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 to operate the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program for the School Year (SY) 2021-2022.
School Year (SY) 2021-2022
Standard for P-EBT Eligibility for Students
School children are eligible for P-EBT benefits if they are eligible for free or reduced price meals, but are unable to receive those meals due to reasons listed below:
A child’s school is closed (including any delayed start or early closure to the school year), or the school is operating with reduced attendance or hours
A Child is absent from school due to a COVID-19 related reason
A Child is enrolled in a virtual learning program established by his or her school district in effort to mitigate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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.
P-EBT Issuance Overview
All benefits will be issued retroactively. The amount of benefits will vary depending on each eligible child’s individual circumstances. Because the vast majority of schools have returned to in-person learning and the benefits are limited to individuals with COVID19-related absences, a child may receive benefits for some months and receive nothing for others. In general, benefits will be calculated in accordance with the table below.
Tier
Number of Days Absent
Standard Benefits
Tier A
1 to 5 days
3 days = $21.30
Tier B
6 to 15 days
10 days= $71.00
Tier C
16 and more days
18 days= $127.50
*First issuance will be completed by the end of July 2022; issuance contingent upon data obtained from child(s) school
How To Activate Your P-EBT Card
How do I activate the card?
Call the phone number 1800-997-2222 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.
Students who are receiving SNAP benefits and are eligible for the P-EBT benefits will receive P-EBT cards. SNAP recipients who might have previously received their P-EBT benefits on their EBT card, will be mailed a P-EBT card. No P-EBT benefits will be issued on EBT cards.
If your child remains eligible for P-EBT benefits during the 2021-2022 school year, the student will receive their P-EBT benefits on the card already issued.
We will mail you a new P-EBT card if your child is being issued P-EBT benefits for the first time this year
When Will Families Get Their Benefits?
The P-EBT benefits for School Year 2021-2022 will be issued according to the schedule below:
Benefit Month (s)
(UPDATE) Estimated Benefit Distribution Date
September 2021 to February 2022
End of July 2022
March 2022 and April 2022
End of August 2022
May 2022 and June 2022
End of August 2022
Expungement of P-EBT Benefits
Expungement is the removal of unused benefits from the EBT card due to inactivity.
Benefits will be expunged after 9 months of inactivity. If there are remaining benefits on your P-EBT card, it is important that you use your card at least once every 9 months to prevent the benefits from being expunged.
The State is not able to restore expunged benefits.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
DHS, in collaboration with MSDE developed and submitted the School Year 2021-2022 P-EBT plan to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) in December 2021. The P-EBT for 2021-2022 has been approved and P-EBT benefits issuance will begin in July 2022.
If your child is attending school in person, she or he is no longer eligible for P-EBT benefits for the school year 2021-2022.
Your child may be eligible for P-EBT if she was eligible to receive free or reduced-price schools in school year 2021-2022 and:
He or she does not receive free or reduced-price school meals because the school is closed due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic
He or she is participating in a school-approved fully virtual program that was established as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic
He or she experienced school absences due to COVID-19
Please note that absences not linked to the COVID-19 pandemic will not counts towards eligibility for P-EBT benefits.
Children who go to virtual schools that existed before the pandemic (March 2020) are not eligible for P-EBT benefits.
You do not need to apply for P-EBT benefits. The State will use data from local school authorities to identify children who are eligible for 2021-2022 P-EBT benefits.
If you already have a P-EBT card, DHS will load the benefits to that card. If you are newly eligible, a card will be mailed to you. If you have lost or damaged your P-EBT card, please contact the EBT call center at 1-800-997-2222 to order a replacement.
The amount of benefits an eligible child will receive is calculated by the number of days the child was marked absent from school due to COVID-19. Each eligible student will receive benefits based on the Tiers listed below:
Tier A: 1 to 5 days 3 days = $21.30
Tier B: 6 to 15 days 10 days = $71.00
Tier C: 16 and more days 18 days = $127.80
Step #1 – Call the number on the back of your P-EBT Card 1-(800)-997-2222.
Step #2 – Enter your 16-digit P-EBT card number found on the front of your card.
Step #3 – Enter 0000 in lieu of the last four digits of your the child’s Social Security Number
Step #4 – Enter your child’s 8-digit date of birth. Example: August 8, 1998 is entered as 08+08+1998
Step #5 – Create a 4-digit PIN.
You may obtain a new card by calling the Maryland EBT Customer Service at 1-800-997-2222, or go to ConnectEBT.com. You will need to provide the child’s name, date of birth, last four (4) digits of the social security number (the same 4 digits used to activate the original P-EBT), and address to have a new card mailed to you. The replacement card may look different but works exactly the same as your original card. It will take 7-10 business days to receive a replacement card.
The P-EBT benefits for School Year 2021-2022 will be toward the end of July 2022. Please refer to the issuance schedule in the chart above.
Only children who qualify for free or reduced-price meals at school are eligible for P-EBT benefits. Children who are homeschooled are not eligible for P-EBT.
Questions or concerns regarding your individual P-EBT case should be directed to DHS through the Customer Inquiry Form. The DHS has a team working to respond to each inquiry submitted. Please refrain from submitting multiple inquiries as this will cause a delay.
If you believe your P-EBT card may have been mailed to an incorrect address, please complete the Customer Inquiry Form. Additionally, please ensure that your address is accurate at your child’s school.
Fraud is a federal crime! If someone fraudulently accessed the card and/or made unauthorized purchases, please contact 1-800-997-2222 and report the card lost/stolen. Once reported, you will be able to obtain a new card. Please create a NEW 4 digit pin (different from the last one) once you receive the new card in the mail. P-EBT benefits can not be reissued. Please contact your local police department to file a police report and pursue criminal charges.
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. Benefits automatically expunge off the card within 274 days of inactivity.
The card can be destroyed by cutting through the magnetic stripe and disposing of it securely. The benefits will expunge automatically after 274 days if they have not been used.
Additional Resources
Apply for SNAP Benefits
Apply for the Free and Reduced Price Meals Program
Families who believe their child may be eligible should contact their school. The school will guide families through the application process.
Visit MDsummermeals.org to find sites serving “grab & go” meals for youth
For more information please call the Maryland Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) Hotline at 1-833-330-PEBT (1-833-330-7328).
