Many Marylanders are eligible for Pandemic EBT (P-EBT). This program is a huge source of support for families during the COVID-19 pandemic. With the help of No Kid Hungry, Maryland SNAP-Ed has compiled the following Frequently Asked Questions to help you understand the program.
What is P-EBT?
P-EBT is a federal nutrition program that provides a grocery benefit to families to purchase food during pandemic-related school closures. P-EBT benefits were first available in the spring of 2020 for families with school-aged children. These benefits were provided to replace the school meals that kids were missing since schools were closed.
To learn more about P-EBT in Maryland, visit: https://dhs.maryland.gov/p-ebt/
Who is eligible?
Children enrolled in school who qualify for Free and Reduced Meals (FARM) have been eligible to receive the benefit since the program started in spring 2020 - this includes school-aged children receiving SNAP benefits.
For the 2020-2021 school year, children age 0-6 are also eligible if they are in families receiving SNAP.
If your child attends a Community Eligibility Provision school (schools that provide free school meals to all students) all students are eligible for P-EBT.
Children must also be attending school virtually or on a reduced schedule to be eligible for P-EBT.
How much is the benefit?
P-EBT funds are calculated based on the number of days students are out of the school building due to the pandemic. The funds are intended to allow families to purchase food that might otherwise have been provided by school meals.
From March through June 2020, the benefit was $5.70 per day. Because nearly every student in Maryland was out of school, most eligible students received a total of $367 for March through June.
For the 2020-2021 school year, the benefit was increased to $6.82 per day for each school day in which in-person learning was impacted due to the pandemic. Because school districts across Maryland have varied in how they have handled in-person learning this school year, the total benefit each student receives will vary. The maximum benefit is about $34 per student, per week.
Do families need to apply or take any action in order to receive P-EBT benefits?
P-EBT benefits are provided to most eligible children and students automatically. So, most families do not need to do anything to receive these benefits. Last year, children in families with SNAP received P-EBT benefits on their existing SNAP EBT card, and that will probably happen again this year.
Students who are enrolled in the Free and Reduced-Price School Meal programs (but not receiving SNAP) were automatically mailed P-EBT cards last year, based on the address on file with their school. It is most likely that P-EBT benefits for this year will be added to those existing P-EBT cards that families received last year.
The most important things families can do now is:
- Make sure their address with their school is up to date
- Complete the Free and Reduced Meal application for their school.
We expect that students who were eligible for Free and Reduced-Price School Meals in the 2019-2020 school year will continue to be eligible for P-EBT this year based on last year’s status. However, students that have graduated or moved are no longer eligible.And if your child started Kindergarten this year, transferred from another school district, or if your family had a change in income, complete the Free and Reduced-Price School Meal forms as soon as possible as you may be eligible for P-EBT benefits.
School Meal Benefit Application Links for Maryland School Districts
When will I receive my benefits?
The federal government has to approve each state’s plan for distributing P-EBT benefits for the 2020-2021 school year. This has been a slow process, since plans must detail how they will calculate each student’s benefit based on the county’s reopening status, and whether the students have remained virtual, participated in hybrid instruction, or returned to school. You can check the status of each state’s plan approval here.
Even though this process is moving slowly, families will receive the full amount of benefits for the entire school year .
If you’ve lost your card, call the Maryland EBT Customer Service at 1-800-997-2222 or go to ConnectEBT.com to report the card lost.
What should I do if my family needs funds for groceries now?
While we wait for the distribution of P-EBT benefits, take advantage of food access resources in your community: food pantries, free school meals, and other food distribution programs. Do not hesitate to seek help. MANY people are in need right now, including many who have never had to seek food assistance before:
- Find free meals and food near you by texting the word FOOD to 877-877.
- Call 211, or visit 211md.org to locate food assistance and other resources.
- Pick up free school meals. Consult your local school district’s website, or find statewide sites at mdsummermeals.org.
- Apply for SNAP online: https://mydhrbenefits.dhr.state.md.us/dashboardClient/#/home
- Get personalized help applying for SNAP from Catholic Charities (1-667-600-2291) or Maryland Hunger Solutions (1-866-821-5552).
- If you have young children, you may be eligible for food assistance from the Women’s Infants and Children's Program, or WIC. Call 1-800-242-4WIC for more information or to apply.
It sounds like families will be receiving a large lump sum once benefits are distributed. How can folks check and manage their balance?
There are four ways to check your balance:
- Check your last grocery store receipt.
- Use the Website - you can set-up a User ID and Password to check your account balance and also view transaction history. https://www.connectebt.com/
- You can call the Customer Service Call Center. Your balance is provided as soon as you enter your card number. 1-800-997-2222
- Download the FreshEBT here: https://www.freshebt.com/state/maryland/. In addition to being able check your fund balance, the app has features like a map that shows farmers markets and stores that accept SNAP.
Do you have any tips about how families might manage the funds when they come through to make the most of them?
When you receive the initial balance, use the opportunity to restock your pantry. Pantry foods last a long time and can be the start of many meals:
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