Eligible students to receive P-EBT funds

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WDEF) — Eligible students who missed meals due to COVID-19 will soon get funds through a relief program.

The Tennessee Department of Human Services announced the details on Thursday.

It is called the Pandemic Electronic Benefit (P-EBT) Program.

Students who attended school in person but missed school meals between August 2022 and February 2023 will receive the benefits.

To be eligible, students must already receive free meals through the National School Lunch Program, attend a Community Eligibility Program, or a Provision 2 or 3 school.

They must also have attended a school that closed or reduced hours for five consecutive days. They are also eligible if they had a COVID-19 related excused absence between that time period.

The program will automatically enroll eligible children. There is no application required.

P-EBT will give eligible students $8.18 per each excused absence day.

Students will receive benefits starting on April 21, 2023.

The funds will go onto a P-EBT card.

To view benefits, visit the P-EBT Parent Portal.

To learn more, visit the P-EBT website.

The Department of Human Services will additionally distribute a one-time payment to home school and virtual school eligible students. P-EBT registration for these students lasts from April 21 until May 5.

Those who receive SNAP benefits and missed child care interruptions due to COVID-19 may also be eligible. Those children must be six years or younger.

Child Care P-EBT benefits will go out in one payment in June onto the existing SNAP EBT card.