Pandemic EBT

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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 2022 P-EBT benefits, SNAP eligible children under the age of 6 who are enrolled in childcare during 2021-2022 school year are eligible to receive P-EBT benefits.

School age children as well as SNAP eligible children under the age of 6 who are enrolled in childcare are eligible to receive Summer P-EBT benefits.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, 2021, and were part of a household participating in SNAP will receive P-EBT benefits between August 30, 2021, and August 20, 2022. 

DC children are eligible for Summer 2022 P-EBT benefits under the following circumstances:

  • a child over the age of six should be, for SY2021- 2022, 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) before August 29, 2022 (and become approved) OR
  • are categorically approved for FARM by their school (which includes students who are receiving SNAP and TANF)

If a child over the age of 6 was not eligible in June, but their family experiences a change in income, their families can apply for Free and Reduced-price Meals (FARM) for Summer-2022 before August 29, 2022. If their child’s school approves the application, they will receive summer P-EBT before October 2022.

Pandemic EBT Contact Information

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