Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) is part of the U.S. government response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 (PL 116–127), as amended by the Continuing Appropriations Act 2021 and Other Extensions Act (PL 116-159), the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021 (PL 116-260), and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (PL 117-2) provides the Secretary of Agriculture authority to approve state agency plans to administer P-EBT.
USDA is committed to providing nutrition assistance to hard-hit families across the country due to the coronavirus pandemic. On Jan. 22, 2021, USDA announced that it is increasing the P-EBT benefit by approximately 15 percent, providing more money for low-income families and millions of children missing meals due to school and child care closures.
Through P-EBT, eligible school children receive temporary emergency nutrition benefits loaded on EBT cards that are used to purchase food. 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. P-EBT benefits are available in any school year in which there is a public health emergency declaration based on an outbreak of SARS-CoV-2; as well as during at any covered summer period that follows a school year during which there was a public health emergency designation based on an outbreak of SAR-CoV-2.
School Year 2020-2021
The following states have been approved to operate a Pandemic EBT program during SY 2020-2021
Summer 2021
- State Plan for Pandemic EBT: Children in School and Child Care, 2021-22 (8/26/21)
- P-EBT Q&A – SY 2021-22 (8/26/21)
- P-EBT State Plan Template SY 2021-22 (8/26/21)
- P-EBT Guidance – Summer 2021 (4/26/21)
- P-EBT Q&A – Summer 2021 (4/26/21)
- P-EBT State Plan Template – Summer 2021 (4/26/21)
- P-EBT Guidance - Assistance for Children in Schools and Child Care SY 2020-21 (1/29/21)
- P-EBT Q&A - Assistance for Children in Schools and Child Care SY 2020-21 (1/29/21)
- P-EBT State Plan Template - Children in Schools and Child Care SY 2020-21 (1/29/21)
- State Plans for SY 2020-21 (11/16/20)
- SY 2019-2020 P-EBT State Participation