If your child receives free or reduced-price school meals, you will receive $420 in food benefits from the Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT) program.
P-EBT is a new program to help fill the school meals gap for children who lost access to free or reduced-price school meals due to COVID-19 school closures. This includes all children who attend a school that provides free meals to all.
Important highlights of P-EBT:
- Each eligible child will receive $420 in P-EBT food benefits.
- P-EBT benefits can be used to buy food at SNAP-participating stores.
- There is no application. P-EBT benefits will be issued automatically between June and August. Families who receive SNAP, Public Assistance, or Medicaid will get benefits on their current EBT or Medicaid card. Others will receive a new EBT card in the mail.
- Your immigration status does not matter for P-EBT. Using P-EBT does not affect your or your child’s immigration status. The public charge rule does not apply to P-EBT.
- P-EBT is not SNAP, and does not replace other nutrition programs. You can use other programs, like summer meals, SNAP, and WIC, while using P-EBT. You can still get “grab and go” or delivered meals from your school.
Visit HungerSolutionsNY.org/PEBT/ to learn more.