COVID-19 UPDATES
Pandemic-EBT: Food Benefits for Families
P-EBT Benefits for the 2020-21 School Year
P-EBT provides food benefits to children who qualify for free or reduced-price school meals and are learning remotely. Some children under age six who participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program may also qualify for P-EBT. Benefits have been extended for the 2020-21 school year. More information will be available soon, here and on the NYS P-EBT webpage.
While benefits will not be available for several months, families can prepare now:
- All families should be sure their child’s school has their correct mailing address on file. Ensuring schools have accurate, up-to-date information can help avoid delays in issuing P-EBT benefits.
- Be sure to keep your P-EBT card if you received one during the first round of P-EBT.
- Students who are newly eligible for free and reduced-price meals must fill out a school meals application and return it to your child’s school to be eligible for P-EBT benefits. This includes those who:
- Did not receive P-EBT last school year, but their household income is at or below the income limits for free or reduced price school meals.
- Are new to the school district, including kindergarten students; prekindergarten students, if receiving school lunch through the National School Lunch Program; and students who have moved to the area.
- Have experienced job or income loss at any point in the school year.
- Families do not need to submit a new school meal application if:
- They received P-EBT for last school year.
- Their child received free or reduced-price school meals in the 2019-2020 school year.
- Their child attends a school using the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) to offer free meals to all students.
- One or more people in your household receives benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
For more details, please visit NYS P-EBT webpage. If you have specific questions, please contact: info@hungersolutionsny.org
P-EBT benefits will be issued automatically by the NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (NYSOTDA).
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