Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) is part of the U.S. government response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 (PL 116–127), as amended by the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021 (PL 116-260), the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (PL 117-2), and the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2023 (PL 117-328) provides the Secretary of Agriculture authority to approve state agency plans to administer P-EBT.
Through P-EBT, eligible school children receive temporary emergency nutrition benefits loaded on EBT cards that are used to purchase food. Children who would have received free or reduced-price meals under the National School Lunch Act if their schools were not closed or operating with reduced hours or attendance for at least 5 consecutive days are eligible to receive P-EBT benefits. P-EBT also provides benefits to younger children in households participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) whose covered child care facility is closed or operating with reduced hours or attendance, or who live in the area of schools that are closed or operating with reduced hours or attendance.
The COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) declaration expired on May 11, 2023. Therefore, children under 6 in households participating in SNAP will not be eligible for summer 2023 P-EBT benefits. However, school children who attended a school participating in the National School Lunch Program at the end of school year 2022-23 are still eligible for summer 2023 P-EBT benefits in participating states.
Resources for SY 2022-23 |
Resources for Summer 2023 |
State Participation for Summer 2023
The following states and territories have been approved to operate a Pandemic EBT program during summer 2023:
State Participation for School Year 2022-23
The following states and territories have been approved to operate a Pandemic EBT program during school year 2022-23:
Prior Year P-EBT Approvals and Resources
- Summer 2022
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The following states and territories have been approved to operate a Pandemic EBT program during summer 2022.
Resources for Summer 2022 - School Year 2021-22
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The following states and territories have been approved to operate a Pandemic EBT program during SY 2021-22:
Resources for School Year 2021-22 - Summer 2021
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The following states have been approved to operate a Pandemic EBT program during SY 2020-21.
Resources for Summer 2021 - School Year 2020-21
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The following states have been approved to operate a Pandemic EBT program during SY 2020-21.
Resources for School Year 2020-21 - School Year 2019-20
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The following states have been approved to operate a Pandemic EBT program during School Year 2019-20.
Resources for School Year 2019-20