Your Child’s P-EBT Funds Are Waiting To Be Claimed By You

Did you ever receive the P-EBT card?  Numerous families across Kentucky received the P-EBT and you can too.  Here's how and what we know.

Most schools returned to in-person learning in March.  However, many families chose to continue the hybrid model of virtual learning through the end of the school year.   This will cause those families to receive more payments.

The Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer Stimulus (P-EBT) for short was meant to help families who had children learning virtually due to COVID-19.  The program is offered through the Cabinet for Health and Family Services and the USDA Food and Nutrition Service.

This card gives families the opportunity to purchase food that will help to replace or replenish the food used in their homes while the kids have been learning virtually.

Those kids that are eligible to receive the cards are those that qualify for free or reduced meals at school or the children who attend a school that is involved with the National School Lunch Program.  For example, all Owensboro Public School students are part of the National School Lunch/Breakfast programs so all students no matter of income status.  Any student learning publicly or privately is eligible.

Families who have already received benefits do not have to do anything.  The funds will be placed on your cards by the end of March.  If your family receives SNAP benefits the funds will be put on the head of the household card.

Unless you are like our house and did not receive a card for one or more of your children.  We got cards for three of my four.  Braden did not get one.  I thought there was a reason.  I thought maybe he would until a later date.  So I called last week because I had some other questions and come to find out his card had not been delivered.

When you get your card all you have to do is call 1-888-979-9949 and set up your 4-digit pin.  They suggest using the last four digits of your social security number but I chose a different pin for each of my children.  You will also need the date of birth and zip code of each child who received a card  Once you activate your card you are free to use it anywhere that accepts EBT.  You can also download the ebtEDGE app.  The app allows you to check your balance from your phone.  You must know the balance of the card each time you use it.

Here are the amounts for each month the kids were remote and hybrid:

• For each month that a school district is determined to be fully remote, the P-EBT benefit amount will be $136.40 per student.
• For each month that a school district is determined to be on a hybrid model, the benefit amount will be $81.84 per student.

Here is a list of items you can and cannot purchase according to Cabinet for Family & Health Services;

Fruits and vegetables

Meat, poultry, fish dairy products

Bread and cereals

Snack foods and non-alcoholic beverages

Seeds and plants which produce food for the child to eat

Households may not use P-EBT benefits to buy:

Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes, tobacco

Vitamins, medicines, supplements Items with a supplement facts label are considered supplements and not eligible for P-EBT purchase.

Live animals (except shellfish, fish removed from the water, and animals slaughtered prior to pick-up from the store).

Prepared foods fit for immediate consumption

Hot foods

Nonfood items such as:

Pet foods

Cleaning supplies, paper products and other household supplies.

Hygiene items, cosmetics

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS ALL THE (FAQ) ABOUT THE P-EBT

If you need a replacement card, you can call 1-888-979-9949.