What is Pandemic EBT?
Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT) is part of the U.S. Government response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Through P-EBT, eligible school children receive temporary emergency nutrition benefits loaded on EBT cards that are used to purchase food. Children who would have received free or reduced-price meals under the National School Lunch Act if their schools were not closed or operating with reduced hours or attendance for at least 5 consecutive days, are eligible to receive P-EBT benefits.
P-EBT also provides benefits to children in childcare under the age of 6 in households participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), whose covered childcare facility is closed or operating with reduced hours or attendance, or who live in the area of schools that are closed or operating with reduced hours or attendance.
Who is Eligible for P-EBT?
For 2023 P-EBT benefits, SNAP eligible children under the age of 6 who are enrolled in childcare during 2022-2023 school year are eligible to receive P-EBT benefits.
The District will not be issuing Summer P-EBT for children in child care due to the May 11, 2023 end of the PHE, causing this population to no longer be eligible to receive benefits through the Summer P-EBT program.
The District will not issue Summer 2023 P-EBT benefits to children who did not attend an NSLP-participating school at the end of the school year 2022-2023 immediately preceding the summer.
For more information, please visit the District of Columbia DHS website.
How to apply for P-EBT?
There is no application necessary to receive P-EBT benefits. Children who were under 6 as of September 30, 2022, and were part of a household participating in SNAP will receive P-EBT benefits between August 2022 and May 11, 2023.
DC children are eligible for Summer 2023 P-EBT benefits under the following circumstances:
- a child over the age of six should be, for SY2022–2023, enrolled in a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) School OR enrolled in a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program
- AND applied for Free and Reduced-Price Meals (FARM) (and become approved by July 15, 2023) OR
- are categorically approved for Free and Reduced-Price Meals by their school (which includes students who are receiving SNAP and TANF)
If the household of a child over the age of 6 experiences a change in income, their families can apply for Free and Reduced-price Meals (FARM) for Summer 2023 before June 30, 2023. If their child’s school approves the application by July 15, 2023, they will receive summer P-EBT before September 30, 2023.
Pandemic EBT Contact Information
- D.C. Hunger Solutions help line: 202-640-1088 You can expect a response in 1-2 business days.
- D.C. Hunger Solutions email: info@dchunger.org You can expect a response in 1-2 business days.
- District of Columbia P-EBT Issues Form (English) (Spanish) (Amharic)
Other Resources
- D.C. Hunger Solutions, DC Department of Health, DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education, DC Public Schools, DC Department Human Services and DC Department of Aging and Community Living have come together to create a District of Columbia Federal Nutrition Programs Toolkit.
- Pandemic EBT and Summer EBT FAQs
- D.C. Hunger Solutions 2021-2022 Pandemic EBT Quick Facts
- DHS P-EBT FARM Eligibility School List