P-EBT: Food Benefits for Families

For the 20-21 school year, there are two different P-EBT benefit amounts based on the number of days a school reported reduced in-person attendance (i.e., hybrid or remote learning) due to COVID-19:

• Children whose schools reported that their in-person school attendance was reduced by 1 to 12 days in a given month will receive $82 in P-EBT benefits for that month.
• Children whose schools reported that their in-person school attendance was reduced for more than 12 days in a given month will receive $132 in P-EBT benefits for that month.
• Children whose schools reported that their in-person learning was not reduced in a given month will not receive a benefit for that month.

Please note: Children in New York City will receive benefits based on the individual child’s learning schedule. Children outside of New York City will receive benefits based on the overall learning models reported by their school, regardless of the child’s individual schedule. Some children may receive additional benefits in a later payment based on their individual learning schedule.

Eligible public school students in New York City will receive their benefits in two payments. The first payment has been issued and included benefits for September 2020 – March 2021. The second payment covers April – June 2021 and will be distributed in a later issuance.

Eligible public school students outside New York City will receive one payment for the entire 2020-21 school year. Payment processing started the last week of August. Depending on how a household receives P-EBT benefits (SNAP, Medicaid, P-EBT card), it will take several weeks for all benefits to be issued.

Timing of benefit issuance is subject to change. NYS OTDA updates on benefit issuance can be found here: otda.ny.gov/SNAP-COVID-19/

Click here for NYS OTDA’s searchable school list to check the status of P-EBT payments for individual schools. This list is updated regularly; please check back for the most current information.

Families receiving SNAP or Temporary Assistance should watch their EBT card balance for benefits. All other eligible children will receive a letter in the mail when their benefits have been issued.

Benefits will remain available for at least nine months from when they are issued.

Benefits will be issued on a new EBT card or one you already have:

• Children currently receiving SNAP or Temporary Assistance will receive P-EBT on their household’s EBT card.
• Children currently enrolled in Medicaid and who redeemed P-EBT benefits for the 19-20 school year on their Medicaid card will receive their 20-21 benefits on the same card.
• Children who received P-EBT benefits for the 19-20 school year on a P-EBT food benefit card and redeemed those benefits will receive their 20-21 P-EBT benefits on the same card.
• All other eligible children will be mailed a new P-EBT card.

Please keep your card in the event additional P-EBT benefits are issued in the future.

To request a replacement P-EBT card:

• If your address is the same as when you received your original P-EBT card, call 1-888-328-6399. Please note: You will be asked to provide your original P-EBT card number. If you do not have that number, you will be asked for the child’s Social Security number. Do not enter the child’s Social Security number. Instead, enter 999-99 and then the 2-digit month and day (MM/DD) of the child’s birthday. For example, if your child’s birthday is July 4, enter 999-99-0704 when asked for the Social Security number.
• If your address has changed since you received your original P-EBT card, or if you do not have the PIN for your original P-EBT card, call the P-EBT helpline at 1-833-452-0096 or complete the online P-EBT Information Form.

To request a replacement Medicaid card:

• If the cardholder receives Medicaid through your local department of social services, call 1-888-328-6399. Please be prepared to provide security information, including the cardholder’s date of birth and Social Security number. Please note: if your address has changed and you have not yet updated it on your Medicaid case, contact your local department of social services to update your address before requesting a replacement card.
• If the cardholder receives Medicaid through the New York State of Health: Health Plan Marketplace, call 1-855-355-5777. Please be prepared to provide security information, including the account holder’s name, Social Security number, account number or health care exchange identification number.

To use P-EBT benefits, you must first select a Personal Identification Number (PIN) for your P-EBT or Medicaid card. If you have not selected a PIN already, follow these instructions to do so:

• Creating a PIN for a P-EBT Food Benefit Card
• Creating a PIN for a Medicaid Card

If you forgot your PIN, call 1-888-328-6399 to set a new PIN. Please note: You will be asked to provide your original P-EBT card number. If you do not have that number, you will be asked for the child’s Social Security number. Do not enter the child’s Social Security number. Instead, enter 999-99 and then the 2-digit month and day (MM/DD) of the child’s birthday. For example, if your child’s birthday is July 4, enter 999-99-0704 when asked for the Social Security number. When asked to enter your PIN, wait and do not enter anything. You will be transferred to an operator who can help.

New York State may issue additional P-EBT benefits for summer 2021. Plans have not been finalized. Updates will be posted here and on the NYS P-EBT webpage.

Here are some things families can do now to prepare:

• Be sure your 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.
• Keep your P-EBT card if you have received one.
• Students who are newly eligible for free or reduced-price school meals can submit a school meal application to their school to potentially qualify for future P-EBT benefits. Families do not need to submit a new school meal application if:
  • They received P-EBT for the 19-20 or 20-21 school year.
  • Their child qualified for free or reduced-price school meals in the 19-20 or 20-21 school year.
  • Their child attends a school using the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP).
  • One or more people in the student’s household receives SNAP.

New York State OTDA plans to issue P-EBT benefits to eligible children who:

• Are under age 6, and
• Received SNAP benefits at any point after October 1, 2020.

Details are forthcoming. These benefits will not be issued until after all benefits for school-age children are complete. Updates will be posted here and on the NYS P-EBT webpage.