How to Apply for P-EBT Food Stamps

If you need help getting food for your family during the COVID-19 pandemic, you may be eligible for the P-EBT program. Here’s how to apply for P-EBT food stamps.

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What is P-EBT?

P-EBT is a new program that provides food benefits to children who would normally receive free or reduced lunch at school. This benefit will help families during the COVID-19 pandemic when schools are closed. Families with children who qualify for free or reduced lunch can get up to $279 per child in P-EBT benefits for the months of March, April, and May 2020.

Who is eligible for P-EBT?

If your child attends a school that closed for at least five days during the school year due to the coronavirus pandemic, your family may be eligible for Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) food stamps.

P-EBT is a new program that provides temporary financial assistance to families with children who would have received free or reduced-price meals if schools were open. The benefits can be used to purchase food at grocery stores and farmers markets.

To be eligible for P-EBT, your child must have been enrolled in a school that participated in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) on the days that the school was closed. Families with children who attend private schools or homeschool are not eligible for P-EBT.

If you think you may be eligible for P-EBT, you can apply online or by mail. You will need to provide proof of your child’s enrollment in an eligible school, as well as your contact information and household income. For more information about how to apply for P-EBT, visit the USDA website.

How to apply for P-EBT?

If you recently lost your job or had your hours reduced, you may be eligible for food assistance through the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program.

P-EBT provides funds that can be used to purchase food for children who would normally receive free or reduced-price meals at school. To be eligible, children must be age 5-18 and enrolled in a school that has been closed for at least five days due to the pandemic.

If you think you may be eligible, here’s how to apply:

1. Contact your state’s P-EBT office. You can find contact information for your state’s office here: https://www.fns.usda.gov/pebt/contacts
2.Fill out an application form. You can find the form here: https://www.fns.usda.gov/pebt/application-form
3.Submit the completed application form to your state’s P-EBT office.

What are the benefits of P-EBT?

The Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program provides food assistance benefits to children who have lost access to free or reduced-price school meals due to the pandemic. Families with children eligible for P-EBT benefits will receive a one-time payment on a Lone Star Card, which can be used like a debit card to purchase food at any store that accepts SNAP benefits. P-EBT benefits can also be used to purchase food online through Amazon and Walmart.

To be eligible for P-EBT benefits, children must be:
-Between the ages of 3 and 18
-Enrolled in a Texas public school or charter school
-Eligible for free or reduced-price meals
-Able to receive SNAP benefits (also known as food stamps)

How long does P-EBT last?

P-EBT food stamp benefits last for one year from the date they are issued. After that, you will need to reapply for benefits if you still need them.

What are the income guidelines for P-EBT?

To see if your family qualifies for free or reduced-price school meals, use the Income Eligibility Guidelines. If your family income is at or below the guidelines, your children may be able to get free or reduced-price meals.

Income guidelines for P-EBT are different than the guidelines used for free and reduced-price school meals. The P-EBT program uses a different methodology to calculate household income, which results in higher income limits.

P-EBT uses gross income, which is your total household income before taxes are deducted. This is different than the net income used to calculate eligibility for free and reduced-price school meals, which is your total household income after taxes are deducted.

To see if your family qualifies for P-EBT, use the gross income guidelines below. If your family income is at or below these guidelines, your children may be able to get free or reduced-price meals.

Household size Maximum gross monthly income
1 $2,082
2 $2,818
3 $3,555
4 $4,292
5 $5,029

What are the assets guidelines for P-EBT?

To be eligible for P-EBT, your household’s countable assets must not exceed $5,000. This limit does not include the value of your home or the property it is on, money in certain tax-deferred retirement accounts, or any cash value life insurance policies you may have.

How is P-EBT different from other food assistance programs?

P-EBT is a program that provides additional food assistance to families with children who would normally receive free or reduced-price meals at school. P-EBT benefits are issued on an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card, which can be used like a debit card to purchase food at stores that accept EBT. P-EBT benefits are issued for each child in the household who is eligible, and the benefits can be used to purchase food for the entire family.

P-EBT is administered by the state governments, so there is no single point of contact for applying for benefits. Each state has its own process for applying for P-EBT, so you will need to contact your state’s human services or social services agency to find out how to apply.

What are the restrictions on P-EBT?

To be eligible for P-EBT, a household must have at least one member who:

-Is age 5 or younger; OR
-Is between the ages of 6 and 18 and would have been eligible for free or reduced price school meals during the 2019-2020 school year if schools were in session; AND
-Resides in Massachusetts

How do I renew my P-EBT benefits?

If you received P-EBT benefits last year, you will need to renew your benefits for this year. You can do this by filling out a new application and submitting it to your state’s P-EBT office. You can find more information about how to renew your benefits on the P-EBT website.