means they keep their P-EBT eligibility. The enrollment process was pretty straightforward - I had to submit an application and attend an orientation, but then I was free to homeschool with their support. They even provide some materials and have optional field trips. I'd suggest calling your county's education office and asking specifically for a list of charter schools that offer homeschool programs. Make sure to ask if they participate in NSLP before enrolling. This way you can address the bullying issue while keeping the food benefits your family needs.

I went through this exact situation last year with my 9-year-old. We were dealing with bullying issues too and I was so worried about losing the P-EBT benefits. After calling around, I found that some charter schools in our area do offer homeschool programs where kids stay enrolled but learn at home. My son is now with Options for Youth and he still gets his P-EBT card! The process was pretty easy - I had to attend a meeting with their homeschool coordinator and they assigned us a teacher who checks in monthly. They provide curriculum and my son takes some online assessments, but otherwise he's home with me all day. No more bullying and we kept the food benefits. I'd definitely recommend calling charter schools directly and asking "Do you have a homeschool program and do enrolled students qualify for P-EBT?" Don't give up - there are options out there that let you protect your kids while keeping the support your family needs.

I'm new to this community but facing a similar situation with my 7-year-old. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful! I had no idea about charter school homeschool programs that still qualify for P-EBT. For anyone else researching this, I just called my local CalWORKs office and they confirmed that if you're enrolled in a charter school (even their homeschool program), your kids can still get P-EBT as long as that charter participates in the National School Lunch Program. The key is asking the right questions when you call charter schools. Also wanted to mention that my caseworker told me to make sure I report any school changes to CalWORKs within 10 days so there's no interruption in benefits. She said it's better to ask first before making the switch rather than trying to fix things after. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's giving me confidence that I can protect my child from bullying while keeping the food assistance we depend on.

I'm going through something similar with my 11-year-old daughter. We've been dealing with bullying at her school for months and I'm seriously considering homeschooling too. Reading all these responses has been so eye-opening - I had no idea about charter school homeschool programs that still qualify for P-EBT! I'm definitely going to start calling charter schools in my area to ask about their homeschool programs and NSLP participation. It's such a relief to know there might be a way to get my daughter out of that toxic environment while keeping the food benefits we really need. One question for those who've made the switch - how long did the enrollment process take with the charter schools? I'm wondering if I should start this process now for next school year or if it's something that can happen more quickly if the bullying situation gets worse. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences. It's giving me hope that we have options!

I just wanted to jump in and share some additional resources that might help with your decision! I've been homeschooling for 3 years now and went through this same research process. A few things to add to the great advice already shared: 1. When calling charter schools, also ask about their "independent study programs" - sometimes they use different terminology but it's essentially the same thing as a homeschool program. 2. The California Department of Education has a directory of charter schools on their website where you can search by county. This might save you time finding which ones to call. 3. Some charter schools require periodic in-person meetings or testing, so make sure you understand their requirements before enrolling. Most are very flexible but it's good to know upfront. 4. If you do find a charter program that works, ask if they provide any curriculum stipends or materials allowances - some do and it can help offset homeschool costs. The bullying situation is so hard to deal with, and it's wonderful that you're exploring ways to protect your kids while maintaining the support your family needs. From everything I've read in this thread, it definitely sounds doable with the right charter school program. Good luck with your research!

I'm in a very similar situation with my two kids (ages 6 and 9) and have been researching this extensively! Based on everything I've learned from calling around and talking to other homeschool families, here's what I've found: The key is finding charter schools that offer "independent study" or homeschool programs AND participate in the National School Lunch Program. Not all charter schools do both, so you have to ask specifically about NSLP participation. I've compiled a list of questions that have been helpful when calling charter schools: 1. Do you offer independent study/homeschool programs? 2. Do students in these programs remain enrolled as regular students? 3. Do you participate in the National School Lunch Program? 4. What are the attendance/meeting requirements? 5. Do you accept mid-year enrollments? Also want to echo what others said about reporting school changes to CalWORKs within 10 days. My caseworker stressed this when I asked about it. The bullying situation is heartbreaking - no child should have to endure that. But it's encouraging to see so many families in this thread who've successfully made the transition while keeping their food benefits. You're not alone in this!

I'm also dealing with bullying issues with my 7-year-old and have been hesitant to homeschool because of the P-EBT concern. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly eye-opening! I had no idea that charter school homeschool programs could maintain P-EBT eligibility. The detailed advice about asking specifically about NSLP participation is so valuable. I'm definitely going to start calling charter schools in my area this week using the questions Mohamed shared. It's such a relief to know there are actual solutions that let us protect our kids from bullying while keeping the food benefits. One thing I'm curious about - for those who made the switch to charter homeschool programs, how has the transition been for your kids academically and socially? My son has been so stressed from the bullying that his grades have suffered, so I'm hoping a change might help him focus better on learning. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences. This thread has given me hope that we can make this work!

I'm currently homeschooling my 10-year-old through a charter school program and wanted to share some practical tips that might help with your decision. We made the switch last year due to similar bullying issues, and I'm happy to report that we kept all our P-EBT benefits! A few things that helped us navigate this successfully: 1. I created a spreadsheet of all charter schools in our county and called each one systematically. About 1 in 4 had both homeschool programs AND participated in NSLP. 2. When I found the right program, they walked me through exactly how to withdraw from public school and enroll with them on the same day to avoid any gap in benefits. 3. The academic transition has been amazing - my daughter is learning at her own pace without the stress and distraction of bullying. Her confidence has really improved. 4. For socialization, we joined a homeschool co-op that meets twice a week, and she's also in Girl Scouts and takes art classes at the community center. The charter school we're with (Pacific Coast Academy) requires one in-person meeting per month and some online check-ins, but otherwise gives us complete flexibility. They even provide a curriculum allowance that helps with materials costs. Don't give up hope - there are definitely solutions that will let you protect your kids while keeping the food assistance your family needs. Feel free to ask if you have any specific questions about the process!