P-EBT 3.0 California Payment Schedule 2023

Pandemic EBT (or P-EBT 3.0) is a federal program that gives eligible families food benefits in addition to free or reduced price meals at child care or school.

Emergency Allotments have been provided to all eligible CalFresh households on a monthly basis since March 2020. If you have not received the CalFresh Emergency Allotments P-EBT 3.0 for your household for the months of November, December 2022, or January 2023, it will be issued on February 5, 2023.

The final Emergency Allotment (for February 2023) will be issued in March 2023.

CalFresh Emergency Allotments are ending because the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 ends the issuance of CalFresh Emergency Allotments to households in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Young children are eligible for P-EBT 3.0 if between August 2021 and August 2022 they were:-

• Under 6 years old; and

• Part of a household getting CalFresh Food benefits

School-age children are eligible for P-EBT 3.0 if they were:-

• Enrolled at a school for school year 2021–22 that participated in the federal School Breakfast Program or National School Lunch Program; and

• Eligible to get free or reduced-price meals for school year 2021–22; and

• Attended school via Independent Study (California’s version of virtual learning) or had at least five excused absences in a month

If you have any questions regarding the P-EBT 3.0 Card or eligibility,

please visit the P-EBT website or call the P-EBT Helpline at (877) 328-9677 (M-F, 6 AM to 8 PM).

P-EBT 3.0 Card Mailing

P-EBT 3.0 cards for eligible young children who got CalFresh between August and December 2021 were mailed in October 2022. Cards for young children under age six eligible for benefits from January to August 2022 were reloaded on existing P-EBT 3.0 cards or mailed to newly eligible recipients on November 2022.

P-EBT 3.0 cards for school-aged children eligible for benefit months August through December 2021 were mailed in December 2022. Cards for school-aged children eligible for benefits from January to August 2022 were reloaded on existing P-EBT 3.0 cards or mailed to newly eligible recipients between December 2022 and January 2023. P-EBT 3.0 cards were mailed in alphabetical order based on the first name of the eligible child. There is NO P-EBT 3.0 application.

Families who feel they do not need P-EBT benefits can choose to not accept P-EBT benefits by destroying their card before using it. Each eligible child will receive their own P-EBT 3.0 card.

Where can I apply to get P-EBT benefits?

When will my card(s) arrive?

For School-Aged Children (TK-12)

California will begin mailing P-EBT 3.0 cards for school-aged children in November 2022 for benefit months August through December 2021. The cards will then be reloaded in December 2022 for benefit months January through August 2022 for existing cardholders. New P-EBT 3.0 cards will be mailed out to any school-aged children that are only eligible for benefit months January through August 2022 in December 2022. P-EBT 3.0 cards will be mailed in alphabetical order based on first name

For Young Children (under 6)

P-EBT 3.0 cards for young children under age six will begin being mailed in October 2022 for benefit months August through December 2021. The cards will be reloaded in November 2022 for benefit months January through August 2022 for existing cardholders. New P-EBT 3.0 cards will be mailed out to any young children that are only eligible for benefit months January through August 2022 in November 2022. P-EBT 3.0 cards will be mailed in alphabetical order based on first name

Interview Waivers:

Initial Certification and Recertification Interviews are not required if all of the following requirements are fulfilled:

• If a complete application is received and it has been determined that the information provided on the application is not questionable or no further clarification is needed,
• If the identity of the applicant/participant is verified, and
• If there is no mandatory verification missing.

However, if the County determines that the information provided is questionable or requires additional clarification, an interview will be required.

Interview waivers are in effect until March 31, 2023. 

What is the P-EBT benefit amount?

For School-Aged Children (TK-12)

will get a standard benefit amount of $7.10 for each day the student did not attend school in person in SY 2021-22. This includes days the student attended school through Independent Study or all absence days in a month where the student had greater than five excused absences. In addition, school-aged children eligible for Summer P-EBT benefits will get a standard benefit amount of $391.

For Young Children (under 6)

will receive P-EBT 3.0 benefits for each month they got CalFresh Food benefits. A standard statewide benefit amount will be provided based on Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) meal claim reductions during SY 2021-22. CACFP is a program that provides nutritious meals and snacks to eligible children who are enrolled at participating childcare centers and day care homes. While monthly benefit amounts vary depending on the specific CACFP meal reduction in each month, eligible young children will receive an average of $45 per month for each month they received CalFresh benefits in SY 2021-22. In addition, young children eligible for Summer P-EBT benefits will get a standard benefit amount of $ 391.

www.ca.p-ebt.org Activate Card Login :

Families that have already received a P-EBT card and need assistance with PIN set-up, need to request a replacement card, or did not receive their card in the mail as expected, may contact the P-EBT Helpline at (877) 328-9677 (M-F, 6am to 8pm) for help.

Families that have not received a P-EBT card but have questions about their P-EBT eligibility can also contact the P-EBT Helpline at (877) 328-9677 (M-F, 6am to 8pm).

How do I set up my PIN?

Follow the instructions that come with the P-EBT 3.0 card to create a private Personal Identification Number (PIN). Families need to set up a new PIN even if they previously set up a PIN for their original P-EBT card.

• Create a PIN
• Do not share your PIN with other people
• Use the P-EBT 3.0 card

Use your P-EBT card like a debit card:

• Select “EBT ”
• Swipe the card
• Enter your private PIN