The Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) Program is a temporary program that provides food assistance benefits to families in need during COVID-19 . These benefits are delivered through an EBT card , which works like a debit card and can be used to buy food at stores that accept these types of cards.
People often don’t know exactly how much money they have on their EBT card and fear losing it. The USDA clarifies that it is not necessary to spend all the resources in the same month, since they are kept available at later dates. However, an important clarification is made: if they are not used for a period of 9 months , the funds will be permanently removed from the account. The elimination of these amounts will be carried out on a monthly basis , depending on the date they were received.
For example, if you received $500 on June 10, 2022 , you will have until March 10, 2023 to use that amount . Suppose that of that $500, you used $200, then $300 will be available to you for the rest of the year. That amount will be added to the $500 corresponding to July of this year and the following months.
But if you don’t use your EBT card after you spend that last $200. By March 2023 you will have accumulated around $4,800. However, beginning on the 10th of that month, the $300 for June 2022 will be removed. Then, in April 2023, the unused $500 from July 2022 will be removed, and so on, until USDA removes all accumulated funds from the SNAP program. It is important to keep these deadlines in mind to properly administer benefits and avoid loss of resources.
Here are some important things related to current and upcoming P-EBT benefits :
- Current Benefits: School Year 2022-23
- Students who are in school can receive benefits for days missed due to COVID-19, through May 11 . It is important to note that some days are not taken into account, so it is recommended to review the specific details.
- Young children who qualify may receive a state benefit amount that can vary each month.
It is important to note that all children will no longer be eligible for P-EBT on May 11 , when the COVID-19 public health emergency ends. Benefits for the school year that have not been issued by that date will be delivered in June.
- Upcoming Benefits: Summer 2023
- A single summer P-EBT benefit payment will be made for eligible students.
- After this summer, the P-EBT program will end permanently.
Important dates to keep in mind
May 11, 2023: Last day students can receive P-EBT benefits.
May 31, 2023: Deadline to be eligible for P-EBT. If you are not eligible, it is recommended that you apply for food stamps (FNS) or reduced price meals at your child’s school. These requests can take at least a month to process.
End of June 2023: Last issuance of benefits for the school year. For students, only absences related to COVID-19 that have occurred up to May 11 will be considered. For small children, the monthly benefit will be made from May 1 to 11.
Late June to early July 2023: Issuance of the first benefits of summer 2023 , immediately after the end of the school year. Only students who attend school in person will be included in the summer program.
After June 2023: No more P-EBT benefits will be awarded.