Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) Program About the P-EBT Program (as of September 2021) The Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program is a collaboration between the NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) and the NC Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) and is authorized by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The P-EBT program helps families with eligible children whose access to meals has been impacted by COVID-19. Update Sept. 9, 2021: The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) released P-EBT guidance to states for the 2021-22 school year. North Carolina is evaluating the guidance and must submit a P-EBT State Plan to USDA for approval before it can issue any benefits for the new school year. This website will be updated with more information as it becomes available. The information below gives a brief overview of what the program is, who is eligible, and how families will receive the benefit. NC aims to provide P-EBT benefits to as many children as possible under the USDA’s guidance and we wish we could help every family. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Summer 2021 P-EBT Flyer/Fact Sheet hoja de informativas P-EBT benefits have been extended for the summer within the guidelines provided by USDA. Summer P-EBT is an extension of school year 2020-21 benefits. Eligible students and children under age 6 will receive a one-time payment of $375 for the summer. Keep your current card so you can continue to receive benefits through the summer. Please review the “Summer 2021 P-EBT” section for more information on timeline and eligibility. School Year Benefits for Students and Children Under Age 6 P-EBT for school year 2020-21 was available to eligible students and children under age 6. Additional funds were made available for Summer 2021. Eligibility for Summer 2021 is different than school year eligibility and is outlined in the “Summer 2021 P-EBT” section. For information on the previous school year’s eligibility requirements, please review the “P-EBT School Year 2020-21 Information” webpage. The state is awaiting guidance from USDA on if P-EBT will be extended for the 2021-22 school year, and this website will be updated with additional information as it becomes available. P-EBT SCAM ADVISORY Do not provide any personal information if you receive phone calls, emails, or text messages asking for your information. Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) or P-EBT recipients should NEVER share social security numbers, bank information, EBT card numbers or personal identification numbers with people you don’t know. Only provide personal information when you contact a state agency or worker directly. If you receive an unsolicited text message or phone call asking you to provide personal information, do not respond and delete the message. Summer P-EBT Eligibility to Receive Summer P-EBT Eligibility for the summer is based on child circumstances as of the last full month of the 2020-21 school year (May 2021). Eligibility for summer is not determined based on school attendance or learning mode, therefore students attending summer learning programs will still be eligible for the full summer P-EBT amount. Students and children under age 6 are eligible for summer P-EBT if they meet one of the following criteria: The child was eligible to receive free or reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) in the last full month of the school year, OR The child applies and becomes eligible for NSLP free or reduced-price meals or FNS at any time during the covered summer period (June through August 2021) For more information on how to apply for free or reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program, please contact your child’s local school district. To find out if your household is eligible for FNS food assistance benefits, there are three ways to apply: Apply online at https://epass.nc.gov. The NC FAST ePASS website now includes a Spanish translation option, as well as the ability to complete the full application process in Spanish online. Apply in person at your county Department of Social Services (DSS) office. Fill out a paper application and mail to or drop it off at your county DSS. Additional information regarding summer P-EBT can be found in the P-EBT FAQs. P-EBT Amount and When to Expect the Benefit North Carolina will issue a one-time standard benefit of $375 per eligible child for the summer. Children who are eligible for P-EBT as of May 2021 will receive their benefit at the end of July or early August. Children that become newly eligible for P-EBT over the summer by applying for and being approved for Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) or free or reduced-price school meals through the National School Lunch Program (prior to August 31) will receive their benefit in late September or October. How Households Will Receive the Benefits P-EBT benefits will be provided automatically on a debit-like card. This card will be sent through the mail service if a household does not already have one. Eligible families already receiving Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) benefits can expect to receive an additional benefit on their existing EBT card. Families who received Student P-EBT previously and are eligible under the new criteria can expect to receive additional benefits on their original P-EBT card. Sometimes a new P-EBT card will be mailed even for those who already have cards and the benefits will be issued to the new card. The P-EBT card functions like a standard EBT card, and the same guidelines apply. The P-EBT card can be used to purchase food items at EBT authorized food and grocery retailers, including most major grocery stores. P-EBT cards for foster care students will be mailed to the local county Division of Social Services office that has custody of the foster care student. The student's foster care social worker will provide the card or assist with transfer of the card to the student’s new placement. P-EBT cards for homeless and migrant students will be mailed to the address on record for the student at the student’s school. How to Use the P-EBT Card Families receiving a P-EBT card will need to activate the card and create a Personal Identification Number (PIN) to use the card. You can activate or order a new card in one of the following ways: Visit www.ebtedge.com. Click on “More Information” under EBT Cardholder. You will be prompted to login and/or register your account. Download the ebtEDGE mobile app. The app is available on Apple Store and Google Play. Call 1-888-622-7328 and follow the prompts to activate your card and select a PIN. To activate your card, you will be asked to enter the date of birth (DOB) associated with the card. Enter the DOB of the youngest student in the household that attends a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program. Enter the DOB as two digits for the month, two digits for the day and four digits for the year. For example, January 24, 2014 would be entered as 01242014. If there are multiple children in your household it may be necessary to try each child’s DOB to successfully activate your P-EBT card. Once the card is activated, you may create your PIN. If you have lost or destroyed your card, log into www.ebtedge.com, utilize the ebtEDGE mobile app, or please contact the North Carolina EBT Call Center at 1-888-622-7328 to order a new card. Replacing a card on www.ebtEdge.com or by using the ebtEDGE mobile app can only be done if the cardholder has previously logged on and created an account. To check if you have an account, please select “Trouble Signing In?” and follow the prompts listed. If you need a card replacement and do not have an ebtEDGE account, please call the EBT Call Center. Remember to check your balance before you shop. There are several ways to check your EBT card balance 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Using your card number, you can: Visit www.ebtedge.com. Click on More Information under EBT Cardholders. Download the ebtEDGE mobile app. The app is available as a free download on the Apple Store and Google Play. Call 1-888-622-7328. The P-EBT card can be used to purchase food items at EBT authorized food and grocery retailers, including most major grocery stores. Similar to FNS benefits, hot foods or foods that are already prepared cannot be purchased with your P-EBT benefits. Other Information For the latest information on COVID-19, visit nc.gov/covid19. If you have questions about P-EBT, please read the Frequently Asked Questions. You can also call the NC EBT Call Center at 1-866-719-0141 for further assistance. For information on other food resources, please visit visit nc211.org or call 2-1-1 or 1-888-892-1162. Please note that 2-1-1 cannot assist with eligibility or benefit amount.
Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) Program About the P-EBT Program (as of September 2021) The Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program is a collaboration between the NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) and the NC Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) and is authorized by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The P-EBT program helps families with eligible children whose access to meals has been impacted by COVID-19. Update Sept. 9, 2021: The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) released P-EBT guidance to states for the 2021-22 school year. North Carolina is evaluating the guidance and must submit a P-EBT State Plan to USDA for approval before it can issue any benefits for the new school year. This website will be updated with more information as it becomes available. The information below gives a brief overview of what the program is, who is eligible, and how families will receive the benefit. NC aims to provide P-EBT benefits to as many children as possible under the USDA’s guidance and we wish we could help every family. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Summer 2021 P-EBT Flyer/Fact Sheet hoja de informativas P-EBT benefits have been extended for the summer within the guidelines provided by USDA. Summer P-EBT is an extension of school year 2020-21 benefits. Eligible students and children under age 6 will receive a one-time payment of $375 for the summer. Keep your current card so you can continue to receive benefits through the summer. Please review the “Summer 2021 P-EBT” section for more information on timeline and eligibility. School Year Benefits for Students and Children Under Age 6 P-EBT for school year 2020-21 was available to eligible students and children under age 6. Additional funds were made available for Summer 2021. Eligibility for Summer 2021 is different than school year eligibility and is outlined in the “Summer 2021 P-EBT” section. For information on the previous school year’s eligibility requirements, please review the “P-EBT School Year 2020-21 Information” webpage. The state is awaiting guidance from USDA on if P-EBT will be extended for the 2021-22 school year, and this website will be updated with additional information as it becomes available. P-EBT SCAM ADVISORY Do not provide any personal information if you receive phone calls, emails, or text messages asking for your information. Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) or P-EBT recipients should NEVER share social security numbers, bank information, EBT card numbers or personal identification numbers with people you don’t know. Only provide personal information when you contact a state agency or worker directly. If you receive an unsolicited text message or phone call asking you to provide personal information, do not respond and delete the message. Summer P-EBT Eligibility to Receive Summer P-EBT Eligibility for the summer is based on child circumstances as of the last full month of the 2020-21 school year (May 2021). Eligibility for summer is not determined based on school attendance or learning mode, therefore students attending summer learning programs will still be eligible for the full summer P-EBT amount. Students and children under age 6 are eligible for summer P-EBT if they meet one of the following criteria: The child was eligible to receive free or reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) in the last full month of the school year, OR The child applies and becomes eligible for NSLP free or reduced-price meals or FNS at any time during the covered summer period (June through August 2021) For more information on how to apply for free or reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program, please contact your child’s local school district. To find out if your household is eligible for FNS food assistance benefits, there are three ways to apply: Apply online at https://epass.nc.gov. The NC FAST ePASS website now includes a Spanish translation option, as well as the ability to complete the full application process in Spanish online. Apply in person at your county Department of Social Services (DSS) office. Fill out a paper application and mail to or drop it off at your county DSS. Additional information regarding summer P-EBT can be found in the P-EBT FAQs. P-EBT Amount and When to Expect the Benefit North Carolina will issue a one-time standard benefit of $375 per eligible child for the summer. Children who are eligible for P-EBT as of May 2021 will receive their benefit at the end of July or early August. Children that become newly eligible for P-EBT over the summer by applying for and being approved for Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) or free or reduced-price school meals through the National School Lunch Program (prior to August 31) will receive their benefit in late September or October. How Households Will Receive the Benefits P-EBT benefits will be provided automatically on a debit-like card. This card will be sent through the mail service if a household does not already have one. Eligible families already receiving Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) benefits can expect to receive an additional benefit on their existing EBT card. Families who received Student P-EBT previously and are eligible under the new criteria can expect to receive additional benefits on their original P-EBT card. Sometimes a new P-EBT card will be mailed even for those who already have cards and the benefits will be issued to the new card. The P-EBT card functions like a standard EBT card, and the same guidelines apply. The P-EBT card can be used to purchase food items at EBT authorized food and grocery retailers, including most major grocery stores. P-EBT cards for foster care students will be mailed to the local county Division of Social Services office that has custody of the foster care student. The student's foster care social worker will provide the card or assist with transfer of the card to the student’s new placement. P-EBT cards for homeless and migrant students will be mailed to the address on record for the student at the student’s school. How to Use the P-EBT Card Families receiving a P-EBT card will need to activate the card and create a Personal Identification Number (PIN) to use the card. You can activate or order a new card in one of the following ways: Visit www.ebtedge.com. Click on “More Information” under EBT Cardholder. You will be prompted to login and/or register your account. Download the ebtEDGE mobile app. The app is available on Apple Store and Google Play. Call 1-888-622-7328 and follow the prompts to activate your card and select a PIN. To activate your card, you will be asked to enter the date of birth (DOB) associated with the card. Enter the DOB of the youngest student in the household that attends a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program. Enter the DOB as two digits for the month, two digits for the day and four digits for the year. For example, January 24, 2014 would be entered as 01242014. If there are multiple children in your household it may be necessary to try each child’s DOB to successfully activate your P-EBT card. Once the card is activated, you may create your PIN. If you have lost or destroyed your card, log into www.ebtedge.com, utilize the ebtEDGE mobile app, or please contact the North Carolina EBT Call Center at 1-888-622-7328 to order a new card. Replacing a card on www.ebtEdge.com or by using the ebtEDGE mobile app can only be done if the cardholder has previously logged on and created an account. To check if you have an account, please select “Trouble Signing In?” and follow the prompts listed. If you need a card replacement and do not have an ebtEDGE account, please call the EBT Call Center. Remember to check your balance before you shop. There are several ways to check your EBT card balance 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Using your card number, you can: Visit www.ebtedge.com. Click on More Information under EBT Cardholders. Download the ebtEDGE mobile app. The app is available as a free download on the Apple Store and Google Play. Call 1-888-622-7328. The P-EBT card can be used to purchase food items at EBT authorized food and grocery retailers, including most major grocery stores. Similar to FNS benefits, hot foods or foods that are already prepared cannot be purchased with your P-EBT benefits. Other Information For the latest information on COVID-19, visit nc.gov/covid19. If you have questions about P-EBT, please read the Frequently Asked Questions. You can also call the NC EBT Call Center at 1-866-719-0141 for further assistance. For information on other food resources, please visit visit nc211.org or call 2-1-1 or 1-888-892-1162. Please note that 2-1-1 cannot assist with eligibility or benefit amount.
