CalFresh and EBT News and Updates

Please check here to find all the most up-to-date news and announcements regarding CalFresh benefits and the Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) program!

Important Information for New Applicants and Current CalFresh Customers!

Ending of CalFresh Temporary Student Eligibility Exemption:
Flyer also available in: (Spanish) (Vietnamese) (Cantonese) (Armenian)

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, California was able to extend CalFresh eligibility to students eligible for work study and students with an Expected Family Contribution of zero dollars for financial aid.

Starting June 10th, 2023, the two mentioned temporary student exemptions will no longer apply to college students applying for CalFresh.

Current college students, that are already receiving CalFresh benefits, would have to meet a permanent student exemption during their next renewal to maintain their CalFresh eligibility starting July 2023 and on.

Do you still have questions? Read these Questions and Answers. This Q&A can also be found in the following languages: Spanish Vietnamese Chinese Armenian

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

Interview waivers are in effect until March 31, 2024.

P EBT Helping California Families Afford More Food. Three children eating food together.

Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) 3.0

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

Under 6 years old as of August 1, 2021; and
Part of a household getting CalFresh food benefits between August 2021 and August 2022.

Young children will receive P-EBT 3.0 benefits for each month they received CalFresh food benefits.

A standard statewide benefit amount will be provided based on Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) meal claim reductions during School Year (SY) 2021-22.
While monthly benefits amounts vary depending on the specific CACFP meal reduction in each month, eligible young children will receive an average of $4 per month for each month they received CalFresh Food benefits in SY 2021-22. Young children eligible for Summer P-EBT benefits will get a standard benefit amount of $391.

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

Eligible for free/reduced-priced meals during the SY 2021-22 or Summer 2022; and
Enrolled in a school participating in the National School Lunch Program/School Breakfast Program or a Provision school during SY 2021-22; and
Did not attend school in person because of COVID-19 during SY 2021-22. This included students who were enrolled in Independent Study, California’s version of virtual learning, as well as students who had five or more excused absences in any given month.

School-aged children will get a standard benefit amount of $7.10 for each day the student did not attend school in person in SY 2021-222 because of COVID -19. This includes days the student attended school through Independent Study or all excused absence days in a month where the student had greater than five excused absences. School-Age Children eligible for Summer P-EBT benefits will get a standard benefit amount of $391

Under P-EBT 3.0, each eligible child will receive a new P-EBT 3.0 card by mail between October 2022 through December 2022. Eligible households do not need to apply to receive the P-EBT 3.0.

Note: P-EBT 3.0 cards for school-aged children were delayed due to supply issues and will begin mailing 12/7/22 for benefit months August through December 2021 and January through May 2022.

Please visit the official P-EBT Frequently Asked Questions page or use their live chat feature for questions you may have regarding P-EBT 3.0.

EBT SCAMS

Reporting Entity	Email or Phone Number Client Received message or call from	Telephone Number Client Instructed to Call	Additional Information Related to the Incident
Los Angeles County Client	Text Message	877-353-1670	The client received a text message stating “#EBT blocked # call 877-353-1670 or email 5949589@ehsd.org.”
Los Angeles County Client	Text Message	707-419-6161	The client received a text message to contact 707-419-6161 regarding their EBT card. The automated message system impersonated the California EBT Customer Service Helpline welcome message. After they followed the prompt to enter their Card Number and PIN they were told their card was successfully reactivated. Their benefits issued for the month of November were withdrawn at an ATM 22 minutes later.

Other known EBT scams also ask for personal information, card number, and/or PIN by:

Offering a free “government cell phone” or free gift cards
Posing as a “protection plan” company that is part of the state program
Claiming to be “concerned citizens” posting warnings about EBT card security with a telephone number similar to a real customer service helpline telephone number (maybe one number is different)

PLEASE NOTE: It is important for you to protect your identity and case information. DPSS will never ask for you to click on suspicious links or for your personal security PIN. If you suspect that you are a victim of any scams, call Customer Service (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) at 1-877-328-9677 or
1-800-735-2929 (for Telecommunication Relay Services for the hearing/speech) for help right away.

Use Your EBT Benefits Online!

Check out this flyer for information on using your EBT card to purchase groceries online.

Frequently asked questions and answers to help you navigate the EBT Online Purchase services.

Participating Retailer Fact Sheet.