Dear Parents/Guardians and Students,
The Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer Program (P-EBT) is a Federal program to provide food benefits to children who miss the opportunity to receive school meals due to pandemic-related school closures. These benefits will take the form of funds on electronic benefit transfer (EBT cards) which can be used in the same manner as SNAP (food stamp) cards. All children who were enrolled in DOE schools during the 2021–22 school year, Summer 2022 or during Summer 2023 school programming are eligible for this benefit.
At this time, many parents/guardians have not yet utilized these benefits, with millions of dollars currently unspent. These dollars can still be spent on food, and some of these benefits may be expiring soon. Please see attached letter (with translated versions also attached) for information on how to sign up for this benefit. Please note that this is not a DOE program. All questions about the program should be directed to the ODTA site here: NYS Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT) Food Benefits site. Parents/Guardians are also encouraged to email otda.sm.eisp.PEBT@otda.ny.gov or call 833-452-0096 for more information