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Pandemic EBT

Pandemic EBT 2022-2023 School Year

Due to the end of the federal public health emergency, PEBT has ended. All issuances are complete.

NOTE: PEBT benefits expire 274 days after issuance.

We will never text you about PEBT. If you receive a text about PEBT, do not reply

Definitions:

  • NSLP: National School Lunch Program, also known as “free/reduced lunch”
  • PEBT: Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer, a food benefit provided on an EBT card

Please click here for information regarding supplemental benefits for children under 6

What is Pandemic EBT Benefits and who is eligible?

Pandemic EBT was originally authorized by the Families First Corona Virus Response Act and has been reauthorized by several continuing resolutions, and the 2022 Omnibus Bill.

The purpose of P-EBT is to provide food assistance to families with students who would have received free or reduced lunch while attending school but are not in school due to COVID-19 related reasons. This benefit was previously available only to families with students enrolled in an Indiana school and were eligible for free or reduced lunch or the school is a Community Eligibility Provision participant. To participate in the P-EBT program schools must be NSLP eligible and students must be eligible. The eligibility criteria for in-person school is below.

  • Schools must be closed or had a delayed start OR have a hybrid learning model in place.
  • Schools must be a provider of the National School Lunch Program and/or School Breakfast Program.
  • Students must be enrolled in an Indiana School.
  • Student missed one or more days of school due to COVID-related reasons (COVID illness, quarantine, school closed for COVID) PEBT is issued only for number of days missed due to COVID related reasons. Benefit amount per day is $8.18.

NOTE: For students attending in-person school, do not apply. All information is received directly from the school districts-no application is necessary.

Students are participating in a virtual or hybrid school schedule. A hybrid schedule allows students to participate in school via a virtual learning option including:

  • Students are attending school virtually due to quarantine,
  • Students attend school both virtual and in person.
  • Students must be eligible to receive free/reduced lunch or breakfast for the 2022-2023 school year under normal National School Lunch Program standards.

For the 2022-2023 school year, an additional group of students are eligible for PEBT:  Students who are currently homeschooled or are enrolled in a full-time virtual program, who meet the conditions below:

  1. Student was enrolled in an NSLP (free/reduced lunch) eligible school after the Public Health Emergency for COVID began, AND
  2. Student transitioned to homeschool/ virtual school for reasons related to COVID, AND
  3. Student is now eligible for free/reduced lunch (an application must be submitted and approved).

OR

Student is currently in kindergarten through second grade, AND is homeschooled or in virtual school due to COVID related reasons AND is eligible for free/reduced lunch (an application must be submitted and approved). The website for application is below. THE LAST DATE FOR APPLICATIONS OR CHANGES TO INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WAS MAY 15, 2023.

Applications are no longer being accepted

SUMMER P-EBT: The P-EBT benefit labeled “Summer P-EBT” is for all students who are eligible for free/reduced lunch AND enrolled in an Indiana in-person school.  COVID related absences are not required.

Congress required that the PEBT benefit for the entire 2023 covered summer period shall not exceed $120 per eligible child.

Congress prohibited states from providing P-EBT benefits in summer 2023 to children who did not attend a school at the end of school year 2022-23 that participated in the National School Lunch Program or the School Breakfast Program. Therefore, Homeschool/Virtual students are not eligible for Summer PEBT per federal legislation.

P-EBT will continue to be available as long as the Federal Public Health Emergency exists. When the Federal PHE ends (currently scheduled for May 11, 2023), P-EBT eligibility will also end (issuances may occur after the PHE ends due to timing, but eligibility will not continue). The Family and Social Services Administration/Division of Family Resources will continue to help Hoosiers feed their families during the PHE as the issuer of the P-EBT benefits.

ALL DATES FOR FUTURE ISSUANCES ARE ESTIMATED.

P-EBT eligible months Who is applicableEstimated issuance date
Aug - Dec 2022 In-person students Issued on April 14, 2023 **Note: This issuance was for Covid related absence only.**
Jan - May 2023 In-person students Issued May 19, 2023 **Note: This issuance was for Covid related absence only.**
Aug 2022 - May 2023 Homeschool / Virtual July 28, 2023 ALLOW 3 WEEKS FOR CARD DELIVERY
August 25, 2023 Final corrective issuance
"Summer" P-EBT **In person students only** Issued June 26, 2023 **Note: For all in-person1 students who qualify for free/reduced lunch.**

1 All issuance for those attending in person school is complete. PEBT eligibility ended as of May 11, 2023, with the end of the Federal Public Health Emergency.

P-EBT eligible time period Issuance date
Quarter October - December 2020 February 5, 2021
Quarter January - March 2021 May 10, 2021
Summer P-EBT June 21, 2021
Quarter April - June 2021 July 12, 2021
Quarter July - September 2021 December 20, 2021
October - December 2021 February 25, 2022
January - March 2022 April 22, 2022
April - June 2022 June 24, 2022
Summer P-EBT for school year 21/22 July 18, 2022

Reminder: All questions about an issuance or benefit amount for your child must be directed to your child’s school. The Division of Family Resources does not determine P-EBT eligibility and is unable to answer child specific P-EBT questions.

P-EBT information for parents

Do we have to apply?

  • For students enrolled in in person school: DO NOT APPLY. Data is collected from schools based on the eligibility criteria above.
  • For students in homeschool or full-time virtual school:  If you answer ‘yes’ to the questions in blue above, then yes, you should apply for PEBT. See Website for application above. Please be prepared to wait up to 30 days for a response to your application.

Who can tell me if my child will receive P-EBT Benefits?

If your child attends school in-person, your student’s school determines eligibility by recording eligible P-EBT absence days when doing attendance. These days will be submitted to DFR for disbursement. Please contact your student’s school for eligibility questions.

*The eligibility criteria for in-person students are listed below.

  • Schools must be closed or had a delayed start OR have a hybrid model in place.
  • Schools must be a provider of the National School Lunch Program (free/reduced lunch) and/or School Breakfast Program.
  • Students must be enrolled in an Indiana School.
  • Students are participating in a virtual or hybrid school schedule. A hybrid schedule allows students to participate in school via a virtual learning option including:
    • Students are attending school virtually due to quarantine,
    • Students attend school both virtual and in person.
    • Students must be eligible to receive free/reduced lunch or breakfast for the 2022-2023 school year under normal National School Lunch Program standards.

*The eligibility criteria for P-EBT homeschool/virtual students are listed below:

The P-EBT Homeschool/Virtual School Program provides benefits for: 

Students in 3rd – 12th grade

  • Who were enrolled at an NSLP (free/reduced lunch) eligible school and switched to home/virtual school after the Federal Public Health Emergency began (1/27/20) AND
  • Who are attending home/virtual school for COVID-related reasons
  • Who are determined eligible for free or reduced meals

Students in Kindergarten – 2nd grade

  • Who are attending home/virtual school for COVID-related reasons
  • Who are determined eligible for free or reduced meals

When will I receive the benefits?

Please refer to issuance schedule above and be sure to check back often for updates.

How much will a student receive for P-EBT Benefits?

The benefit amount is determined by the school based upon the number of days the student missed school due to COVID-related reasons. Individual eligibility is calculated by determining number of days eligible (based on above conditions) x $8.18 (USDA approved daily amount for free breakfast, lunch and snack.)

Will each student receive the same P-EBT Benefit amount?

No. Student eligibility is calculated based on the number of educational days missed by each student. Each eligible student received a P-EBT card, issued in 2021, mailed to the address reported by the school. The parents of each student will be informed to retain this card in case they are eligible for future P-EBT benefits. Newly identified students at each issuance would receive a new P-EBT card when benefits are issued.

Do you have the correct mailing address?

The mailing address for the P-EBT card is provided by the school. This is the information used to issue the P-EBT benefits. If you need to update your address and you have never received a card, or your card was lost or stolen please, click the link below and choose the appropriate selection.

If you are a homeschool/virtual student, you will need to provide the address to which you want your card to be mailed.

All cards issued since February, 2021 and after are still active for the 2022/2023 school year and will be reloaded if your child is eligible for benefits in the 2022/2023 school year. There is no need to request a new card for current or future benefits. Keep your card safe for future use. All disbursement dates are estimates.

Replacement cards may no longer be requested as of 9/28/23 at 4pm.

What do I do if my card is lost or stolen after it has been received and activated and I need a replacement card?

Please check for an active card before requesting a replacement. Requesting replacement cards when not necessary slows the entire replacement process.

If we see recent activity on a card that has been requested for replacement, it will NOT be replaced.

If your card is lost or stolen after you have activated it please click the address change and card replacement form link below and chose, “Card is lost/ stolen, and I need a replacement card sent to the address on file”. Please allow up to SIX  weeks to receive a replacement card.

Are P-EBT Benefits going to be deposited on the SNAP/TANF EBT card?

No. All benefits will go on the cards issued in 2021or later. If your child was never eligible in the past, but is eligible in the 22/23 school year, a new card will be issued and all benefits will be issued to that card.

DO NOT discard, lose, give away or share the PIN for your P-EBT card. Please keep it safe so that you can receive future benefits in a timely fashion.

Can I verify the address on file to ensure the card is being sent to the correct location?

The mailing address for the P-EBT card is the address provided by the student’s school.

Does this program apply to children in Head start, preschool or homeschooled children?

No, only those students enrolled in Kindergarten-grade 12 are eligible.

P-EBT resources for school