P-EBT Extension Announced To Cover Food Costs Not Served In School Last Year

The Missouri Department of Social Services says a deadline has been extended for families to apply for Pandemic-Electronic Benefit Transfer, or P-EBT, benefits for families that needed to cover the extra cost of household food that they would have received otherwise by qualifying for reduced-price meals at school during the 2020-21 school year. The deadline extension is now August 20th.

A child may be eligible for P-EBT if the school was not doing in-seat learning or had reduced hours at least five school days in a row due to COVID-19. The P-EBT benefit amount is based on the school’s report of time that was not in-seat learning. If most of the month was not in-seat learning, the monthly P-EBT benefit is $129.58, if only some of the month was not in-seat learning, the monthly P-EBT benefit is $77.75.

All families must apply to get the P-EBT benefit, regardless of whether or not they receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)/Food Stamp benefits.

P-EBT benefits are available for the months of September 2020 through May 2021. Applications are available through the Missouri Department of Social Services website.

Each eligible student will get an EBT card in the student’s name with the lump sum P-EBT benefit amount for the school year. Ineligible families will receive a denial letter.

SNAP households with an eligible child under age six automatically get the P-EBT benefit added to the household’s existing EBT card. No application is necessary for P-EBT benefits for children under age six.