Around 3.8 Million California Children Eligible for Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) Benefits

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Residents of California and other states in the United States with children eligible for CalFresh, Medi-Cal, Foster Care benefits or free or reduce-cost school lunch will be receiving up to $365 in food benefits per child as part of the Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) program.

Hard-working citizens, including the working poor have been stretched thin with loss of hours or even employment as the country struggles to gain control of the COVID-19 pandemic. The vast majority of American citizens received or plan on receiving a stimulus package of $1200 for each adult and $500 for each child in the home. The relief still is not coming fast enough for those who have bills stacking up.

The food benefits are being supplied by the California Department of Education and Social Services to assist families to purchase additional food through the time of school closures due to the emergency closures. According to CA.gov eligible families can receive up to $365 per child on their P-EBT card to use on groceries. Most families who receive CalFresh, Medi-Cal, or Foster Care benefits do not need to apply and will get their P-EBT card in the mail during the month of May. Those who do not get their card in the mail, must apply by June 30, 2020 in late-May.

Children who receive to-go meals in their community are still eligible if their school is closed and they are eligible for free or reduced price meals. Those who apply by June 30, 2020, will get the benefits for all four months. For each eligible child, your card will be paid the following each month:

March 2020: $68 per child
April 2020: $120 per child
May 2020: $120 per child
June 2020: $57 per child

As of May 1, 2020, Alabama, Arizona, California, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Virginia, and Wisconsin have been approved to provide P-EBT benefits.