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Missouri families who have children that qualify for free or reduced-price meals at school can once more apply for Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT) benefits to help cover food costs they experienced while their student was not doing in-seat learning due to the pandemic. However, the P-EBT 2020-2021 program is very different from last year’s program. Please review the highlights of those changes below:
- All families must apply to get the P-EBT benefit, regardless of whether or not they receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)/Food Stamp benefits.
- A child may be eligible for P-EBT if the school was closed, not doing in-seat learning, or had reduced hours at least five school days in a row due to COVID-19.
- P-EBT benefits are available for the months of September 2020 through May 2021.
- The P-EBT benefit is based on the school’s report of how much of the month was not in-seat learning. If most of the school’s month was not in-seat learning, the monthly P-EBT benefit amount is $129.58. If only some of the school’s month was not in-seat learning, the monthly P-EBT benefit amount is $77.75.
- Families download the P-EBT application (aplicación en Español)
- Families directly email or mail the P-EBT application to the Family Support Division by July 31, 2021.
- Each eligible student will get an EBT card in his or her name with the lump sum P-EBT benefit amount for the 2020-2021 school year. Ineligible families will receive a denial letter.
- Families must directly email or mail the P-EBT application to the Family Support Division address listed on the application by July 31, 2021.
- Families must not submit the application to the school district.
- Each eligible student will get an EBT card in his or her name with the lump sum P-EBT benefit amount for the 2020-2021 school year. Ineligible families will receive a denial letter.
The application can be found on the https://mydss.mo.gov/ website.
Please read the P-EBT FAQs.
