Who qualifies for the September P-EBT benefits?
Children enrolled in a Maryland school and are eligible for free or reduced-price school meals for the school year 2020-2021. The individuals determined eligible for NSLP after September 30th are not eligible for September benefits.
Will September P-EBT benefits be retroactively paid for those students who qualified for free and reduced meals after the 2020 pebt data collection?
Correct. Students identified as being eligible for September benefits but were missed for any reason will receive a retro payment.
How will P-EBT funds be distributed during the 2020-2021 school year?
We don’t know yet. We are waiting for the federal government to issue guidelines. We will determine the issuance schedule once we have clear guidance.
Will the State of Maryland extend P-EBT for the new school year?
Yes, the recent federal budget resolution will provide additional Pandemic EBT or P-EBT benefits. The Maryland Department of Human Services and the State Department of Education are working collaboratively to obtain additional information about the extension from the federal government.
Is there anything I have to do to obtain the extended P-EBT benefits?
You do not have to apply for P-EBT in Maryland. The State will work with your local school system to identify eligible children and automatically provide them P-EBT benefits.
https://dhs.maryland.gov/p-ebt/
- If you received a P-EBT card over the summer, please keep the card as future benefits that you may be eligible for will be loaded on the same card.
- If you have misplaced or no longer have your P-EBT card, please complete the customer inquiry form I lost my P-EBT card located https://dhs.maryland.gov.p-ebt. We will use the information you provide on the form to send you a replacement card.
- If you did not receive P-EBT in the past but believe that you may now be eligible, please ensure that your child’s school has an accurate record including eligibility for free and reduced meals and an accurate mailing address.
Which students will receive the September P-EBT benefit?
Students that received P-EBT benefits for the academic year 2019-2020, with the exception of students who graduated 2020, received September benefits on their existing EBT cards.
Will Maryland be issuing P-EBT Benefits for September?
Yes
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 Local School Systems to determine who is eligible for P-EBT and issues the benefits
When will September P-EBT benefits be issued?
The September P-EBT benefits will be issued by September 30th.
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
What do I do if I no longer have my P-EBT card?
If you received P-EBT benefits in the summer, but have since lost your P-EBT card please complete the customer inquiry form here
I no longer have my P-EBT card We will use the information you provide on the form to send you a replacement card.
What will 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.
What is Pandemic EBT?
Due to coronavirus (COVID 19), children who are eligible for free or reduced-price meals at school can get extra food benefits, called Pandemic-Electronic Benefit Transfer, or P-EBT benefits. The purpose of P-EBT benefits is to help families in Maryland buy food while schools are closed. P-EBT benefits are additional benefits that do not replace other child nutrition program meals being offered, like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, SNAP Emergency Allotment supplements, and other summer meals programs.
Who is eligible for P-EBT benefits?
Children are eligible for P-EBT benefits if:
- Their school is closed due to coronavirus (COVID-19); and
- They would normally receive free or reduced-price school meals. (This includes all students enrolled in a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) school or district who are also eligible to receive free or reduced-price school meals.)
If I receive P-EBT benefits, will it impact my immigration status or make me a public charge?
No. Using P-EBT benefits does not impact you or your child(ren) immigration status. The public charge rule does not apply to P-EBT benefits.
My family needs food now, what can we do?
Many schools and community locations are distributing meals to school-aged children now. To find locations in your area,
click here or visit your local school system website. You may also apply for SNAP benefits (also known as food stamps) if you are not already enrolled in the SNAP program and your family needs help with purchasing food by
clicking here.
If eligible, how much in P-EBT benefits will I get?
P-EBT benefits are calculated based on when schools closed and the cost of school meals. The total amount you will get depends on how many eligible children are living in your home.
When will I get P-EBT benefits?
If your family is currently receiving SNAP benefits and you are eligible for P-EBT, your P-EBT benefits will be added to your EBT card before the end of June. If your family is not receiving SNAP, your P-EBT card will be mailed by the end of June.
What can I buy with P-EBT benefits?
Your P-EBT card can be used to buy SNAP-eligible food at most grocery stores and farmer’s markets, and to purchase groceries online with
Amazon,
Walmart, and
ShopRite. You can use the
SNAP Retailer Locator to find grocery stores near you that accept P-EBT cards. Most food is SNAP-eligible, except prepared food and food sold hot. Unfortunately, your P-EBT card cannot be used for restaurant meals or fast food.
How do I use a P-EBT card?
You may use your P-EBT card like a debit card. For more information on how to use your P-EBT card, please call 1-800-997-2222, or go to
www.connectebt.com.
How long do I have to use my P-EBT benefits?
You may use your P-EBT benefits for one year, starting the day you receive your card. You must spend at least $1 per month for your card to remain active. If there is no activity on your card for one year, the benefits will be removed.
What will happen to my P-EBT card if my family has moved?
DHS will send your P-EBT card to the address listed on your child’s school record. If you moved recently or think your child’s school might not have your current address, please
click here to update your address. It may take up to 3-4 weeks to receive a new P-EBT card at the updated address.
IMPORTANT: Families must still contact their school directly to update their address on their child’s school record.
What should I do if I do not want the P-EBT benefits?
P-EBT benefits are not transferable; therefore, you can’t give your benefits to someone else. Households that do not want to 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.
What do I do if my P-EBT card is lost?
If you lose your card, please complete the customer inquiry form here
Lost my P-EBT card We will use the information you provide on the form to send you a replacement card.
How do I activate my card?
To activate your P-EBT card and manage your benefits, call 1-800-997-2222 or log on to
connectebt.com to manage your EBT account. When you call to activate your card, you’ll need to select a 4-digit PIN to use when you make purchases with the card. When the card is mailed to you, you will also receive information on how to activate it.
I’ve received multiple P-EBT cards. Which one do I use?
If you live with a parent or guardian of multiple children who are eligible for P-EBT and you do not currently receive SNAP benefits, you will receive a separate card for each child. If you receive multiple cards, you should activate and use all P-EBT cards received in no particular order.
Who receives the P-EBT benefit for eligible children?
If your family does not receive SNAP, you will receive one P-EBT card for each eligible child living in the home. Adults in your household can use the P-EBT card to buy food. If your family currently receives SNAP, P-EBT benefits for each eligible child will be added to your existing EBT card.
Are Head Start children eligible for P-EBT benefits?
Head Start children are eligible for P-EBT only if they attend a Head Start program in a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). Some Head Start programs receive meals through other funding sources and children attending those may not be eligible for P-EBT. Head Start students who are not claimed under the NSLP are not eligible for P-EBT.
Are home-schooled children eligible for P-EBT?
No. The program is for eligible students enrolled in the free and reduced school lunch program.
Are Non US. Citizen children eligible for P-EBT?
Non-citizen children are eligible if they are eligible for free and reduced-price school meals.
Do young adults (ages 19 to 21) who are still in school and who receive free and/or reduced-price meals qualify for P-EBT food benefits?
Yes, young adults aged 19 through 21 who are still in school and are eligible to receive free and reduced-price meals are also eligible to receive P-EBT food benefits.
Does my foster child qualify for P-EBT food benefits if the child received free or reduced-price meals?
Yes. All children eligible to receive free or reduced-price school meals are eligible to receive P-EBT food benefits for the days their school was closed due to COVID-19.
Will the P-EBT food benefits program continue through the summer?
P-EBT benefits will be issued for only for the months of March, April, May, and June. The monthly benefit amount was calculated based on the number of days that schools were closed as a result of COVID-19.
Will I need to pay back my child/children’s P-EBT food benefits?
No. Families who receive P-EBT benefits will not have to pay back those benefits.
