Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) is a government program that provides temporary emergency nutrition benefits loaded on EBT cards that are used to purchase food. P-EBT is part of the U.S. government response to the COVID-19 pandemic and was created to help families buy food during school closures due to the pandemic. The benefits work the same way as SNAP (food stamps) benefits to purchase the same eligible foods, which includes any raw or unprepared foods for human consumption and does not include any hot ready-to-eat meals.
Children who would have received free or reduced-price meals under the National School Lunch Act if their schools were not closed or operating with reduced hours or attendance for at least 5 consecutive days are eligible to receive P-EBT benefits. Additionally, younger children in households participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) whose covered benefits included free or reduced-price school meals are also eligible.
P-EBT benefits can be used wherever SNAP food benefits are accepted. The application deadline for P-EBT benefits varies by state and can be found on the states P-EBT website. In Texas, for example, the application deadline for the 2020-2021 school year was August 21, 2021, and the deadline for the summer 2021 program was September 13, 2021.
In summary, P-EBT benefits are temporary emergency nutrition benefits loaded on EBT cards that are used to purchase food. They are provided to eligible school children who would have received free or reduced-price meals under the National School Lunch Act if their schools were not closed or operating with reduced hours or attendance for at least 5 consecutive days, as well as younger children in households participating in SNAP whose covered benefits included free or reduced-price school meals. P-EBT benefits can be used wherever SNAP food benefits are accepted.
