DATE: | September 8, 2022 | |
SUBJECT: | Pandemic EBT - State Plans for 2022-2023 | |
FROM: | Lizbeth Silbermann Acting Associate Administrator Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program | Sarah Smith-Holmes Acting Associate Administrator Child Nutrition Programs |
TO: | SNAP State Agencies | Child Nutrition State Agencies |
USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is releasing new Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) guidance to states for school year 2022-23. This guidance consists of a set of Q&As and a state plan template. These materials will look familiar; very little has changed since last year. The most significant change concerns the eligibility of certain children who enrolled in non-NSLP-participating virtual schools or began homeschooling in response to the COVID health emergency. For additional information on that topic, please see the P-EBT policy memo “Pandemic EBT - Updated Guidance on Virtual Schools” released Sept. 8, 2022.
USDA encourages all states to submit school year 2022-23 P-EBT plans for school children and children in child care. P-EBT continues to serve an important role for children who temporarily lose access to meals at school or in child care due to the health emergency. In addition, the approval of a school year plan remains a precondition for participating in P-EBT next summer.
USDA will schedule one or more webinars for states in the next week to go over this year’s guidance and to answer questions. Until then, please review the documents and direct your questions to your USDA-FNS regional offices.
Lizbeth Silbermann Acting Associate Administrator Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program | Sarah Smith-Homes Acting Associate Administrator Child Nutrition Programs |