Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) Program About the P-EBT Program (as of December 2021) Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) is a food assistance program that helps families with children who are unable to access free or reduced-price meals at school when they are not physically present because of COVID-19. Benefits are provided on a debit-like card and can be used to buy food at stores that accept EBT. P-EBT is issued through a collaboration between the NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) and the NC Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) and is approved by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Update Dec. 15, 2021: North Carolina has received federal approval to continue Student Pandemic EBT this school year, however the eligibility criteria has changed. This year, eligibility is based on the individual student’s attendance record, not the circumstances of the school. Because most students are now attending school in person and are receiving their meals at school, fewer benefits will be issued this year. Visit the Frequently Asked Questions to see how this affects P-EBT benefit eligibility and amount. At this time, North Carolina has not been approved to continue Child Care (previously Children Under 6) and is still waiting for approval. No P-EBT benefits can be provided to this group until federal approval is received. Find out if your student is eligible for P-EBT for a specific month: Is My Student Eligible? ¿Es Mi Estudiante Elegible? Student P-EBT Reminder: Students must attend a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and be approved for the free or reduced-price meal program to be considered for P-EBT. If your child attends a school that participates in the NSLP and you want to apply for free or reduced-price meals for this school year, please contact your child’s school. Check if your child’s school is participating in the NSLP for the 2021-22 school year. Child Care (Children Under 6) P-EBT Reminder: Children under 6 years old must be part of a household that receives Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) benefits to be considered for P-EBT once the program is approved by USDA. Apply for FNS. P-EBT General Information The information below gives a brief overview of what the program is, who is eligible, how benefits are calculated, and how families will receive benefits. North Carolina aims to provide P-EBT benefits to as many children as possible under USDA’s guidance and we wish we could help every family. Unfortunately, students in virtual schools and homeschools are not eligible for P-EBT because these schools cannot participate in the NSLP. P-EBT 21-22 Info Flyer P-EBT 21-22 Foletto de Info 2021-22 School Year Benefits for Students P-EBT benefits will be issued for the 21-22 school year under new program rules. This year, eligibility and benefit amount is based on the individual student’s attendance record. To be eligible for benefits, the student must experience one or more days in quarantine or temporary virtual instruction and students will only receive benefits for days when they had these COVID-19 related absences from school. Eligibility and benefit amount will be rechecked each month. Quarantine (attendance code: 1D) refers to when the school tells the student to stay home because of COVID-19 related symptoms, illness, or exposure or parent/guardian informs the school about a student's COVID-19 related symptoms, illness, or exposure and the school approves the absence. Temporary virtual instruction (attendance code: 1R for present off-site) refers to when the student is enrolled in a physical school but is in virtual or remote learning for a temporary period because of COVID-19. Students can be in temporary virtual instruction if they are enrolled in a physical school. Your child’s school will determine if their absence is related to COVID-19 and will record that in their attendance record. Contact your child’s school if you have questions about your child’s attendance record. Students eligible for any month between September and November 2021 can expect to receive benefits mid to late January 2022. Frequently Asked Questions (Updated for the 2021-22 school year) What is P-EBT? (Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer) Who is eligible for Student P-EBT? What is a COVID-19 related absence? How are benefits calculated? Why did my child receive P-EBT last year but not this year? When will benefits be issued? If my child does not qualify to receive P-EBT benefits, what other food assistance resources are available to me? View all FAQs 2020-21 School Year Benefits for Students and Children Under Age 6 P-EBT for 2020-21 school year was available to eligible students and children under age 6 whose access to meals was impacted by COVID-19. For information on the last school year’s eligibility requirements, please review the “P-EBT School Year 2020-21 Information” webpage. Summer 2021 P-EBT P-EBT benefits were issued for Summer 2021 as an extension of the 2020-21 school year based on summer-specific eligibility rules. Eligible students and children under age 6 received a one-time payment of $375 for the summer. All summer benefits have been issued to eligible households. More information is available on the “Summer 2021 P-EBT Information” webpage. P-EBT Scam Advisory Do not provide any personal information if you receive links, messages, calls, or emails asking for your information. Remember - NEVER share social security numbers, bank information, EBT and/or P-EBT card numbers, or personal identification numbers with people you don’t know. Personal information should only be provided when you directly contact a state agency. If you receive any unsolicited communications asking you to provide personal information, do not respond and immediately delete the message. Wellness Resources
Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) Program About the P-EBT Program (as of December 2021) Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) is a food assistance program that helps families with children who are unable to access free or reduced-price meals at school when they are not physically present because of COVID-19. Benefits are provided on a debit-like card and can be used to buy food at stores that accept EBT. P-EBT is issued through a collaboration between the NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) and the NC Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) and is approved by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Update Dec. 15, 2021: North Carolina has received federal approval to continue Student Pandemic EBT this school year, however the eligibility criteria has changed. This year, eligibility is based on the individual student’s attendance record, not the circumstances of the school. Because most students are now attending school in person and are receiving their meals at school, fewer benefits will be issued this year. Visit the Frequently Asked Questions to see how this affects P-EBT benefit eligibility and amount. At this time, North Carolina has not been approved to continue Child Care (previously Children Under 6) and is still waiting for approval. No P-EBT benefits can be provided to this group until federal approval is received. Find out if your student is eligible for P-EBT for a specific month: Is My Student Eligible? ¿Es Mi Estudiante Elegible? Student P-EBT Reminder: Students must attend a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and be approved for the free or reduced-price meal program to be considered for P-EBT. If your child attends a school that participates in the NSLP and you want to apply for free or reduced-price meals for this school year, please contact your child’s school. Check if your child’s school is participating in the NSLP for the 2021-22 school year. Child Care (Children Under 6) P-EBT Reminder: Children under 6 years old must be part of a household that receives Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) benefits to be considered for P-EBT once the program is approved by USDA. Apply for FNS. P-EBT General Information The information below gives a brief overview of what the program is, who is eligible, how benefits are calculated, and how families will receive benefits. North Carolina aims to provide P-EBT benefits to as many children as possible under USDA’s guidance and we wish we could help every family. Unfortunately, students in virtual schools and homeschools are not eligible for P-EBT because these schools cannot participate in the NSLP. P-EBT 21-22 Info Flyer P-EBT 21-22 Foletto de Info 2021-22 School Year Benefits for Students P-EBT benefits will be issued for the 21-22 school year under new program rules. This year, eligibility and benefit amount is based on the individual student’s attendance record. To be eligible for benefits, the student must experience one or more days in quarantine or temporary virtual instruction and students will only receive benefits for days when they had these COVID-19 related absences from school. Eligibility and benefit amount will be rechecked each month. Quarantine (attendance code: 1D) refers to when the school tells the student to stay home because of COVID-19 related symptoms, illness, or exposure or parent/guardian informs the school about a student's COVID-19 related symptoms, illness, or exposure and the school approves the absence. Temporary virtual instruction (attendance code: 1R for present off-site) refers to when the student is enrolled in a physical school but is in virtual or remote learning for a temporary period because of COVID-19. Students can be in temporary virtual instruction if they are enrolled in a physical school. Your child’s school will determine if their absence is related to COVID-19 and will record that in their attendance record. Contact your child’s school if you have questions about your child’s attendance record. Students eligible for any month between September and November 2021 can expect to receive benefits mid to late January 2022. Frequently Asked Questions (Updated for the 2021-22 school year) What is P-EBT? (Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer) Who is eligible for Student P-EBT? What is a COVID-19 related absence? How are benefits calculated? Why did my child receive P-EBT last year but not this year? When will benefits be issued? If my child does not qualify to receive P-EBT benefits, what other food assistance resources are available to me? View all FAQs 2020-21 School Year Benefits for Students and Children Under Age 6 P-EBT for 2020-21 school year was available to eligible students and children under age 6 whose access to meals was impacted by COVID-19. For information on the last school year’s eligibility requirements, please review the “P-EBT School Year 2020-21 Information” webpage. Summer 2021 P-EBT P-EBT benefits were issued for Summer 2021 as an extension of the 2020-21 school year based on summer-specific eligibility rules. Eligible students and children under age 6 received a one-time payment of $375 for the summer. All summer benefits have been issued to eligible households. More information is available on the “Summer 2021 P-EBT Information” webpage. P-EBT Scam Advisory Do not provide any personal information if you receive links, messages, calls, or emails asking for your information. Remember - NEVER share social security numbers, bank information, EBT and/or P-EBT card numbers, or personal identification numbers with people you don’t know. Personal information should only be provided when you directly contact a state agency. If you receive any unsolicited communications asking you to provide personal information, do not respond and immediately delete the message. Wellness Resources
