Important Information
about Your Child’s School Meals
If a child in your household usually attends a school building, is in preschool through 12th grade, and is eligible for free or reduced-price meals at school through the National School Lunch or School Breakfast Program, they may be eligible for the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program if:
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The school has been operating with reduced attendance or hours (for example, with a hybrid schedule) for at least 5 consecutive days OR
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The school has been fully remote learning for at least 5 consecutive days OR
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Your child has been quarantined for 5 consecutive days or more due to COVID-19
How much will my child receive?
The benefit amount is $5.86 per child for each
day the child did not receive a free or reduced
priced meal at the school due to closure, reduced attendance or hours, beginning in October 2020.
The benefits may change month to month, depending on how many days your child was remote learning or did not have access to breakfast or lunch at school.
When will we receive our benefits?
Benefits will be distributed on a monthly basis from February 2021 through August 2021.
How can we use the benefits?
P-EBT benefits can be used to buy food items at grocery stores and other retailers that accept the Ohio Direction Card (also referred to as an EBT card).
How will we receive the benefits?
If the child is a current SNAP recipient:
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» The P-EBT benefits may be added to the account on which the child is active.
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» If the child was unable to be matched to an active SNAP account, you will be sent an P-EBT card in the child’s name.
If the child is not a current SNAP recipient:
» By mid-February, you should receive a preloaded P-EBT card in the mail.
» The card will be in the child’s name, not the parent or guardian’s name.
» Instructions on how to activate the card will be included.
Families that receive a new P-EBT card MUST keep the card in order to continue to receive their monthly benefit. The benefit will be issued on the card monthly.
Ohio is approved to operate Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT). Administered by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, the P-EBT program provides additional monetary assistance to households with children eligible for free or reduced-price meals as a result of the ordered school-building closure.
Please share Ohio’s P-EBT flyer with households of children eligible for free or reduced-price meals. Available in
English,
Spanish and
Somali translations, the flyer provides information about the program and benefits to eligible families and students. Please share with families the following information along with the flyer. If the child is a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipient, the P-EBT benefits may have been added to the account on which the child is active. If the child was unable to be matched to his or her active SNAP account or is not a SNAP recipient, the households will receive a preloaded P-EBT card in the mail by mid-June.
If you have questions, contact the Office of Integrated Student Supports by phone at 614-466-2945 or 1-800-808-6325 or email at child.nutrition@education.ohio.gov.