The Georgia Division of Family & Children Services (DFCS) in partnership with the Georgia Department of Education (DOE) has been approved to operate the new Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program. This program provides extra help to families of more than 1.1M children who normally would receive free or reduced school lunch. Families will receive a one-time allotment of $256.50 in total P-EBT benefits per child.
Families who are currently receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly Food Stamps) do not need to apply for P-EBT benefits. Eligible SNAP recipients will receive a P-EBT benefit preloaded on their existing Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card. The program is also available to families not currently receiving SNAP but approved for the free or reduced school lunch program. These families will need to submit a formal application to receive P-EBT benefits. Once the application is approved, an EBT card will be mailed to the family within three (3) to four (4) weeks. The family will receive information with their P-EBT card in the mail explaining how to activate and use their P-EBT card.
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Other Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding the P-EBT program:
1. Does legal status of the child affect eligibility for P-EBT? Will school aged children who are undocumented non-citizens enrolled in a free/reduced school lunch program receive the P-EBT benefits?
All children who would receive free or reduced-price meals, if not for their school closure due to COVID-19, are eligible to receive P-EBT. The Georgia Division of Family & Children Services (DFCS) is utilizing data as of May 2020 from Georgia DOE to determine a child’s eligibility for P-EBT and enrollment in the school lunch program.
2. How and when will I get my P-EBT benefits?
There are two categories of people who will receive benefits:
- Families currently receiving SNAP benefits will receive a P-EBT benefit on their existing EBT card.
- Families not currently receiving SNAP benefits will have to apply and be approved to receive P-EBT benefits. Families will be mailed a P-EBT card with preloaded benefits within three (3) to four (4) weeks. The family will receive information with their P-EBT card in the mail explaining how to activate and use their P-EBT card.
3. How will you know where to send my P-EBT benefits?
Families not currently receiving SNAP benefits may apply and be approved to receive P-EBT benefits. Families will be mailed a P-EBT card with preloaded benefits within three (3) to four (4) weeks. The family will receive information with their P-EBT card in the mail explaining how to activate and use their P-EBT card.
For those families not currently receiving SNAP benefits, a P-EBT card will be sent to the address listed on the application.
4. How much will I get in P-EBT benefits?
Families will receive approximately $256.50 in total P-EBT benefits per child based on the number of school closure days between March 2020 through May 2020. Georgia DFCS was approved to issue $5.70 per day for the 45 days the child missed school in Georgia. All children will receive the same amount.
Applications are available through Sept. 25! Visit https://dfcs.georgia.gov/pandemic-electronic-benefit-transfer for more info and to apply.
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