P-EBT Alert & Updates
You Might Qualify for More P-EBT Benefits!
The Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT) is a federal program that helps children affected by school closures during the pandemic to get the food they need. If your child is eligible for free or reduced-price meals at school or childcare, they could receive P-EBT benefits to buy groceries.
Using the P-EBT program is safe! You don’t have to worry about paying back any benefits, and it won’t affect your immigration status, benefits, or income.
P-EBT 2.0 Reissuance Alert!
P-EBT 2.0 helped almost 4 million eligible school-age children and close to 800,000 young children.
However, according to the P-EBT 2.0 report, more than 500,000 P-EBT 2.0 benefit cards were not activated. Unfortunately, after a year of no activity, the benefits were removed. This means many families in California didn’t get P-EBT benefits their child was eligible for.
The good news is that these 500,000 families can now get a new card with up to $1200 per child to buy food.
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) received federal approval to give out new cards to those families. CDSS sent a postcard to eligible children with instructions on how to request a new card.
If you did not receive or used your P-EBT 2.0 card in 2022, your child might be able to get a new card with up to $1200 per child for buying food. Families have until August 18, 2023 to apply.
Your child might be eligible for a P-EBT 2.0 card if:
- You did NOT activate your child’s first P-EBT 2.0 card,
- You did NOT spend ANY benefits before your P-EBT 2.0 card expired,
- You received a postcard between June 28th and July 1st in the mail indicating that your child is eligible.
Eligible children will NOT automatically get the P-EBT 2.0 reissuance card
Families need to call the P-EBT 2.0 helpline at 1-800-887-8230 (6am – 8pm Monday to Friday) before August 18, 2023 to receive the card.
Please provide the following information when you call:
- First and last name of your child
- Date of birth of your child
- The school name your child attended during the 2020-2021 school year, and
- The address where your child lived during the 2020-2021 school year.
For more information visit the website and use the Live Chat Assistance at capandemic-ebt.org
Who is eligible for P-EBT 2.0?
-
- Children who qualified for free or reduced-priced meals during the school year 2020-2021 and attended a K-12 school that used hybrid or full distance learning. Also, children younger than 6 years old who received Calfresh.
- Your child can qualify based on filling out the Free and Reduced Meal form at school, your family’s income, or if your child receives CalFresh or Medical, is a foster child, migrant, or experiencing homelessness.
- P-EBT 2.0 cards went out in 2022 and benefits cover the school year 2020-2021
P-EBT 3.0 Cards Have Been Sent
You don’t need to apply for P-EBT 3.0. If you think your child qualifies and you haven’t received the card, please contact the P-EBT Helpline at (877) 328-9677 or visit California’s official P-EBT website. Make sure to activate the card and use the benefits before they expire!
P-EBT 4.0 Cards Will Be Sent in August to all eligible families
-
- Families do not need to apply
- To find out if your child is eligible or to get more information, visit the P-EBT website
