Pandemic EBT Emergency School Meals Program

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Pandemic EBT Emergency School Meals Program
P-EBT process

What is P-EBT?

Due to COVID-19 school closures, families enrolled in the Olympia School District may be eligible to get help with food benefits. These food benefits are called Pandemic EBT Emergency School Meals Program or P-EBT.

 

Who can receive P-EBT?
Students enrolled in a K-12 school that offers a school lunch program during the normal school year AND


  • Is eligible for free or reduced-price school meals OR
  • Is attending a school where meals are free for all students such as a Provision 2 or Community Eligibility Provision School.

 

How do households qualify for P-EBT benefits?
Households can qualify for P-EBT benefits in three ways:


  • Directly Certified Basic Food and receiving free meals at school: no application required. DSHS will automatically issue households P-EBT benefits on their existing EBT card.
  • Directly Certified TANF, Foster, Migrant, Homeless or Medicaid: the household must apply for P-EBT.
  • Eligible for free and reduced-price meals: must apply for P-EBT.


Students not already approved to receive free or reduced-price school meals may complete a meal application any time before the end of the school year and be eligible for P-EBT benefits. School districts should process the meal applications for households.


  • Households currently eligible for free and reduced-price meals but not directly certified because they receive Basic Food benefits will need to apply for P-EBT.

 

How does a household apply for P-EBT benefits?

Households where eligible school-aged children primarily live can apply for P-EBT benefits by visiting Washingtonconnection.org or calling (877) 501-2233. The application must be completed by August 31, 2020 or before the start of the 2020-2021 school year—whichever is later. Once approved, an EBT card will be mailed to the household.


Households that already receive Basic Food benefits do not need to apply for P-EBT. These added benefits will automatically get added to your EBT card.


P-EBT is not subject to the public charge rule, so a family’s immigration status will not affect their eligibility for these benefits.

 


 

Related Documents/Forms:

 

  • OSD Free/Reduced Lunch Application (English, Spanish)
    • This form must be completed before taking the next step to apply for P-EBT.
    • Families also have the ability to fill out the Free/Reduced application through their SkywardFamily Access. Once submitted, it goes directly to our Child Nutrition Services Department for processing. Quick and easy!
  • Parent Flyer (EnglishSpanishVietnamese)
  • Frequently Asked Questions (EnglishSpanishVietnamese)

 

New OSD Free/Reduced Lunch Applications will be accepted through the close of business on Monday, June 29th, for families whose financial situation has changed during the pandemic.