The Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT) Program was created in Spring 2020 to provide funds for families to buy food while schools were closed due to COVID-19. More P-EBT funds are being issued for the 2021-22 school year and will be available this summer. Eligible students in approved FULLY VIRTUAL learning situations: $127.80 per month
Full Answer
How did states distribute P-EBT benefits to millions of families?
States distributed P-EBT benefits to millions of families last school year to replace meals lost by their children as schools and child care facilities closed or restricted their in-person schedules due to the COVID emergency.
How is P-EBT calculated for students receiving in-person instruction?
The federal government does not allow for P-EBT to be calculated on the days an eligible student is receiving in-person instruction. If a student was 100 percent virtual for a month, they will receive 100 percent of the P-EBT benefit for that month.
Is my child eligible for P-EBT if they are home schooled?
Children that are home schooled, attend a cyber charter school or are enrolled in a school that does not participate in the NSLP are not eligible for P-EBT. If you do not know if your child attends a CEP eligible school, please visit the Pennsylvania Department of Education NSLP website.
What can I use my school P-EBT benefits for?
You can use the benefits to buy food, including: Please remember that you cannot give your card to someone else. It is illegal to sell, trade, or give your School P-EBT benefits to another person.
What is P-EBT in the US?
What is P-EBT? Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (or P-EBT) was developed by Congress and is funded through the United States Department of Agriculture (or USDA). The federal government makes the rules for this program.
What is the maximum daily rate for P-EBT?
The maximum daily rate for P-EBT is $6.82. This means that the monthly amount from September through May is $136.40 for a fully virtual student. For September through February, the monthly amount for a student attending some days in person and some days virtual will be $88.66.
How to check balance on EBT card?
To check the balance on the card, simply call the EBT Hotline number again and any time after the card has been activated, you will get an automated list of options, including options to check the balance of the card, hear the last ten transactions on the card, change your PIN, or dispute charges.
How long does P-EBT stay in your Snap account?
The P-EBT benefits will remain in the SNAP account for nine months after the account is no longer used. For example, if the benefits are loaded in May and never used, they will be removed in February. But if a portion of those benefits are used in July, then the balance will remain on the card until April.
How to activate P-EBT card?
Once you receive the P-EBT card, you will need to activate it by calling the P-EBT hotline on the back of the card. You will be asked to enter the full number on the front of the card. Then you will be asked to enter the last four digits of your social security number.
Can a child receive P-EBT if they are not in school?
If your child receives meals through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and is not receiving those meals because they are not having in-person classes, then they qualify for P-EBT.
Can I apply for P-EBT?
There is no application for P-EBT. DHS will work with schools to get the necessary information to determine which students are eligible. If your child does not fall into any of these categories, they DO NOT qualify for P-EBT.
What is the P-EBT program?
Student Circumstances. A student is eligible for the Student P-EBT program if their public school, private school, or charter school participates in the National School Lunch Program and the student is eligible to receive free or reduce-priced meals at school during the 2020-21 school year. To be eligible for Student P-EBT, a student must meet ...
When is P-EBT for kids?
P-EBT for Children Under 6 is a temporary program that provides benefits to children as long as they remain eligible for the months of October 2020 to June 2021. The eligibility criteria for children under 6 is different than for children who are students attending school.
What is a P-EBT card?
The P-EBT card can be used to purchase food items at EBT authorized food and grocery retailers, including most major grocery stores.
What are the requirements for P-EBT?
To be eligible for Student P-EBT, a student must meet these two criteria: Be enrolled in a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and. Be eligible for free or reduced-price meals AND. Student eligibility is determined by any of the following:
How is P-EBT determined?
A student’s eligibility and the P-EBT amount they will receive is now dependent on how many days they were in virtual learning instruction each month. Eligibility and benefit amount are determined by a student’s learning circumstances.
When will P-EBT be available for 2020?
Families who apply for FNS benefits and become eligible prior to the month of initial issuance may under certain circumstances receive P-EBT benefits back to October 1, 2020. Families who apply for FNS after the month of initial issuance and become eligible will receive P-EBT benefits back to the date of eligibility.
Will NCDHHS continue P-EBT?
NCDHHS has been approved to continue P-EBT through Summer 2021 within the guidelines provided by USDA. Summer P-EBT is an extension of school year 2020-21 benefits. Eligibility will be determined based on student or child circumstances as of the last full month of the 2020-21 school year (May 2021). Eligibility for the summer period is not determined based on school attendance or learning mode, therefore students attending summer learning programs will be eligible for the full summer P-EBT amount. Eligible children will receive a one-time payment of $375 that will cover the entire summer period of June through August 2021. Children who are eligible as of May will receive their benefit in late July. Children that become newly eligible over the summer by applying for and being approved for FNS or free or reduced-price school meals will receive their benefit in late September. Keep your current card so you can continue to receive benefits through the summer. More information on Summer P-EBT can be found in the P-EBT FAQs and additional updates will be available in the coming months.
What is the phone number for P-EBT?
the P-EBT support line, or call 833-431-2224 (Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., excluding holidays). When you call or email, please be prepared to share the information listed above, as well as your case number, which can be found on your notification letter at the bottom of each page. English and Spanish.
Why do my Quest benefits change?
Because how students are learning is different between schools and grade levels, benefits many be different between children in the same family, and they may change from month to month. If your family has an active QUEST card, benefits will be added to that card.
Is P-EBT a replacement for food assistance?
School P-EBT is not a replacement for other food assistance. If your family does not already receive FoodShare benefits, please visit the ACCESS website to check your eligibility and apply. To find other food resources in your community, call 211.
Can a child receive P-EBT?
Eligibility. Your child is eligible to receive School P-EBT benefits if: They qualify for free or reduced price meals through the National School Lunch Program at their school. Their school confirms the child learned from home for at least part of the 2020-2021 school year.
How much is the P-EBT program?
The extension of the Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) program under the Biden Administration’s “American Rescue Plan” to provide an incentive of up to $375 for underage students during the summer months could become permanent.
When does the P-EBT program expire?
Program was set to expire in September. P-EBT was established in March 2020 to provide money for food for students who were not taking face-to-face classes due to the pandemic. The program was supposed to expire next September 30, but with the passage of the “American Rescue Plan,” funding will now extend through the summer months and beyond.
Is meal assistance a P-EBT?
The meal assistance is in addition to any other incentives such as food stamps under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Usually, students in households receiving SNAP are automatically eligible for the P-EBT incentive.
Is P-EBT permanent?
Biden Administration Seeks to Make P-EBT Permanent. But a report Thursday on Telemundo indicates that under the $1.8 billion “Plan for American Families,” introduced by President Joe Biden in late April, the program is being sought to remain in place.
What is P-EBT in school?
The P-EBT benefits are designed to help families afford meals on days when the children are home instead of eating at school. As a result, the USDA has stated that students are not eligible for P-EBT funds on the days they attend school in person and eat meals at the school. They may be eligible on days they do not attend school or attend ...
What is the P-EBT?
Many of you have reached out with questions about Pandemic EBT (also known as P-EBT). These extra food stamps benefits are intended to help replace the free and reduced-price meals that low income families receive from schools.
Why can't my child get free meals?
Your child cannot receive free or reduced-price meals because the school is closed or has been operating with reduced attendance/hours for at least 5 consecutive days in the current school year. Children who are homeschooled do not qualify for P-EBT because they would not be eating free or reduced-price meals at school.
Do schools provide free summer meals?
In many areas, schools provide free summer meals for all children age 18 and under. Participation in this program does not mean that you will be eligible for P-EBT. You must register and be approved for the National School Lunch Program and/or School Breakfast Program in order to be eligible for P-EBT.
Will the federal government extend the 2021 school year?
Although the federal government has authorized an extension through the 2021 school year, it may take a while for those funds to reach the families who need them. That’s because the government is a slow-moving machine.
Can you get P-EBT if you don't attend school?
They may be eligible on days they do not attend school or attend but do not receive a meal. P-EBT funds are available for weekdays when the child attends school virtually or through distance learning, but these funds are not available during school breaks or holidays.
Is P-EBT available in all states?
P-EBT is not available in all states or school districts. Although the Pandemic EBT program has been authorized by the federal government, each state must request and become approved to participate in P-EBT. As of the time this post was created, only a handful of states and US Territories have been approved to disburse P-EBT funds for ...
