The Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT) program is a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) program designed to provide cash benefits on an EBT card to be used to purchase food. This program is in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency. The program's purpose is to provide benefits to children eligible for free and reduced-price meals through their school who lost access to food due to school closures and adjusted schedules during the 2022-2023 school year and the 2023 summer period.
Initial Eligibility
Nebraska families are eligible for 2022-2023 School Year P-EBT benefits if:
- Children have been determined eligible by their school for free or reduced-price meals for the 2022-2023 school year;
- Attend a school that has met the criteria for P-EBT eligibility by having a COVID-related absence, closure, or reduced attendance or hours for at least 5 consecutive days; and,
- Had an eligible COVID-19 absence from school and can verify if needed.
Nebraska SNAP families with children under six are eligible for 2022-2023 Children in Child Care P-EBT benefits if the children received SNAP benefits in the month benefits are being issued. A child may not receive 2022-2023 School Year P-EBT and 2022-2023 Children in Child Care P-EBT for the same month.
How to Activate Your Card
To activate the P-EBT card, please call the number on the back of the card (877-247-6328). When asked for the primary cardholder's date of birth, enter the 8-digit date of birth for the oldest child receiving free or reduced-price lunches. For example, if the child's date of birth is January 1, 2010, enter 01/01/2010. The automated prompt will then ask for the primary cardholder's zip code. Enter the zip code of the address where the card was mailed. The prompt will ask you to select a PIN. Once the PIN is set, the card will be activated and ready to use.
* Note: If the oldest child's date of birth does not activate the card, please try the birthdates of the other children in the home.
How to Request a New Card
To request a replacement P-EBT card, please call the number on the back of the card (877-247-6328) and select the prompt for lost/stolen/damaged cards. The P-EBT account is under the primary parent or guardian's name. When it asks for a date of birth, use the birthdate that activated the card. For the social security number, enter 0000. You will get transferred to a live customer service representative. When you speak to a representative, you must inform them you need a P-EBT card replacement, not a SNAP EBT card replacement. The card vendor will cancel the old card and transfer the balance to the replacement.
Frequently Asked Questions
All children under age six who are members of SNAP households from August 1, 2022 – May 11, 2023, are eligible to receive Child Care P-EBT. A child may not receive the 2022-2023 school year P-EBT and Child Care P-EBT for the same month.
Eligible children will receive $21 monthly for the fall semester (August 2022 – December 2022). The amount for the spring semester will be determined at a later date.
SNAP and non-SNAP school-age children are eligible for 2023 Summer P-EBT benefits if they were approved for free or reduced-price meals for the last month of school, May 2023.
Eligible children will receive a one-time payment of $120 for the 2023 summer period.
DHHS will send Child Care P-EBT benefits to SNAP households with children under the age of 6 directly to their EBT card. Children must be participating in SNAP the month benefits are being issued.
For school-age children, school districts will report student eligibility to the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE). DHHS will send 2023 Summer P-EBT benefits to households determined eligible by the schools. 2023 Summer P-EBT benefits will be added to P-EBT cards issued to families during the 2022-2023 school year if possible. New P-EBT cards will be issued to families if their address or parent contact information has changed or they are newly eligible. All efforts are made to issue benefits to existing P-EBT cards.
A homeschooled or fully virtual family must submit a completed application (including the requested income and identity verification) to have their application reviewed. The student is eligible for P-EBT benefits if they enrolled in a fully virtual learning environment or virtual academy and started homeschooling in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The student had to enroll as of January 27, 2020, and must also qualify for free and reduced-price meals. The homeschooled or fully virtual P-EBT application will be available on the DHHS P-EBT website. The application closed on 6/22/2023.
P-EBT benefit amounts will be $139 per month per eligible child for August 2022 through April 2023 and $74.00 for May due to the public health emergency ending on May 11, 2023.
A reconsideration request can be submitted to DHHS.NebraskaPEBT@nebraska.gov by October 18, 2023. Please include the parent's first and last name, address, phone number, email address, children's first and last names, birthdates, school, and school district, and a summary of the issue regarding which issuance (Summer 2023, Children in Childcare or 22-23 School Year) your household did not receive.
Contact
Questions: DHHS.NebraskaPEBT@nebraska.gov