Questions about P-EBT? Call the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services hotline: 1-866-244-0071

Ohio has been approved to issue Summer P-EBT benefits to eligible K-12 students who normally qualify for free or reduced price school meals for summer 2023. Each eligible child will receive one payment of $120, which will be issued on P-EBT cards by the end of June. To learn more, visit our FAQs or view more information from ODJFS. Kids under 6 in SNAP households will not be eligible for this one-time Summer P-EBT benefit in 2023. Virtual and Homeschool students will not be eligible for this one-time Summer P-EBT benefit; however, for school year 2022-23, children currently enrolled in virtual schools or homeschooled can meet certain eligibility requirements to qualify for P-EBT benefits for the school year. View FAQs from ODJFS and complete the application for Virtual and/or Homeschool students by May 31, 2023.

P-EBT for K-12 Students and Kids Under 6 for School Year 2022-2023

Ohio was approved to issue retroactive P-EBT funds for kids under 6 participating in SNAP for school year 2022-23. For more information, visit our FAQs or view FAQs from ODJFS.

The Pandemic – Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT) Program will provide funds to buy food for kids in K-12 who normally qualify for free or reduced-price school meals when:

  • The child's school has been closed, operating with remote learning, opearting with reduced hours, or has at least one student sick with COVID-19 or quarantined for at least 5 consecutive days at some point during the school year, AND
  • The child did not receive free or reduced-price meals at school because the child was quarntined or ill due to COVID-19 or impacted by a school closure or schedule adjustment related to COVID-19.

Qualifying students will receive $8.18 for each day they do not receive free or reduced-price school meals. To learn more, visit our FAQs.

P-EBT for Kids Under 6 on SNAP for School Year 2022-2023

The Pandemic – Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT) Program will provide additional funds retroactively to buy food for kids who are under 6 in a SNAP household and were not eligible for school-year P-EBT through a K-12 school.

  • Each eligible child will receive up to $122 for August 2022 through December 2022 by the end of June 2022, depending on whether they were eligible every month.
  • Benefits for eligible children for January through May 2023 will be issued after data becomes available.
  • Benefits will be issued directly on existing Ohio Direction Cards.
  • To learn more, visit our FAQs.

Will I get P-EBT?

To be eligible for P-EBT funds for Summer 2022, preschool/pre-K through 12th grade students must have:

  • Received free or reduced-price meals under the National School Lunch Program OR
  • Attended a school where every student gets free meals under the Community Eligibility Option

To be eligible for P-EBT funds for Summer 2022 and retroactively for School Year 2021-22, children under 6 must:

  • Be participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, or food assistance) AND
  • Not attend a school that operates the National School Lunch Program

If you're not sure whether your child's school participates in the National School Lunch Program, you can search this database to check.

If you think your family qualifies for P-EBT for Summer 2022 or all or part of School Year 2021-22, but you have not received your P-EBT funds by the end of July, call ODJFS at 1-866-244-0071 or email Family_Assistance_Inquiries@jfs.ohio.gov.

How do I get P-EBT?

I have a K-12 student and I am NOT enrolled in SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or food stamps)

  • Benefits will be issued to your existing P-EBT card. If you have never received P-EBT before, you will be issued a new card.
  • You do NOT need to apply for P-EBT.
  • You MUST keep your card(s). Funds will be added to the same card(s).

I have a K-12 student and I am enrolled in SNAP (food stamps)

  • Most of the time, funds will be added to the card you already have. In some cases, you may instead get benefits issued to a P-EBT card you have already received for one or more children in your household.
  • You do NOT need to apply for P-EBT.
  • Use your funds the same way you use your SNAP benefits.

I have a child that was not previously receiving P-EBT through school-based eligibility and I am enrolled in SNAP (food stamps)

  • Funds will be added to the card you already have.
  • You do NOT need to apply for P-EBT.
  • Use your funds the same way you use your SNAP benefits.

    • I have a child that was not previously receiving P-EBT and I am NOT enrolled in SNAP (food stamps)

    • Watch the mail for a P-EBT card that will be mailed to you.
    • You do NOT need to apply for P-EBT.
    • You MUST keep your card(s); funds may be added at a later date.
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