State approves extension for pandemic food benefits reissuance

Families have until Aug. 18 to request reissuance of expired 2021 P-EBT 2.0 benefits

RIVERSIDE COUNTY – Residents whose children qualified for, but didn’t use extra pandemic food benefits in 2021 now have more time to request a reissuance. Pandemic EBT is a federal program that provides food assistance to eligible young or school-aged children in addition to free or reduced-price meals at childcare or school.

P-EBT benefits that remain unused after a year expire. California officials said if a child received a P-EBT 2.0 card in 2021 and didn’t use any of the benefits for a year, they may be eligible for a reissuance of expired benefits. The state extended the reporting timeframe, allowing families until Friday, Aug. 18, to request reissuance of expired benefits.

Pandemic EBT, or P-EBT, is a federal program designed to give eligible families with children extra money for groceries. P-EBT cards are accepted at most grocery stores, farmers markets and online food retailers. Learn more at http://ca.p-ebt.org.

To qualify for the reissuance, customers must have received a P-EBT 2.0 card in 2021 and have not used any of the benefits on the card, causing them to expire.

“Riverside County DPSS encourages families who may be eligible for replacement benefits to contact the P-EBT helpline by the deadline,” Allison Gonzalez, assistant director of the department’s Self Sufficiency Division, said. “These food benefits help children and families reach and sustain nutritional well-being.”

To request a reissuance, families can contact the state’s P-EBT 2.0 Expungement Helpline at 800887-8230, Monday to Friday from

6 a.m. to 8 p.m., or visit the P-EBT website at http://www.ca.p-ebt. org and use the P-EBT Live Chat, Monday to Friday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., to request a new card. The new cards should be received in late September through October.

When calling or chatting, state officials urged customers to have the first and last name of each child believed to be eligible, their date of birth and the address on file during the 2021 P-EBT 2.0 issuance.

If you’re interested in receiving additional food benefits, apply for CalFresh food assistance at http:// ww.benefitscal.com, by phone at 877-410-8827 or in-person at any DPSS office.

Submitted by state of California.