Pandemic EBT

Important information for parents or guardians of student’s eligible for Free and Reduced Lunch at Farley Hill Elementary School.

What is the Pandemic-EBT Program?

The Pandemic-EBT (P-EBT) Program provides food benefits to families with children who were not able to get free or reduced-price school meals due to COVID.  You may hear about this benefit from other schools or in the media.  

Who is eligible?

Being eligible for this program will depend on what school your student attends.  Eligibility for the Pandemic-EBT (P-EBT) Program can be different between schools within the same district.

What makes a school eligible for P-EBT?

A school building is eligible only if the building has had 5 school days in a row of reduced in-person hours due to COVID (closures due to staffing shortages do not count for P-EBT benefits).   

What could make my child eligible for P-EBT?

1) If the school they attend is eligible for P-EBT and

2) If your student has applied and been approved for free/reduced lunch and

3) Did not receive instruction in-person for some or all the month due to COVID-19 related     absence                                                                                                                                                  There may be months when your student’s attendance was different from what the school reported.  In that case, you may be able to have your student’s benefit level reconsidered. Your request to be reconsidered must be submitted by June 30, 2023. In the month(s) below your school reported primarily in-person.  Your student(s) may be P-EBT eligible If your student Did not receive instruction in-person for some or all the month due to COVID-19 related absence in the following month(s): 

  December 2022, January 2023, February 2023, March 2023, April 2023, and May 2023

For more information, visit  WWW.MICHIGAN.GOV/PEBT or call 1-833-905-0028.

Reconsideration for Student Pandemic EBT Benefits application 2022-2023

Parent/Guardian Frequently Asked Questions  2022-2023 School Year  

What is P-EBT  

1. What is Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT)?  

• P-EBT provides supplemental food assistance benefits to students who have  temporarily lost access to free or reduced-price school meals due to the  COVID-19 pandemic. The goal of the program is to make sure no qualified  student goes hungry by missing out on school meals. 

Eligibility  

1. Does my student qualify for Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT)?   Eligibility starts if the student is/was:  

o Enrolled at a school that participates in the National School Lunch  Program or School Breakfast Program, or the Child and Adult Care Food  Program AND  

o Is approved to receive free or reduced meals at their school.  o Did not receive instruction in-person for some or all the month due to a  COVID 19 related absence OR  

o If attending fully in-person and meals were not provided and eaten at  school during the instruction day due to COVID-19  

2. Some school districts qualify for a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP)  where all students are eligible for free meals, regardless of income. Are  those students eligible for P-EBT?  

 Students at a CEP school are eligible once the following conditions are all  met:  

o the school they attend meets school eligibility guidelines AND o the student receives reduced in-person instruction due to COVID-19  related absence AND  

o the student missed free or reduced meals meant to be served and eaten  during the instruction day due to COVID-19  

 CEP should not be confused with the Extended Summer Food Service  Program that provides free meals to all students attending school in person  this school year.  

3. Do Early College students qualify for P-EBT?  

 Students in early college programs may qualify for P-EBT if: 

o They meet the Free or Reduced-Price Meal Eligibility guidelines AND  o Meal funding for the program must be through the National School Lunch  or School Breakfast Program, or the Child and Adult Care Food Program  AND 

o Have reduced in-person learning due to COVID-19 related absence AND missed free or reduced meals meant to be served and eaten during the  instruction day due to COVID-19  

4. We pick up “Grab-and-Go” meals from the school. Do we qualify for P EBT?  

 Meal pick-up or “Grab-and-Go” lunches do not affect P-EBT eligibility 5. My student gets free lunch right now, do they qualify for P-EBT?   Your student may qualify for P-EBT if:  

o They meet the Free or Reduced-Price Meal Eligibility guidelines AND o Meal funding for the program must be received through the National  School Lunch or School Breakfast Program, or the Child and Adult Care  Food Program AND  

o Have reduced in-person learning due to COVID-19 related absence AND missed free or reduced meals meant to be served and eaten during the  instruction day due to COVID-19  

6. Do I need to apply for P-EBT?  

 No, there is no P-EBT application process.  

 MDHHS and MDE are working directly with school districts to obtain  information that allows direct issuance of benefits to eligible students   In person students should complete their schools Free Reduced Lunch  application.  

7. Do I need to reapply each month? 

 No, benefit eligibility is automatically determined  

8. When will my student receive P-EBT benefits?  

 We anticipate the first benefit cycle to begin in April.  

 If you do not receive benefits by mid-May and your student was  o Free or Reduced meal eligible AND 

o Did not receive instruction in-person for some or all the month due to  COVID-19 related absence (school closures for staffing shortages do not  qualify for P-EBT benefits) AND 

o Their school participates in the National School Lunch or School  Breakfast Program, or the Child and Adult Care Food Program AND  o Their school has met the 5-day threshold  

 Then please complete the Reconsideration Form found at  

www.michigan.gov/pebt 

9. My student was approved for free or reduced meals after the school year  started, will they get benefits for the full school year?  

 P-EBT benefit eligibility will begin on the submission date of an approved  application for Free or Reduced – Price Meals 

Benefits and Payment Info  

1. How will I receive P-EBT benefits?  

 Any eligible student on an active Food Assistance case will receive their P EBT benefits on the EBT/Bridge card attached to that case 

 All other eligible students will receive a new P-EBT card in the mail. A  separate card will be sent for each eligible student not on an active Food  Assistance case 

 Be sure to keep your address updated with both MDHHS and your school  (both the office and the school lunch program) 

2. If parents do not live together which household receives the P-EBT  benefits?  

 If your student is active for Food Assistance with MDHHS the P-EBT benefits  will be issued to the bridge card associated with the active Food Assistance  case 

 If there is no active Food Assistance case but the student has an active  medical benefits case with MDHHS the P-EBT benefits will be issued on a  new P-EBT card and mailed to the address of that active medical assistance  case 

 If the student has no active MDHHS case a new P-EBT card will be sent to  the address that is currently on file with the student’s school Free or Reduced  Meal Program 

 Be sure to keep your address updated with both MDHHS and your school  (both the office and the school lunch program) 

3. What months does the P-EBT program cover?  

 September 2022 through May 11, 2023  

4. When will my card be loaded?  

 Benefits are expected to begin being issued in April 

 The following chart is the anticipated issuance schedule and may be subject  to change 

ATTENDANCE MONTHS SCHOOL  REPORTS 

ISSUANCE  MONTH 

September 2022 - December 2022 March April  January 2023 – February 2023 April May  

March 2023 - May 2023 

May 

June 

5. How much P-EBT will I get?  

 Benefit amount depends on the type of instruction your student received for  each month and the number of days missed due to COVID-19   In-Person – No benefit Payment 

 Remote – Benefit payment based on number of days missed due to COVID 19  

6. What if I received only a partial payment or no payment at all for a month?   Initial automatic payment is based on how the school reports overall school  attendance for the month  

 Parents/Guardians may submit a Reconsideration Form if they can verify that  the attendance type reported by the school did not match the student’s  attendance due to COVID-19 related absence(s)  

 The P-EBT Reconsideration Form is available on the State of Michigan P EBT website www.michigan.gov/pebt 

7. How can I check my balance or activity?  

 Call the EBT customer service number (888) 678-8914  

 Or navigate to this link: www.ebtedge.com 

8. How long do I have to use my P-EBT benefits?  

 Per USDA FNS federal guidelines (7 CFR 272.2), if you do not use any of  your FAP benefits for nine months (274 days), they will be expunged, or  removed from your account. This means the FAP benefits will no longer be  available to spend and will be removed from your EBT card permanently.   Once expunged, benefits cannot be redeposited or reissued  

9. Will there be Summer P-EBT in 2023  

 Yes, there will be Summer P-EBT in 2023  

 The Summer P-EBT benefit will be issued in a single payment of $120 in July  2023  

 To be eligible for this benefit students must meet all the following criteria:  o Reported as attending an in-person National School Lunch or Breakfast  program, this will include children who attend a CEP or Provision 2 or 3  school, at the end of the 2022 – 2023 school year AND 

o Are approved to receive free or reduced meals at their school at the end of  the 2022 – 2023 school year  

Card Questions  

1. Will I receive a new P-EBT card if I previously had one?  

• Yes. Past P-EBT cards will not be re-used  

• Remember, if your student currently has active Food Assistance their P-EBT  benefits will be loaded onto the Bridge Card associated with that case  2. How do I activate my card?  

• Call the number on the back of the card - (888) 678-8914  

o First choice is language 

 1 for English  

 2 for Spanish  

 3 for Arabic  

o Second choice 

 Choose 1 for Food Stamps and Cash 

o Enter 16-digit card number from front of card

o Enter the birthdate of the student whose name is on the card o Enter “0000” (four zeroes) for the last four number of the social security  number when prompted. 

o Choose 4-digit Pin (any 4 numbers you choose) and enter 

o Enter your 4-digit Pin again to confirm, card is now active 

• Or visit www.ebtedge.com 

o This option will also allow you to verify deposits, see transactions and  check your balance quickly 

o On the left-hand side of the webpage click “Cardholder Login” o Next to “First time logging in” click “Register Here” 

o Enter required Information  

 User ID – You choose - User ID must be between 4-35 characters in  length and contain at least one alphabetical character 

 Password with Confirmation - The Password can be 6-8 characters  and must contain at least one upper case alphabetical character, one  lower case alphabetical character, and one number. Special characters  such as @, #, and $ can be used 

 First Name 

 Last Name 

 Email Address 

 Phone Number 

 Once the User ID and Password have been successfully created, the  application will redirect the cardholder to setup challenge questions  Select and answer challenge questions from the dropdown menu  At this point you will be prompted to link your card to your account,  click “Add Account” and follow prompts 

3. How do I use my P-EBT card? What can I buy? Where can I use my P-EBT  Card?  

• The P-EBT card is used the same way as a traditional EBT card or “Bridge  Card”  

• Please visit https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/... for more  information  

4. I lost my card. How do I get a replacement?  

• Contact customer service toll-free at (888) 678-8914. They are available 24  hours a day, 7 days a week  

• Your replacement card will be mailed within 3 to 5 business days  • You will not have to activate this card  

• The PIN you used on your old card will work with your new card  • Once you order a replacement card your old card will no longer work  5. I received a card for a student that is not in my home. What should I do?  • Mark the envelope as “Return to Sender - Not at this Address”  • Close securely and return 

Address Help  

1. Can I have my card sent somewhere else?  

• No. When a card is mailed, it will be mailed to the students Medicaid case  address or the address the school provided  

2. Can cards be sent to PO Boxes?  

• Yes, if the PO Box is the listed address for the student  

3. I set up mail forwarding with the Post Office. Will I receive my P-EBT card?  • No. The P-EBT card will NOT be forwarded  

• If the student is on Medicaid, make sure your address is updated with the  Department of Health and Human Services by contacting your caseworker or  update online at MiBridges 

• If the card was mailed to an address provided by the school, you must update  your address at the school and with the school lunch program  

• Once the address has been updated with your school you will need to contact  the P-EBT customer service call center, and they will work with you to have a  new card issued  

4. What should I do if I move to a new address?  

• Update your address at the school (both in the office and with food services)  and with MDHHS if your student has an active Food Assistance or Medicaid  case 

5. Is there a deadline to update my address with the school?  • There is no deadline to update address information with local schools  • Whenever there is a change in address your school should be notified as  soon as possible  

Reconsiderations  

1. Where do I get a Reconsideration Form?  

• The P-EBT Reconsideration Form is available at www.michigan.gov/pebt  2. When do I complete a Reconsideration Form?  

 A Reconsideration Form is completed if your child’s attendance type is  different than the attendance type the school reported AND  

 The absence is a COVID-19 related absence (school closures due to staffing  shortages do not qualify for P-EBT benefits) 

3. What do I need to complete the Reconsideration process?   A completed Reconsideration Form including:  

o Section 1 and 2 completed by parent or legal guardian  

o Section 3 “School Use Only” completed by school staff or 

o Verification letter from the school which includes:  

 All information from “School Use Only” section  

 Dates of COVID-19 related absences 

 Date of Free/Reduced Meal approval  

4. How do I submit the Reconsideration Form? 

 Email completed form and school verification (only if school does not  complete Section 3) to mdhhs-pebt@michigan.gov 

o Completed form and school verification (sent only if School does not  complete Section 3) must be together in one email OR 

o Mail completed form to: MDHHS/SPO PO Box 30800, SUITE 1405  Lansing MI 48909  

 Reconsiderations must be received by June 30, 2023 to be processed  5. What is a COVID-19 related absence?  

 School or State mandated absence or closure  

o School directs student to stay home for COVID-19 related instance o Stay at home mandate ordered by state due to COVID-19  

o School closures due to staffing shortages do not qualify for P-EBT  benefits  

 Parent Initiated absence  

o An absence initiated by the parent that is recognized and accepted by  school officials as COVID-19 related  

 A parent’s decision to keep their child home after a positive test or  possible exposure to COVID-19  

 A parent’s decision to keep their child home after exposure to COVID 19 at school in cases where the school does not direct the child to stay  home  

6. When will Reconsiderations be processed and paid?  

 Reconsiderations will be processed in the order they are received  Reconsideration benefits, if approved, will be paid during the next eligible  benefit issuance 

7. Is there a Deadline for Reconsiderations?  

 Yes, Reconsiderations must be received by June 30, 2023 to be processed    

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) does not  discriminate against any individual or group because of race, religion, age, national  origin, color, height, weight, marital status, genetic information, sex, sexual  orientation, gender identity or expression, political beliefs, or disability.