P-EBT for 2021-2022
Note: The information below is for the 2021-22 school year. Updates about Summer P-EBT can be found here: https://www.hungersolutions.org/2022/07/27/summer-p-ebt-coming-soon/
The USDA has approved Minnesota’s P-EBT plan for school-aged children for the 2021 – 2022 school year. There have been some changes for this school year, so if you have any questions about your case, contact the P-EBT hotline at 651-431-4608 or 800-657-3698, or fill out the P-EBT help form here: https://pebthelp.state.mn.us. The P-EBT hotline is open Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For the latest information, check the DHS P-EBT webpage or check back here for updated information.
Who is eligible for P-EBT benefits?
For the 2021 – 2022 school year, students will be eligible for P-EBT benefits if:
- The school they attend participates in the National School Lunch Program or the Seamless Summer Option; and
- The student has applied for and is eligible for free or reduced-price school meals.
AND, one or both of the following:
- Their school closed or shifted to remote learning or has reduced hours of attendance for five consecutive days to a COVID impact.
- Their parent tells the school they are keeping their child home because of COVID, and the school accepts the absence as COVID-related.
What does a COVID Impact mean?
There are two ways an absence can be because of a COVID impact:
- Any absence where the school tells students to stay home for a COVID-19 related reason.
- This would include a school-ordered quarantine of a student, a group of students, a classroom, or an entire school.
- Any Absence reported by the parent that school officials accept as COVID-19 related and enter into the state’s P-EBT Portal.
If I am eligible, when will I receive benefits?
The first round of benefits was issued in late December to a small number of families whose children attend schools where the entire school closed or shifted to remote learning for at least five consecutive days in September, October, or November.
Future rounds of P-EBT benefits will include families whose children have to stay home because of quarantine for individual students, groups of students, or entire classrooms. The first round of these payments should be issued onto P-EBT cards in February.
How much will I get?
You will receive $7.10 per day for each school day missed due to a COVID Impact.
Will I get a new P-EBT Card?
For most families, benefits will be added to your existing card from the previous school year. Newly eligible students will receive new cards in the mail.
What if I lost my card?
To order a new card, you will need to call EBT Customer Service at 888-997-2227. When it asks for your card number, press 2 to speak to a representative.
P-EBT Fliers
Need more food help?
If you are eligible for P-EBT, you might also be eligible for SNAP. Contact the Minnesota Food HelpLine to see if you are eligible at 888-771-1151, or use the SNAP Screener to find out if you are eligible, and how much SNAP/EBT benefits you could receive.