What is the pandemic electronic benefit transfer program

Versión en Español Latest Updates

Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) is a benefit program for:

Students who got free or reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program
Children in an active case through Food and Nutrition Services (also known as Food Stamps)

Eligibility for Summer 2022 P-EBT has ended, but payments are still being processed and may appear as late as December.

We do not yet know if the program will continue this fall.

Most Recent Benefits: Summer 2022

Benefit: $391 per eligible child, as a one-time payment.

Payments: Started July 20. Many recipients have already gotten them, but payments continue through December. Where are my benefits?

Eligibility: Closed August 31. Eligibility guidelines

How can we help you with P-EBT?

Watch Out: P-EBT Scam Advisory

There are scams targeting EBT recipients. Here are some reminders to keep you and your family safe:

NEVER provide personal information if someone you don’t know reaches out to you by phone, text, or email.
NEVER share Social Security numbers, bank information, EBT and/or P-EBT card numbers, or other personal information with people you don’t know.
ONLY provide personal information when YOU reach out directly to a state agency. If you receive any unsolicited communications asking you to provide personal information, do not respond and immediately delete the message.

Latest Updates

Sept. 7, 2022

As of Sept. 24, 2022, P-EBT recipients will have 274 days from the date of benefit issuance to make eligible purchases before benefits expire.

Aug. 10, 2022

Please note that our call center is experiencing extremely high call volumes. For self-service options, please refer to our FAQs or the P-EBT Virtual Agent (chat circle on the bottom right of your screen) for information on P-EBT eligibility, benefits, and timing.

All Updates

https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/information/human-services/pandemic-electronic-benefit-transfer-p-ebt-program

Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) Program

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Quick Links to Important Information
P-EBT Fraud Alert	What is P-EBT?	Who is Eligible for P-EBT?
P-EBT Issuance Overview	How will families get P-EBT?	When Will Families Get Their Benefits?
Summer P-EBT Updates	Expungement of P-EBT Benefits	How To Inquire About P-EBT Eligibility and/or Issuance?
How To Activate Your P-EBT Card	Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)	Additional Resources

P-EBT Fraud Alert

Be aware of a scam using texting to obtain your personal information.

The official Maryland EBT/P-EBT customer service phone line is 1-800-997-2222. This is the only number that should be used for inquiries related to your card. The customer service call center can be reached 24 hours a day, 7 days to order a new card, balance inquiries, or PIN change. Your EBT information can also be accessed via a secure website at https://www.connectebt.com/mdebtclient/

What is P-EBT?

These benefits, called Pandemic-EBT, or P-EBT, are intended to help families in Maryland purchase food while schools are closed due to COVID-19.

Who is Eligible for P-EBT?

The Maryland Department of Human Services (DHS) in conjunction with the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) has secured approval from the USDA to operate the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program for the School Year (SY) 2021-2022.

School Year (SY) 2021-2022

Standard for P-EBT Eligibility for Students

School children are eligible for P-EBT benefits if they are eligible for free or reduced price meals, but are unable to receive those meals due to reasons listed below:

A child’s school is closed (including any delayed start or early closure to the school year), or the school is operating with reduced attendance or hours
A Child is absent from school due to a COVID-19 related reason
A Child is enrolled in a virtual learning program established by his or her school district in effort to mitigate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic.

P-EBT Issuance Overview

All benefits will be issued retroactively. The amount of benefits will vary depending on each eligible child’s individual circumstances. Because the vast majority of schools have returned to in-person learning and the benefits are limited to individuals with COVID19-related absences, a child may receive benefits for some months and receive nothing for others. In general, benefits will be calculated in accordance with the table below.

Tier	Number of Days Absent	Standard Benefits
Tier A	1 to 5 days	3 days = $21.30
Tier B	6 to 15 days	10 days= $71.00
Tier C	16 and more days	18 days= $127.50

*First issuance will be completed by the end of July 2022; issuance contingent upon data obtained from child(s) school

How will families get P-EBT?

Students who are receiving SNAP benefits and are eligible for the P-EBT benefits will receive P-EBT cards. SNAP recipients who might have previously received their P-EBT benefits on their EBT card, will be mailed a P-EBT card. No P-EBT benefits will be issued on EBT cards.
If your child remains eligible for P-EBT benefits during the 2021-2022 school year, the student will receive their P-EBT benefits on the card already issued.
We will mail you a new P-EBT card if your child is being issued P-EBT benefits for the first time this year

When Will Families Get Their Benefits?

The P-EBT benefits for School Year 2021-2022 will be issued according to the schedule below:

Benefit Month (s)	(UPDATE) Estimated Benefit Distribution Date
September 2021 to February 2022	End of July 2022
March 2022 and April 2022	End of August 2022
May 2022 and June 2022	End of August 2022

Summer P-EBT Updates

Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) is part of the U.S. government response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The program provides funds to help children who are not able to access free or reduced-price school meals due to COVID-19 purchase healthy food. School Year (SY) 2021-2022 P-EBT benefits will be issued under two separate state plans, the SY plan and Summer P-EBT plan. SY benefits were issued in the month of July 2022. This page provides Summer P-EBT plan details.

The total Summer P-EBT benefit amount is $391. The amount will be issued in two equal installments as follows:

Summer P-EBT Standard Issuance
Issuance Month	School Aged Children Amount	Children Under Six Enrolled in qualifying child care facilities Amount
August 2022	$195.50	$195.50
September 2022	$195.50	$195.50
*If a child who begins receiving P-EBT child care benefits as a 5-year-old reaches his or her 6th birthday, Maryland will observe a simplifying assumption that the child remained enrolled in a covered child care facility through summer 2022.

*First issuance will be completed by the end of July 2022; issuance contingent upon data obtained from child(s) school

Expungement of P-EBT Benefits

Expungement is the removal of unused benefits from the EBT card due to inactivity.
Benefits will be expunged after 9 months of inactivity. If there are remaining benefits on your P-EBT card, it is important that you use your card at least once every 9 months to prevent the benefits from being expunged.
The State is not able to restore expunged benefits.

How To Inquire About P-EBT Eligibility and/or Issuance?

If you have any questions or concerns regarding issuance, please click the below link and provide all required information

Customer Inquiry Form

How To Activate Your P-EBT Card

How do I activate the card?

Call the phone number 1800-997-2222 on the back of the card. You will need the 16 digit EBT card number on the front of the card, your zip code, and the date of birth of the eligible child listed on the card. When prompted to enter the last four digits of your Social Security Number, enter 0000. You will then need to set a four-digit pin number.

How do I use the card?

Once activated, the card can be used to purchase eligible food items anywhere SNAP/EBT cards are accepted. When making food purchases, you will need to use the PIN number you created when you first activated your P-EBT card. The card can be used in the point of sale device, just like a debit card, or can be handed to the cashier.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Additional Resources

Families who believe their child may be eligible should contact their school. The school will guide families through the application process.

For more information please call
the Maryland Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) Hotline at
1-833-330-PEBT (1-833-330-7328).

Is Florida still giving P

Summer 2022 P-EBT benefit issuance is expected to begin in October 2022 and will run through November 2022. Eligible recipients should expect to receive their payment by November 30, 2022. Households already receiving SNAP benefits will receive Summer 2022 P-EBT benefits on their existing EBT cards.

Is Arkansas getting more P

If your child qualifies for both 2021-2022 School-Year P-EBT and 2022 Summer P-EBT, they will receive separate cards for each program. ... What is the benefit amount?.

Will P

After May 2022, no additional P-SNAP benefits will be issued. You will continue to receive your regular SNAP benefits in your EBT account based on the last two digits of the head of household's client ID number.

Is Oklahoma doing the P

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has now approved Oklahoma to issue school year 2021-2022 P-EBT benefits, summer 2022 P-EBT benefits, and P-EBT for children under age six who were in childcare and participated in SNAP during the school year 2021-2022 benefits.