New York P-EBT for Summer 2021

The USDA would extend Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) benefits through summer. That’s great news for all parents who have kids participating in the free or reduced school lunch program or who have children under 6 SNAP benefits! The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, signed by President Biden on March 11, 2021, has extended the Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT) food assistance program through Summer 2021. In this post, we are going to explain how the New York P-EBT for Summer 2021 is going to work and when cards will be reloaded.

First, we will explain in detail what the New York P-EBT program is about.

Next, we will cover who is eligible for the program and how many rounds of P-EBT benefits have been issued so far.

Additionally, we will explain the New York Summer 2021 P-EBT extension, who is eligible, and how much you can expect in benefits.

Lastly, we will cover how you can contact New York P-EBT customer service and how to speak to a live person.

Table of Contents:

What is New York P-EBT Program?
Who is Eligible for P-EBT in New York
New York P-EBT for Summer 2021
When will Summer 2021 P-EBT be Loaded?
New York P-EBT Program FAQs

What is New York P-EBT Program?

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 authorized the payment of P-EBT food benefits to households with children who would
have received free school lunches under the National School Lunch Act if schools had not closed.

These temporary food benefits are to help cover the cost of meals children would have received at school.

The program goes by the name Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT).

Benefits are pre-loaded funds on P-EBT cards to eligible children and can be used exclusively for food purchases.

Pandemic EBT was originally scheduled to expire on September 30, 2020.

However, on October 1, 2020, the program was extended for an additional year – through September 30, 2021.

Additionally, under the American Rescue plan signed into law in March 2021, the P-EBT program was further extended through the end of the pandemic.

Furthermore, the program’s eligibility was expanded to include children under 6 in SNAP households.

Also, on January 22, in support of President Biden’s call to action on hunger, USDA announced that it is increasing the P-EBT benefit by approximately 15 percent.

This was aimed at providing more money for low-income families and millions of children missing meals due to school and child care closures.

Who is Eligible for P-EBT in New York?

Eligibility for P-EBT benefits in NY is broken down into two categories:

NYC Residents
New York State (Upstate NY) Residents

NYC P-EBT Eligibility

Here is the breakdown of who is eligible for the P-EBT program so far:

All children who would have received free or reduced-price school lunches for the days their school was closed due to
COVID-19 are eligible to receive P-EBT food benefits, such as:
Children attending NYC public schools who receive free or reduced-price school lunches.
Children who attend private, parochial, and charter schools and who received free school lunches.
3- & 4-year-old children attending Universal Pre-K and who received free school lunches.
Young adults ages 19-21 who are still in school and who received free
school lunches.
Foster children who received free school lunches.
Any children above with any or no current immigration status.

New York State Eligibility

Here is the breakdown of who is eligible for the P-EBT program so far:

Children who receive free school lunches through the National School Lunch Program are eligible for P-EBT food benefits if their school has been operating with reduced in-person attendance due to COVID-19 during the 2020-21 school year.

This includes children who attend Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) schools and any private, prekindergarten, parochial and charter schools that participate in the National School Lunch Program.

If you are unsure of your child’s participation or eligibility for the National School Lunch Program, please contact your child/children’s school or school district.

2021 Summer P-EBT

Available to all children enrolled in the National School Lunch Program
Includes Children under 6 years of age and residing in a SNAP household

This extension was part of the American Rescue Plan, signed into law on March 11, 2021.

According to this legislation, children that are enrolled in the National School Lunch Program or are under 6 years of age and residing in a SNAP household will receive P-EBT over summer 2021 as well.

P-EBT Extension – Summer 2021

As part of the American Rescue Plan, signed into law on March 11, 2021, by President Biden, children that are enrolled in the National School Lunch Program or are under 6 years of age and residing in a SNAP household will receive P-EBT over the summer as well.

The P-EBT program helps families with eligible children whose access to free or reduced-price meals at school or other food assistance has been impacted by COVID-19.

The summer P-EBT is an extension of benefits for the 2020-2021 school year.

Expanding P-EBT benefits through summer could impact more than 2.3 million kids in the state of New York and bring as much as $874.3 million in benefits to families.

Eligible children will receive a one-time payment of $375 to cover the entire summer period of June through August 2021.

Why is the USDA extending P-EBT Through Summer 2021?

The reason is that kids who get free lunch at school struggle during the summer.

Furthermore, the summer months have traditionally been hard on children who depend on free or low-cost school meals.

According to the Food Research and Action Center, in July 2019, just 1 in 7 children who ate at little or no cost during the school year was getting a subsidized school lunch at the height of summer.

Who is eligible for Summer 2021 P-EBT?

Young children, ages 0-6, who are living in a household receiving SNAP benefits.
Students in the Free & Reduced-Price Meal program and whose school is physically closed during the 20-21 school year.

How can my family receive Summer 2021 P-EBT?

Here’s how you can prepare to receive P-EBT benefits for the summer of 2021:

1 – Enroll your children in SNAP Benefits.

2 – Ensure your children have an up-to-date Free & Reduced-Price Meal application.

Check with your school district if you are not sure.

3 – If your child is already enrolled in their school meal program, or you previously received P-EBT benefits, do this:

Make sure their school has the correct mailing address on file. Check with your school district if you are not sure.

When will Summer 2021 P-EBT be Loaded?

The federal government also authorized PEBT payments to families of school-age children for the summer months as well as a benefit for some families with children in child-care programs.

However, the state of NY has not announced when the summer benefits will be distributed.

We will update this article as soon as the dates are announced for summer P-EBT benefits.

New York P-EBT Program FAQs

Here are the most frequently asked questions about the New York P-EBT program:

Does the legal and/or immigration status of the child affect eligibility for P-EBT?

Any child that meets eligibility requirements as identified above will be eligible for P-EBT benefits, regardless of their legal or immigration status.

Receiving P-EBT food assistance does not impact your immigration status and will not impact a future immigration application you may file.

Are there other food benefits or programs besides P-EBT food benefits that can help my family?

Yes. If your family does not already receive New York SNAP benefits, you can see if you are eligible for and apply for SNAP.

To apply for SNAP in NY, visit www.mybenefits.ny.gov.

Also, you can contact a local food pantry for help in getting food assistance immediately.

To locate a food pantry in your area visit coronavirus.health.ny.gov/food-pantries.

Furthermore, to find a location where you can pick up free meals for your child/children:

Visit the USDA Meals for Kids Site Finder at www.fns.usda.gov/meals4kids
Text “Food” or “Comida” to 877-877
You can call the USDA National Hunger Hotline at 1-866-3-HUNGRY or 1-877-8-HAMBRE (Spanish)
Also, call 211 for New York State Residents
Call 311 if you live in New York City

How do I Contact New York P-EBT Customer Service?

If you have questions about P-EBT benefits, you may call the P-EBT Food Benefits Helpline.

You can reach them at 1-833-452-0096.

Alternatively, you can fill out this form with your questions.

Where can I learn more about P-EBT benefits?

First, anyone with P-EBT questions can call the P-EBT helpline at 1-833-452-0096.

Second, you can visit the New York State P-EBT FAQs page here.

What if I do not want P-EBT benefits?

If families do not wish to receive P-EBT benefits for their children, they should destroy the P-EBT card.

If they change their mind, they may call their state’s SNAP agency to request a replacement card at any time prior to the expiration of the benefits.

P-EBT benefits expire 365 days after the benefits are issued.

My Family is not currently getting SNAP. Will my children Qualify for P-EBT?

Yes. The P-EBT program will also be available to families who are not currently receiving SNAP but were receiving free or reduced school lunch.

The family will receive information with their P-EBT card in the mail explaining how to activate and use their P-EBT card.

Does P-EBT replace other COVID-19 Benefits?

No. P-EBT benefits are in addition to other services and benefits families may be currently receiving due to COVID-19.

Families can continue utilizing local school and community meal sites for free, nutritious meals for children.

Does the P-EBT program cost anything?

There is no cost to families to participate in the P-EBT program.

The program is entirely federally funded.

New York state does not provide any of the funds for P-EBT benefits but does incur some modest costs to operate the program.