Extra Food Benefits During an Extra Hard Time

Extra Food Benefits During an Extra Hard Time

Get More Money for
Groceries with Pandemic EBT

The pandemic has made it harder to feed the whole family. Pandemic EBT (or P-EBT) is a federal program that gives eligible families food benefits in addition to free or reduced price meals at child care or school. Learn how P-EBT can help you make a smaller budget feel bigger.

Healthy Meals While at Home

Children Under 6

potato chips

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Children Under 6

Have more food at home for those growing up fast. To qualify, kids must have been under 6 years old and getting CalFresh Food benefits between October 2020 and August 2021, and living in a county where at least one school limited in-person learning.

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TK - 12

Sugary Desserts

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TK - 12

Feed bigger appetites with more food benefits. To qualify, kids must have been eligible for free or reduced-price meals during the 2020-21 school year at a participating school and been attending school via distance learning at least some of that time.

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How Families Benefit with P-EBT Benefits

You Do Not Need to
Apply to P-EBT

If a child meets the requirements above, a card will automatically be mailed to them. Each child will receive their own card. Card mailing for kids under 6 has been completed. Cards for school-age kids will start arriving mid-August through the end of November. P-EBT cards will be mailed through the end of 2021.

Tell Me More

Paying with P-EBT Cards is Easy

55% say that P-EBT reduces their worry about being able to pay their bills.

I was able to nourish my kids with P-EBT. I have trouble getting to food giveaways or school lunch pickups because I’m disabled and can’t drive.

55% say that P-EBT reduces their worry about being able to pay their bills.

―P-EBT recipient

"I was able to nourish my kids with P-EBT. I have trouble getting to food giveaways or school lunch pickups because I’m disabled and can’t drive."

-P-EBT recipient

What is P-EBT?: P-EBT is a federal program that provides food benefits for families with children under 6 who also got CalFresh Food benefits between October 2020 and August 2021 or school-age children who were eligible for free or reduced price school meals during the 2020–21 school year. P-EBT provides additional food benefits to make up for free or reduced-price meals usually served at child care or school that children may have missed because of the pandemic.
Is my young child eligible?
Is my school age child eligible?
How do you know that my school-age child attended school via distance learning?
Where can I apply to get P-EBT benefits?
When will my card(s) arrive?
What is the P-EBT benefit amount?
Do P-EBT benefits replace grab and go school meals?
Will getting P-EBT affect my family’s public charge?
What can I buy with P-EBT?
Will P-EBT count towards my total income?
Which months will I receive P-EBT benefits for?
Will I have to pay back these benefits if I’m deemed ineligible?
What if I think I got P-EBT benefits by mistake?
What if my child is not financially eligible for free or reduced-price school meals and got P-EBT?
What if I need help with my P-EBT benefits?
Will the amount of my P-EBT benefits change?
What if I lose my P-EBT card?
How do I set up my PIN?
Once my P-EBT benefits have been spent, what other food assistance might I qualify for?
Why have I not gotten my P-EBT card?
Where will my cards be mailed if I am experiencing homelessness?

Apply For Calfresh Food Benefits

Buying food for your family shouldn’t use up your whole budget. Pandemic EBT (or P-EBT) is a no-risk federal food benefits program that helps families afford food that keeps their kids strong and healthy.

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*Amazon is a registered trademark of Amazon, Inc.

Buying food for your family shouldn’t use up your whole budget. Pandemic EBT (or P-EBT) is a no-risk federal food benefits program that helps families afford food that keeps their kids strong and healthy.

A program of the California Department of Social Services

For optimal viewing of this website, please use Google Chrome or Safari browsers.

*Amazon is a registered trademark of Amazon, Inc.