Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) Program
Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) Program
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The Maryland Department of Human Services in conjunction with the Maryland State Department of Education has secured approval from the USDA on its joint submission to operate a Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) Program.
Approximately 467,000 children in Maryland will benefit from the P-EBT program for a combined value of over $173 million in estimated benefits.
What is P-EBT?
These benefits, called Pandemic-EBT, or P-EBT, are intended to help families in Maryland purchase food while schools are closed due to COVID-19.
How To Activate Your P-EBT Card
How do I activate the card?
Call the phone number on the back of the card. You will need the 16 digit EBT card number on the front of the card, your zip code, and the date of birth of the eligible child listed on the card. When prompted to enter the last four digits of your Social Security Number, enter 0000. You will then need to set a four-digit pin number.
How do I use the card?
Once activated, the card can be used to purchase eligible food items anywhere SNAP/EBT cards are accepted. When making food purchases, you will need to use the PIN number you created when you first activated your P-EBT card. The card can be used in the point of sale device, just like a debit card, or can be handed to the cashier.
How will Families get P-EBT?
Maryland Families who Do Not Receive SNAP Benefits
If your children receive free and reduced priced meals at school, they are eligible for the Pandemic-EBT Program. Children attending a
Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) school are also automatically eligible for P-EBT.
There’s no need to apply – Eligible families will receive a confirmation letter, and they’ll receive one P-EBT card for each eligible child. P-EBT cards will be mailed to families by the end of June.
Maryland Families who Currently Receive SNAP Benefits
If your children receive free and reduced priced meals at school, they are eligible for the Pandemic-EBT Program.
There’s no need to apply – If you currently receive SNAP benefits, additional P-EBT benefits for each eligible child will be added to your existing EBT card.
Youth in Foster Care
Youth in foster care who either receive free and reduced priced meals at school or attend a CEP school are eligible for the Pandemic-EBT Program.
For those foster youth who receive SNAP benefits, their P-EBT benefits will be added to their existing EBT card.
Foster youth who do not receive SNAP benefits will receive a confirmation letter and a P-EBT card will be issued in their name and mailed before the end of June.
Families Experiencing Homelessness
If your children are eligible for P-EBT benefits but you are currently homeless, please contact your child’s school’s Homeless Coordinator to learn how to access your P-EBT card.
Click here for a list of Maryland School Homeless Coordinators.
When will Families get their Benefits?
P-EBT benefits are calculated based on when schools closed to students – March 16, 2020 – and the cost of school meals.
If you are currently receiving SNAP benefits and qualify for the P-EBT program, your P-EBT benefits will be added to your EBT card before the end of June.
If your household does not receive SNAP benefits and your children are eligible for the P-EBT program, a P-EBT card in the name of each eligible child will be mailed before the end of June. Families should expect to receive the P-EBT card within 7-10 business days of the card being mailed.
At a Glance
Download a Copy of the
Pandemic EBT Flyer
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
When will benefits for the 2020-2021 academic year be issued?
DHS and MSDE are working diligently to issue P-EBT for the 2020-2021 in the New Year. When more information is available an update will be provided.
Will Maryland be issuing P-EBT Benefits for September?
Yes — however, the vast majority of individuals eligible for P-EBT benefits have already received their September benefits.
Do I need to do anything to receive September P-EBT benefits?
No, the Maryland Department of Human Services and Maryland State Department of Education MSDE use information from your Local School System to determine who is eligible for P-EBT and automatically issues the benefits.
I received P-EBT benefits over the summer but did not receive any for September? Will everyone who received P-EBT benefits in the summer also receive September benefits?
No, the following groups are no longer eligible for P-EBT benefits:
- Children who received P-EBT benefits in the summer, but have since graduated from High School.
- Children who received P-EBT benefits, but have since moved out of the State and are not attending a school in Maryland.
- Certain children who attend school in-person and have access to free or reduced-price school meals.
What is the amount of the benefits be for September 2020?
Each eligible student will receive $5.86 per day that his or her school is closed, or is operating in a virtual environment.
Do my homeschooled child/children qualify for P-EBT food benefits?
Only children who receive free, or reduced-price lunch at school are eligible for P-EBT food benefits. Households with homeschooled children do not usually receive free, or reduced-price school lunches, and therefore are not eligible for P-EBT food benefits. Please contact your school district with questions concerning access to the free or reduced-price school lunch program.
Which students received the September P-EBT benefit?
Students registered during the academic year 2019-2020, with the exception of students who graduated 2020, received September benefits on their existing EBT cards.
What do I do if I no longer have my P-EBT card for my child?
Call the Maryland MD EBT Customer Service at 1-800-997-2222 or go to
ConnectEBT.com to report the card lost. You will need to provide the child’s name, date of birth, last four (4) of the social security number (provide the same four (4) digits used to activate the original P-EBT card), and address to have a new card mailed to you. The replacement card may look different but works exactly in the same way as your original card. The replacement card will be a traditional EBT card. It will take 7-10 days business days to receive a replacement card.
When will October, November, and December P-EBT benefits be issued?
We have not received authorization to issue October, November, and December benefits. We will update the P-EBT website when a concrete timeline is available.
What should I do if I do not want the P-EBT benefits?
P-EBT benefits are not transferable; therefore, it is prohibited to give them to someone else. Households that prefer to not participate in the P-EBT program may destroy the P-EBT card when they receive it. The card can be destroyed by cutting through the magnetic stripe and disposing of it securely. The benefits will expunge automatically after 365 days if they have not been used.
Additional Resources
Families who believe their child may be eligible should contact their school. The school will guide families through the application process.
For more information please call
the Maryland Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) Hotline at
1-833-330-PEBT (1-833-330-7328).
