Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer Program (P-EBT)
Dear Parents/Guardians of NYC Public School Students,
We are writing to make you aware that if you are a parent or guardian of a child who was enrolled in NYC Public Schools (NYCPS) in the 2021-2022 school year, Summer 2022 or Summer 2023, you are eligible for a food benefit card that you may not yet have accessed.
Parents/guardians of children who were enrolled in NYCPS in the 2021-2022 school year, Summer 2022 and Summer 2023 should have received a P-EBT food benefit card. These cards were issued to parents/guardians between May 2023 and December 2023 on a rolling basis.
The Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer Program (P-EBT) is a Federal program to provide food benefits to children who miss the opportunity to receive school meals due to pandemic-related school closures. These benefits take the form of funds on electronic benefit transfer (EBT cards) which can be used in the same manner as SNAP (food stamp) cards. While this is not a NYCPS program, we wanted to make you aware, as all children enrolled in NYCPS schools in those time periods are eligible.
At this time, many parents/guardians have not yet utilized these benefits, with millions of dollars currently unspent. These dollars can still be spent on food, and the first of these benefits may be expiring soon. Parents/guardians should call the benefits helpline (listed on the back of this letter) to determine their outstanding balance.
Benefits were automatically issued to families of all eligible students. For students whose households receive SNAP, Temporary Assistance, or Medicaid benefits, P-EBT benefits were loaded to those household accounts. For all other students, new cards have been issued to each student specifically for P-EBT benefits and mailed directly to students’ home addresses. Benefits were issued between May 2023 and December 2023 on a rolling basis.
If you have received the card, but do not know how to use it, please see more detailed directions on the back of this letter. If you did not receive a card but were a parent of a NYCPS student at those times, or lost your card and need to order a replacement card, please also follow the directions on the back.
David C. Banks Chancellor
Eric AdamsMayor
schools.nyc.gov
This is not a NYCPS initiative, so if you have more questions, please utilize the resources below this letter to find more information.
Thank you,
Emma Vadehra, Deputy Chancellor for Operations and Finance
Kenita Lloyd, Deputy Chancellor for Family and Community Engagement and External Affairs
The following resources are available to you for additional support:
P-EBT Food Benefits Helpline
If a family has questions, they may call the P-EBT food benefits Helpline at 1-833-452-0096.
To order a replacement card
Families can order a replacement P-EBT Food Benefit card by calling 1-888-328-6399.
Do P-EBT food benefits expire?
P-EBT food benefits will remain available and accessible on your EBT or P-EBT Food Benefit card for 274 days from the date they were issued.
You can check your family’s P-EBT food benefit balance by visiting connectebt.com or by calling 1-888-328-6399.
For more information on the program
Please visit bit.ly/P-EBTfood or use the QR code below:David C. BanksChancellorEric AdamsMayor
February 2024