Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer Program (P-EBT)

Michigan has become the first state in the country to gain federal approval of a program that will provide nutritious food to children who were affected by school closings due to COVID-19.
 
The Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer Program (P-EBT) provides temporary funding to address emergency food needs and avert financial hardship for families affected by the pandemic.

• Families not currently receiving food assistance benefits will receive an EBT card in the mail by mid-May.
• Those already receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will see benefits added to their card.

Families can use your pre-loaded EBT card at any retailer that accepts SNAP EBT benefits. Visit the SNAP Retailers website for a list of retailers.

The food assistance benefits will go to Michigan families with students ages 5-18 who are enrolled in the Michigan Department of Education program for students eligible for free or reduced-price school meals prior to the unanticipated school closure.

If your school participates in the Community Eligibility Provision, all students are eligible for free meals and qualify for P-EBT benefits.

Families will see a combined benefit for March and April of $193.80 per eligible student. Benefits will be loaded to your family’s EBT card by mid-May. Additionally, the combined benefit for May and June will be $182.40 per eligible student, which will be loaded on the card at a later date.

Please know, we have all data on file and there is no need to submit a new application at this time.

For more information on the P-EBT program, visit michigan.gov. If you have any questions, please call SNAP Offices at 1-888-678-8914.
 

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Texting hotline available to find the nearest Unanticipated School Closure SFSP site

• No Kid Hungry and MDE have launched a texting hotline to let families know about emergency food distribution sites in their neighborhoods. The Meet Up and Eat Up map will continue to be active, this is another method to find sites.
• Parents & caregivers can text the word “FOOD” or “COMIDA” to 877-877, enter in a full address or zip code to find the nearest sites.