Q.
Why doesn't my Summer 2022 P-EBT card work? And why did I receive a second P-EBT card?
A.
The Virginia Department of Social Services was made aware of a card processing issue that occurred with our state P-EBT card vendor. Many households received invalid cards that do not work, even when successfully PINed.
If you received a P-EBT card between August 25 - September 8 and it does not work, please note that our card processing vendor is already aware of the issue and expediting mailings of a second card to be delivered no later than September 30. You do not need to take any action to report an invalid card at this time. VDSS has identified those households affected by this error and asks that you please wait for your second card to arrive. If you previously PINed the first card, the PIN will work for the second card.
If you have not yet been issued a P-EBT card and are eligible for Summer 2022 P-EBT, please wait for your card to arrive in the mail close to the end of September.
Our vendor will continue processing summer P-EBT benefits on a daily basis until all eligible households have received them.
Please note that this processing issue impacts the P-EBT program only and does not affect the release of benefits for participating Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) households.
If you received a P-EBT card between August 25 - September 8 and it does not work, please note that our card processing vendor is already aware of the issue and expediting mailings of a second card to be delivered no later than September 30. You do not need to take any action to report an invalid card at this time. VDSS has identified those households affected by this error and asks that you please wait for your second card to arrive. If you previously PINed the first card, the PIN will work for the second card.
If you have not yet been issued a P-EBT card and are eligible for Summer 2022 P-EBT, please wait for your card to arrive in the mail close to the end of September.
Our vendor will continue processing summer P-EBT benefits on a daily basis until all eligible households have received them.
Please note that this processing issue impacts the P-EBT program only and does not affect the release of benefits for participating Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) households.
Q.
Will P-EBT benefits be distributed for summer 2022?
A.
Summer 2022 P-EBT benefits will be issued in one allotment to eligible school-age students on August 25, 2022 and eligible children under the age of six on September 23, 2022.
Q.
How do I know if my student or child qualifies for Summer 2022 P-EBT?
A.
School-age children who were eligible for free and reduced-price school meals through the National School Lunch Programs, or attended a Community Eligible Provision (CEP) school, and were enrolled in the last month of the 2021-2022 school year are eligible for Summer 2022 P-EBT. There is no COVID-related absence, remote learning or reduced attendance requirement for Summer 2022 P-EBT eligibility.Fully virtual schools such as Virtual Virginia or a multi-division
online provider (MOP) are not eligible for NSLP and, therefore, are not eligible for P-EBT.
SNAP-recipient children who were under age six and not enrolled in school at the start of school year 2021-2022 are also eligible. This includes SNAP households with a child who may have reached their sixth birthday prior to the end of the school year, but did not enroll in school or receive school-aged P-EBT benefits.
Clients who have questions concerning their eligibility status should contact the P-EBT Call Center at 866-513-1414 or 804-294-1633 from 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Monday - Friday and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. You can also use the P-EBT Online Inquiry Form.
SNAP-recipient children who were under age six and not enrolled in school at the start of school year 2021-2022 are also eligible. This includes SNAP households with a child who may have reached their sixth birthday prior to the end of the school year, but did not enroll in school or receive school-aged P-EBT benefits.
Clients who have questions concerning their eligibility status should contact the P-EBT Call Center at 866-513-1414 or 804-294-1633 from 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Monday - Friday and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. You can also use the P-EBT Online Inquiry Form.
Q.
When will Summer 2022 P-EBT benefits be issued?
A.
For school-age students, retroactive benefits will be issued in a one-time payment on August 25, 2022. For eligible children under the age of six, retroactive benefits will be issued in a one-time payment on September 23, 2022. Benefits will be loaded to your existing P-EBT or EBT card. If you do not have an existing P-EBT card, a card will be mailed to the address provided by the school by the end of September.
Q.
How much will eligible students and children receive for the Summer 2022 P-EBT benefit?
A.
Eligible students and children will receive a one-time benefit of $391.
Q.
What if I just completed my student's application for free and reduced-priced meals at school?
A.
Any student found eligible between June 30, 2022 and July 31, 2022 will be issued their Summer P-EBT benefit on either September 14, 2022 or September 23, 2022.
Q.
What if my child turned 6 prior to the end of the school year? Do they still qualify for Summer P-EBT?
A.
Eligible children who may have reached their sixth birthday prior to the end of the school year still qualify for Summer P-EBT so long as they are enrolled in SNAP during the summer period and did not enroll in school or receive school-aged P-EBT benefits.
2021-2022 School Year:
Eligibility:
Q.
Will P-EBT benefits be available for K-12 students during the 2022-2023 school year?
A.
The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) and Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) received federal guidance regarding the status of P-EBT benefits for the 2022-2023 school year on September 8, 2022. VDSS and VDOE are reviewing the guidance at this time.
Q.
Who determines the eligibility criteria for the P-EBT programs?
A.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)' Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) agency.
Q.
Who is eligible to receive P-EBT benefits for the 2021-2022 school
year?
A.
Eligible students must qualify for free or reduced-price meals or attend a
school approved to participate in Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) or
National School
Lunch Program (NLSP). The student's school must also have been closed or operating at reduced
attendance or reduced hours for five consecutive days because of COVID-19.
A student will only qualify to receive P-EBT for each month in which the school met the above requirements AND the student was absent or learning remotely because of a COVID-19 related issue. The remote learning must have been provided by a teacher employed by the eligible school or school division. Fully virtual schools such as Virtual Virginia are not eligible for NSLP and, therefore, are not eligible for P-EBT. Fully virtual schools such as Virtual Virginia or a multi-division online provider (MOP) are not eligible for NSLP and, therefore, are not eligible for P-EBT.
Qualifying students will receive P-EBT benefits for only the days in which they reported absences or remote learning due to COVID-19-related reasons.
A student will only qualify to receive P-EBT for each month in which the school met the above requirements AND the student was absent or learning remotely because of a COVID-19 related issue. The remote learning must have been provided by a teacher employed by the eligible school or school division. Fully virtual schools such as Virtual Virginia are not eligible for NSLP and, therefore, are not eligible for P-EBT. Fully virtual schools such as Virtual Virginia or a multi-division online provider (MOP) are not eligible for NSLP and, therefore, are not eligible for P-EBT.
Qualifying students will receive P-EBT benefits for only the days in which they reported absences or remote learning due to COVID-19-related reasons.
Q.
How do I know if my student(s) is eligible?
A.
If you are unsure if your student qualifies for free or reduced price
meals or attends a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) school, please
visit your school division's website or contact your child's school for
more information.
Households must apply for free or reduced-price meals annually, unless the student attends a CEP school that provides meals at no cost to all students. Students who attend a CEP school or receive free or reduced-priced school meals and meet the other federal requirement, qualifications for P-EBT do not have to apply for P-EBT benefits.
If you believe there are students in your household who met all of the P-EBT requirements and you have not received P-EBT benefits, please contact the P-EBT Call Center Monday - Friday from 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. at 866-513-1414 or 804-294-1633 or use the P-EBT Inquiry Form. Please do not contact your child's school or local department of social services with P-EBT questions.
Households must apply for free or reduced-price meals annually, unless the student attends a CEP school that provides meals at no cost to all students. Students who attend a CEP school or receive free or reduced-priced school meals and meet the other federal requirement, qualifications for P-EBT do not have to apply for P-EBT benefits.
If you believe there are students in your household who met all of the P-EBT requirements and you have not received P-EBT benefits, please contact the P-EBT Call Center Monday - Friday from 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. at 866-513-1414 or 804-294-1633 or use the P-EBT Inquiry Form. Please do not contact your child's school or local department of social services with P-EBT questions.
Q.
How do I know if my student's school is eligible?
A.
A school is eligible for P-EBT if the following conditions are met:
- The school is closed or operating at reduced hours for five (5) consecutive days because of a COVID-related issue.
- and the school participates in the National School Lunch or School Breakfast Program.
Q.
Are home-schooled students eligible for P-EBT?
A.
No. The P-EBT program is designated for students who attend a school that
participates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and are eligible
for free or reduced-price meals.
Q.
Are Head Start students eligible for P-EBT benefits?
A.
Head Start students are eligible for P-EBT only if they attend a Head
Start program that participates in the National School Lunch Program with
reimbursable meals claimed through a participating public school. Some
Head Start programs receive meals through other funding sources and
students attending those programs are not eligible. Head Start students
who are not claimed under the NSLP or the School Breakfast Program by a
participating public school are not eligible for P-EBT.
Q.
Who receives the P-EBT benefit for eligible students?
A.
P-EBT benefits will be issued to the parent or guardian identified in the
student's school record and submitted by the school division for the
eligible student who receives free or reduced-price meals.
Q.
Are non-citizen students eligible for P-EBT?
A.
Non-citizen students qualify for P-EBT benefits if they are eligible to
receive free and reduced-price school meals in a school that participates
in the National School Lunch Program.
Benefits:
Q.
When will benefits be issued?
A.
Benefits for school-age students will be issued on the following schedule:
| Issuance Month | Available to Customer |
|---|---|
| September 2021 | 5/25/2022 |
| October 2021 | 5/25/2022 |
| November 2021 | 6/14/2022 |
| December 2021 | 6/14/2022 |
| January 2022 | 6/14/2022 |
| February 2022 | 6/25/2022 |
| March 2022 | 6/25/2022 |
| April 2022 | 6/25/2022 |
| May 2022 | 6/25/2022 |
| June 2022 | 7/25/2022 |
| Summer P-EBT (School-Age Children) |
8/25/2022 |
Q.
Where can I use my P-EBT benefits?
A.
P-EBT benefits may be used at any store that accepts SNAP. Most retailers
have signage indicating they accept SNAP or EBT. P-EBT may also be used to
purchase food through online platforms such as Amazon, Aldi, Food Lion and
Walmart's as part of
Virginia's
online food purchasing pilot
program.
Q.
What can I buy with P-EBT benefits?
A.
You can buy any SNAP-eligible food with P-EBT. Most foods are
SNAP-eligible, except prepared foods and foods sold hot. A list of
SNAP-eligible food is available on the
United States Department of
Agriculture's
website.
Q.
Do I have to use all my P-EBT benefits at once?
A.
No. The money will carry over from month to month. After one year, unused
P-EBT benefits will be removed from the card.
Q.
What should I do if I do not want the P-EBT benefits?
A.
Households that do not want to use their P-EBT benefits must destroy the
P-EBT card when they receive it. Destroy the card by cutting through the
magnetic stripe and disposing of it securely. If you change your mind,
P-EBT benefits will be available to you for 365 days. You may call
ConnectEBT at 1-866-281-2448 to access your P-EBT benefits for up to one
year. P-EBT benefits are not transferable and should not be given to
anyone else.
Q.
How do I request eligible benefits that were not received in previous
P-EBT issuances?
A.
To inquire about P-EBT benefits for previous issuances (spring and fall
2020), please contact our call center Monday - Friday from 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.
and Saturdays from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. at 866-513-1414 or 804-294-1633 or use
the
P-EBT Inquiry Form.
Q.
How are the amounts of P-EBT benefits determined?
A.
The number of days a student is absent from an eligible school because of
a COVID-19 related issue or receiving remote learning from a teacher(s)
employed by the school division due to a COVID-19 related issue. If a
student misses between 1 and 5 days the benefit will be $21.30, 6 to 15
days the benefit will be $71.00 and 16 or more days the benefit will be
$127.80.
Card information:
Q.
What do I do if my P-EBT card is lost?
A.
You may request a replacement card in one of three ways:
- Contact ConnectEBT at 1-866-281-2448 to report your card lost and request a replacement.
- If you have registered through ConnectEBT, you may order your card using your login credentials.
- If you have downloaded the ConnectEBT app on your mobile device, you may request a card after you log in. A replacement card may take 7 - 10 business days to reach you.
Q.
How do I PIN my card?
A.
There are three ways to PIN your P-EBT card and manage your benefits
account. Secure information detailing how to PIN your card is also
included in the envelope with your card.
Three options:
Three options:
- Call 1-866-281-2448
- Visit connectebt.com/ and log on
- Download the ConnectEBT app on your mobile phone via the App Store or Play Store
- Enter the 12-digit EBT card number located on the front of the card
- Enter the date of birth of the oldest child receiving free or reduced meals. (You will need to enter the date of birth of the oldest child receiving free or reduced meals.)
- Enter 0000 when asked for the last 4 digits of your Social Security Number (SSN). (If at any time the full SSN is needed, it will be 000-00-0000)
- Enter a four-digit pin number (four numbers you will remember)
Other Information:
Q.
My family needs food now, what can we do?
A.
Households that do not meet eligibility requirements for the P-EBT program
are encouraged to call
2-1-1 Virginia to
learn more about food resources in their local area or visit
Commonhelp.virginia.gov
to check eligibility for the federal
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Q.
Does P-EBT replace school-based grab-and-go meal programs?
A.
No, P-EBT does not replace other school-based food assistance programs.
Students and families who receive P-EBT may continue to participate in
other school-based food assistance programs such as grab-and-go meals.
Q.
Does P-EBT count against me under public charge?
A.
The public charge rule does not apply to P-EBT benefits. Using P-EBT
benefits does not impact you or your child's immigration status. The
public charge rule does not apply to P-EBT benefits. These benefits are
for families with students who are eligible for free and reduced-price
school meals in a school that participates in the National School Lunch
Program.
Q.
What will happen to my P-EBT card if my family has moved?
A.
VDSS will use the current mailing address from your child's school record.
If that address is not correct, the P-EBT card will be recorded as
undeliverable in the VDSS system. VDSS will work with local school
divisions and attempt to contact you for corrected mailing address
information. If possible, contact your school now to update the address in
your child's school record. If you do not receive your P-EBT card and you
have not been contacted, please contact our call center Monday - Friday
from 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. at 866-513-1414 or
804-294-1633 or use the
P-EBT Inquiry Form.
