P-EBT
Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) provides nutrition assistance to families whose children have lost access to free or reduced-price school meals due to COVID-19 related school closures. Eligible families receive money on a new or existing EBT card to help make up for these lost meals.
UPDATE: Maryland has been approved to distribute P-EBT benefits for the 2020-2021 school year.
For more information on P-EBT in Maryland, please visit the Department of Human Services P-EBT webpage or call the Maryland Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) Hotline at 1-833-330-PEBT (1-833-330-7328). Additionally, questions or concerns about individual cases can be submitted using this Customer Inquiry Form. A team from DHS will be working to respond to each form submission.
MDHS P-EBT Call Resources, Notes, Q&A July 8, 2021
Proposed Timeline for Future P-EBT Distributions:
| Months Covered by Benefits | Date of Distribution | Benefit Amount | Who is eligible? | How can I get these benefits? |
| October-December 2020 | May 2021 | $6.82 per child per school day where the school is closed or operating virtually due to the pandemic.
The total benefit amount received will vary based on the predominant learning model of your child’s school each month. |
School-age children who are eligible and enrolled to receive free or reduced-price meals at school but have not been able to access those meals due to COVID-19 related school closures.
Children under the age of 6 living in a household that receives Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits is eligible for P-EBT if: · They reside in a county with at least one school closed or operating at reduced capacity, OR · their daycare facility is closed or operating at reduced hours due to COVID-19. |
DHS and MSDE are working jointly to ensure that all eligible children automatically receive P-EBT benefits. You do not have to apply to receive these benefits if you are already in an eligible category.
If you believe you may be newly eligible due to a change in income, you can complete a free/reduced-price school meal application with your child’s school. You can also apply for SNAP using the MyDHR online portal: dhr.state.md.us For SNAP application assistance over the phone, you can call MD Hunger Solutions: 866-821-5552 |
| January-February 2021 | June 2021 | |||
| March-April 2021 | July 2021 | |||
| May-June 2021 | August 2021 | |||
| July-August 2021 | September 2021 |
Previous P-EBT Distributions in Maryland:
| Months Covered by Benefits | Date of Distribution | Benefit Amount | Who is eligible? | How can I get these benefits? |
| March-June 2020 | Late June/early July 2020 | $5.70 per child per school day where the school is closed or operating virtually due to the pandemic. (Approximately $370 total)
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Children who were receiving free or reduced-price meals during the 2019-2020 school year prior to school closures in March 2020. This includes students who attended a school that provided free meals to all students through community eligibility. | These benefits should have been received by all eligible families.
If you believe your child(ren) were eligible for P-EBT in this timeframe but did not receive benefits, please contact DHS through the P-EBT hotline (1-833-330-7328) or the online Customer Inquiry Form.
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| September 2020 | Late September 2020 | $5.86 per child per school day where the school is closed or operating virtually due to the pandemic. (Approximately $90 total)
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Children who received P-EBT in Spring 2020 (unless they moved out of state or graduated), and children who are enrolled to receive free or reduced-price school meals for the 2020-2021 school year. This includes students who attend a school that provided free meals to all students through community eligibility during the 2020-2021 school year. |
