What are P-EBT funds? Have you even heard of this? You may have heard of the EBT program which is short for electronic benefits transfer, therefore what is P-EBT? Are they related in any way? If I am already a participant of the SNAP program, can I be eligible for this program? Well, so many questions with limited answers. Well, that is for the now. Do you want all the questions you have regarding this program answered? If this is the case with you, then this is your chance. In this article, I will be writing exclusively on what P-EBT funds are and how you be part of the program if it’s possible.
P-EBT Funds
Before I go any further in this article, what is P-EBT, or what does it stands for? P-EBT simply means pandemic electronic benefit transfer. The pandemic electronic benefit transfer provides nutritional services and resources to various families who have lost access to free or reduced-price meals at schools due to the closure of schools.
Normally there is a program meant to provide free meals to school children. Or provides reduced food prices to school children. But due to the effect of the coronavirus, it is no longer news that schools have been shut down. With this shutdown, it, therefore, means that these programs have been put on hold and therefore recipients cannot get access to their benefits.
The pandemic electronic benefit transfer has been set up to cater for this issue. This program is more like an emergency program to make up for the free school meals and reduced meal price programs for school children. Families with eligible children will receive these funds in a new or existing EBT card to help make up for the free meals gap.
The average benefit that will be benefitted from this program will be $5. 70 per every student making it a total of $114 per every child who is eligible for this program for four weeks for each day schools are closed. This program will not affect your ability to receive other benefits. This program also does not affect you and your child’s immigration status. Just in case you are wondering if the public charge rule applies here, it does not.
P-EBT Funds Eligibility
The eligibility criteria for this program are very much straight forward. If your child or a member of a family receives a reduced price for school meals or free school meals, then your child will be eligible for the program. However, your child may be attending a school who runs this program but may not be a benefactor or participant. If your child is in a situation like this, he or she is also eligible for this program.
For families who have also lost their job or wages may also be available. Here is something you should also know regarding how participants will receive these funds or benefits. Well, this depends on your state of origin and resident. However, it has been stated that eligible benefactors will receive the fund for this program via a new or existing EBT card.
P-EBT Funds Participating States
Although this program is applicable to all children whose schools have closed up due to the emergency health status of the world, in other words, coronavirus, it is still totally dependent on whether if your state is participating in the program or not. Below are states approved by the United States department of agriculture (USDA).
- Alabama.
- Alaska.
- Arizona.
- Arkansas.
- California.
- Colorado.
- Connecticut.
- Delaware.
- District of Columbia.
- Florida.
- Georgia.
- Hawaii.
- Illinois.
- Indiana.
- Maine.
- Minnesota.
- Missouri.
- New York.
- Mississippi.New Hampshire.
- New Mexico.
- New Jersey.
- North Carolina.
- North Dakota.
- Ohio.
- Oregon.
- Pennsylvania.
- Rhode Island.
- Tennessee.
- Texas.
- US Virgin Islands.
- Vermont.
- Virginia.
- Washington.
- Wisconsin.
- West Virginia.
- Wyoming.
As at the time of this writing, these are the states that are currently participating in this program.
P-EBT Application
If you are available for this program, you will also need to apply for the benefits of this program. The application processes for this program are straight forward. To make it clear and straight forward, there are two ways of applying to this program and they are online and via call. To apply for this benefit, you will need to know the name of your child’s school or school district.
You also need to know your child’s first and last name as it appears in the school’s enrollment records and lastly, your child’s date of birth. If your child’s information in their school meal application matches with your child’s information on the P-EBT application with DSHS. If your child’s application has been approved, your P-EBT card will arrive via mail in 3 – 5 days after approval. For the application process, it may take up to 30 business days.
If you are approved for this program you will get a notification by mail. However, if you became eligible for free and reduced-price school meals after schools closed it might take longer f your application to be processed. On the other hand, if your application is denied you will also receive a mail explaining what happened t your application and how you can appeal it if you think the denial is incorrect. To apply for this program, go to P – EBT Application. The application steps and processes vary with each state. Visit this link and select your state of residence. After selecting your state of resident follow the on-screen instructions.
P-EBT Application Deadline
There is an expiration date of the application to this program. Therefore if you would love to be a participant of this program, you will need to make haste and not wait as it may prove to be detrimental. If you fancy this program, you will need to apply to it by august 31st, 2020, or before the start of the 2020 – 21 school year.
What Can I Buy With P-EBT Benefits
You can use the benefits of this program to purchase foods in any snap certified stores. The benefits of this program can also be used to purchase groceries online at amazon at Walmart depending on your area. However, it cannot be used to purchase;
- Alcohol.
- Non-food items.
- Hot or prepared foods.
- Vitamins or citizens.
You can also use the P-EBT card like a debit card. To use this card online, select EBT as payment method. Swipe your P-EBT card and then enter your private PIN number.
CHECK THESE OUT:
- P-EBT – Benefits And Application | States Approved To Implement P-EBT
- The Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer – The P-EBT Application
- How to Apply for Pandemic EBT Program (P-EBT): A Guide Through the P-EBT Application Process
- P-EBT Cards Are In The Mall – What Stores Accept P-EBT | Apply For P-BET
- CCISD Parents Able To Apply For Pandemic Food Benefits – P-EBT
