P-EBT Food Benefits Letter to Parent of Eligible Children Who Are Receiving P-EBT Food Benefits Cards

IMPORTANT: Your child is going to receive P-EBT food benefits for the 2020-2021 school year on the same P-EBT Food Benefit card you used to access the P-EBT food benefits they received for the 2019-20 school year.

Why?

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, schools have remained closed or had reduced attendance in the 2020-2021 school year. You do not have to apply for these benefits because you have a child in your household who receives free lunch at school through the National School Lunch Program. Because they are not in school full time right now, you automatically will receive P-EBT food benefits to help buy food for them to help cover the cost of free meals they otherwise would eat at school.

What Happens Next?

Your child’s P-EBT food benefits for the 2020-2021 school year will be issued to the same P-EBT Food Benefit card you used for the 2019-2020 school year.

To access your child’s 2020-2021 P-EBT food Benefits use the same Personal Identification Number (PIN) you created to access your P-EBT food benefits for the 2019-2020 school year. If you forgot your PIN, or need to create a new one, you can do so over the phone by calling the toll-free number: 1-888-328-6399. Please be prepared to provide the security information required to complete this process.

For more information about how to order a replacement P-EBT Food Benefit card or select a PIN, go to otda.ny.gov/SNAP-COVID-19/P-EBT-Medicaid-Card-PIN-Instructions.asp.

How much will my family get?

Eligible children will receive P-EBT food benefits based on the number of days their school was closed or operated with reduced in-person school attendance due to COVID-19. Children whose school had in-person school attendance reduced by 12 days or less per month will receive $82 in P-EBT food benefits for that month. Children whose school had in-person school attendance reduced for more than 12 days will receive $132 for that month. Children eligible to receive P-EBT food benefits will receive their benefits for the 2020-2021 school year in two payments. The first payment will be issued by the end of June and the second payment will be issued by the end of September.

What do I need to know about using my child’s P-EBT food benefits?

• You may create an account to check your family’s P-EBT food benefits balance by visiting www.connectebt.com. You can also check your P-EBT food benefits balance by calling 1-888-328-6399.
• You may use your P-EBT food benefits to purchase allowable food items from authorized retail stores. A detailed list of food items that may be purchased with the benefits can be found at http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/eligible-food-items/. There are no fees for using your P-EBT benefits, and there is no limit to the number of times you can use your card to spend your P-EBT food benefits and
• P-EBT food benefits will remain available and accessible on your P-EBT Food Benefit card for at least 274 days from the date they are issued.

Questions:

For answers to commonly asked P-EBT food benefit questions visit our website at otda.ny.gov/SNAP-COVID-19. You may also submit your questions in writing by visitingotda.ny.gov/PEBT-info and completing a P-EBT Information Form.

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