P-EBT
Frequently Asked Questions
What are P-EBT food benefits?
The Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) provides benefits to certain children who receive free or reduced-price school lunches under the National School Lunch Act. P-EBT is a temporary food benefit program operating during the COVID-19 pandemic. P-EBT only provides benefits for days that students lack access to an in-school lunch. P-EBT provides $6.82 per each school day that schoolchildren are engaged in remote learning.
Who is eligible for P-EBT benefits and do I qualify?
Your child and your school must meet certain criteria to be eligible for P-EBT:
Your Child:
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Must be enrolled in free or reduced-price school meals at a school operating the National School Lunch Program; OR,
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Must be enrolled in a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) or Provision-2 school, which offers breakfast and lunch free to all students; AND,
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Must have lacked access to an in-school lunch at least some days of the month
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Students who attend private schools or other schools that do not participate in the free/reduced price meals program are not eligible to receive P-EBT.
Your School:
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Must operate the National School Lunch Program; AND,
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Must have been closed or operating at reduced capacity at least 5 consecutive days at some point during the 2020-2021 School Year.
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Will report the number of days your student is present, and the amount families will receive will be based upon that information
How are P-EBT benefits issued? Do I need to apply?
If your child is already enrolled in free or reduced-price school meals AND your address is up to date:
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Your family will get P-EBT automatically. Each child will receive their own card.
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Cards will be mailed to you in March.
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Cards will arrive in an unmarked envelope so please be on the lookout.
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Families should hold onto their P-EBT card(s) because future benefits will be loaded onto the same card.
If you are new to a school district, your child did not receive free or reduced-price meals last school year, OR you recently moved:
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You must fill out an application for free or reduced-price school meals by contacting your school.
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