DESE Food and Nutrition Services

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DESE Food and Nutrition Services

Starting June 15, 2021 families that qualify for free or reduced price meals at school can once more apply for Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT) benefits to help cover food costs they experienced while their student was not doing in-seat learning due to the pandemic. However, the P-EBT 2020-2021 program is very different from last year’s program. Please review the P-EBT Letter to Families. Here are highlights of those changes:

  • 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.

  • A child may be eligible for P-EBT only if the school was closed, not doing in-seat learning, or had reduced attendance or hours at least five school days in a row due to COVID-19 (in most cases, this includes hybrid modes of learning).

  • P-EBT benefits are available for the months of September 2020 through May 2021.

  • The P-EBT benefit is based on the school’s report of how much of the month was not in-seat learning. If most of the school’s month was not in-seat learning, the monthly P-EBT benefit amount is $129.58. If only some of the school’s month was not in-seat learning, the monthly P-EBT benefit amount is $77.75.

  • Families download the P-EBT application (aplicación en Español)

  • Families must directly email or mail the P-EBT application to the Family Support Division address listed on the application by July 31, 2021.

  • Families must not submit the application to the school district.

  • Each eligible student will get an EBT card in his or her name with the lump sum P-EBT benefit amount for the 2020-2021 school year. Ineligible families will receive a denial letter.

The application can be found on the https://mydss.mo.gov/ website. Please read the P-EBT FAQs.

If you have questions on how to apply for the P-EBT benefit, contact DSS through the online chat feature at mydss.mo.gov or call 855-373-4636.