The Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program is a collaboration between the NC Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the NC Department of Public Instruction (DPI) and is authorized by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The P-EBT program helps families with eligible children whose access to meals has been impacted by COVID-19.
There is no application for P-EBT. School and student information is used to determine student P-EBT benefit eligibility. Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) information is used to determine P-EBT eligibility for children under age 6. Benefits will be added to the existing FNS EBT card or P-EBT card for eligible children. EBT is an electronic system that places food assistance benefits on a card that is like debit card. P-EBT benefits can be used to purchase food items at EBT authorized retailers, including most major grocery stores. It is North Carolina’s goal to provide P-EBT food assistance to as many children as possible as quickly as possible for every child for whom we can confirm eligibility for under the USDA’s guidance.
Student P-EBT
The P-EBT program helps families purchase food for children whose access to free or reduced-priced meals at school has been impacted by COVID-19 because students are learning virtually, outside of brick-and-mortar schools. Student P-EBT benefits will be extended into the summer with some changes, including learning mode and in person attendance in school summer learning programs will not be a factor in eligibility or benefit amount.
P-EBT for Children Under Age 6
North Carolina has expanded its P-EBT program to provide P-EBT to eligible children under 6 years old that are in households receiving FNS. P-EBT benefits may be provided back to as far as October 1, 2020 based on the child’s eligibility. Eligibility requirements for P-EBT for children under 6 are different than for P-EBT for students and are based on guidance from USDA. Children under 6 who are enrolled in an eligible school and receive P-EBT benefits as a student will not be eligible for P-EBT for children under 6.
Summer 2021 P-EBT
P-EBT has been extended to provide benefits for summer 2021. Eligible students and children under 6 will receive a one-time payment of $375 that will cover June through August 2021. Eligibility will be determined based on the student or child’s free or reduced-price meals or FNS eligibility as of the last full month of the 2020-21 school year. Students and children under 6 that become newly eligible for free or reduced-price meals or FNS over the summer will also receive the full benefit amount. Families are encouraged to keep their current card so they can receive benefits for the summer.
For more information about P-EBT, please visit www.ncdhhs.gov/PEBT.