How will I receive P-EBT food benefits for my qualified child?
2021-22 School Year P-EBT Food Benefits
For each month of the 2021-22 school year (September 2021 through June 2022), children who meet the P-EBT eligibility criteria are eligible to receive P-EBT food benefits based on the number of school days they were absent or attending school remotely for a COVID-19 related reason. The amount of monthly 2021-22 school year P-EBT food benefits is broken down into 3 tiers based on attendance:
Tier 1: $21 for children absent or remote for 1-5 school days in the month.
Tier 2: $78 for children absent or remote for 6-15 school days in the month.
Tier 3: $128 for children absent or remote 16 or more school days in the month.
Children Under Age 6 Receiving SNAP
Eligible children under 6 years old as of September 1, 2021, will receive $31 P-EBT food benefits for each month that the child received SNAP benefits between September 2021 and June 2022.
Summer 2022 P-EBT Food Benefits
The following children will automatically receive $391 Summer 2022 P-EBT food benefits:
Kindergarten through Grade 12 (K-12) students enrolled in an NSLP-participating school in June 2022, AND eligible to receive free or reduced-price school meals.
Children under 6 years old as of September 1, 2021, who received SNAP benefits in June, July or August 2022.
When will my eligible child receive P-EBT food benefits?
P-EBT food benefits will be issued automatically in April 2023 and May 2023 to:
K-12 children will receive both the 2021-2022 school year payment and the $391 Summer 2022 P-EBT food benefit.
Children under 6 receiving SNAP will be issued both their $31 monthly benefit for September 2021 through June 2022, and a $391 Summer 2022 P-EBT food benefit.
Summer 2022 P-EBT food benefits will be issued automatically to all eligible children who were not eligible for automatic 2021-22 school year payments beginning in Spring 2023 and ending by September 29, 2023. Families do not need to apply for the Summer 2022 P-EBT food benefit.
P-EBT food benefits for children whose parents/guardians submit a NYS P-EBT Food Benefit application, and who are determined eligible, will be issued on a rolling basis beginning May 15, 2023, through September 29, 2023.
How will my eligible child receive P-EBT food benefits?
P-EBT food benefits will be issued to eligible children in the following ways:
Children currently receiving SNAP or Temporary Assistance (cash) will have their P- EBT food benefits issued to their household’s EBT card.
Children who successfully accessed their food benefits for the 2019-20 and/or 2020-21 school years on a P-EBT Food Benefit card will receive their food benefits on the same P-EBT Food Benefit card.
All other eligible children will be mailed a P-EBT Food Benefit card with instructions explaining how to activate the card and access the food benefits.
IMPORTANT: Please be sure to hold on to your P-EBT Food Benefit card in the event that additional P-EBT food benefits are issued to your child in the future.
Will P-EBT food benefits be issued automatically?
Yes, most families will receive their eligible children’s P-EBT food benefits automatically. P-EBT food benefits will be issued automatically in the following instances:
All Summer 2022 P-EBT food benefits of $391 will be issued automatically to:
K-12 students enrolled in an NSLP-participating school in June 2022, AND eligible to receive free or reduced-price school meals; and,
children under 6 years old as of September 1, 2021, who received SNAP on a NYS SNAP case for June, July or August 2022.
All eligible Children Under Age 6 Receiving SNAP will receive their P-EBT food benefits automatically.
Most school-age children (in grades K-12) will receive their 2021-22 school year P-EBT food benefits automatically, specifically those:
Enrolled in a NSLP-participating school during the 2021-22 school year that was closed or operated with reduced attendance or hours for 5 consecutive days in any month, AND
Eligible to receive free or reduced-price school meals, AND
Absent from school and/or attended school remotely for at least 5 days in a row.
If your child was absent and/or attended school remotely for at least 5 days in a row in a month, New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) can automatically count those days as COVID-19 related absences and will issue P-EBT food benefits automatically for that month.