The California Department of Social Services (CDSS), in partnership with the California Department of Education (CDE), received approval to operate the Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) program in response to COVID-19 related school and child care closures. School aged children are eligible for P-EBT and will get a card automatically in the mail based on their attendance at a school where all children can get free breakfast, lunch, or both. This is true even if the child did not individually apply for free or reduced-price school meals. 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.
These cards are currently being mailed out to families (through December 2021) in white unmarked envelopes addressed to the student.
For additional information, visit the P-EBT website at https://ca.p-ebt.org/ and CDSS website at https://www.cdss.ca.gov/home/pandemic-ebt.
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).
NOTE: The PTC and McKinley Elementary are not involved with this program. Please view sites listed above or call the helpline for any questions. Thank you!