P-EBT

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pandemic ebt
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New Jersey received P-EBT approval for children under the age 6 enrolled in SNAP between September 2021 – June 2022 and for summer 2022.  In addition, summer 2022 P-EBT has been approved for students in grades K-12 in the 2021 – 2022 school year who were eligible for the National School Lunch Program.
 
P-EBT for September 2021 – June 2022 for children under the age of 6 in SNAP households will be added to the Families First card beginning on July 30, 2022.  A benefit of $42.02 per eligible child will be added. Payments will continue to be added for each eligible month in the following days, with all payments added by August 12, 2022.
 
Summer P-EBT benefits for children under the age of 6 are expected to be issued at the end of August and for school-age students starting in September and continuing into October.
P-EBT for eligible families will be added to your Families First Card or mailed to you starting at the end of July. Need more information? Visit the P-EBT section of www.NJSNAP.gov.

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Frequently Asked Questions
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PANDEMIC ELECTRONIC BENEFITS TRANSFER (P-EBT)
Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT) is a program to help you purchase food for your
child(ren) who were eligible for free or reduced price school meals at a school that participates in the
National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or School Breakfast Program (SBP). Summer P-EBT extends
benefits during the summer months following a school year during which there was a COVID-19 public
health emergency.
TO RECEIVE P-EBT BENEFITS FOR THE 2021-2022 SCHOOL YEAR, CHILD(REN) MUST BE:
 Under the age of six, and;
 Enrolled in SNAP during the approved months
TO RECEIVE P-EBT BENEFITS IN SUMMER 2022, CHILD(REN) MUST BE:
 Under the age of 6 in an active SNAP household, or;
 Eligible for free or reduced price school meals under National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or
School Breakfast Program (SBP) as a student in grades K-12 during the 2021-2022 school year, or;
 Determined newly eligible for free or reduced price school meals during the covered summer period
(not including incoming Kindergarten students in the 2022-2023 school year); or,
 Attending a school that participates in the Community Eligibility Provision.
WHEN DO I RECEIVE MY BENEFITS?
Children under six years old in SNAP households:
 Benefits of $42.02 per eligible child for the months of September 2021 – June 2022 were added to
your Families First EBT card beginning July 30, 2022, with payments added through August 12, 2022.
 Payments were in addition to the household’s regular SNAP payment and were added in multiple
payments for each eligible month. For example, September 2021 was added on July 30, October
2021 was added on July 31, etc., until all payments were added by August 12.
 Summer 2022 P-EBT of $391 per eligible child are expected to be added to your Families First EBT
card starting in September.
 Summer P-EBT benefits are a one-time amount to cover the entire Summer 2022 period.
School-Age (K-12) Children:
 Summer P-EBT benefits are approved for school-age children in grades K-12. At this time, there is no
approval for benefits for September 2021 – June 2022 for school-age children.
 Summer P-EBT benefits of $391 per eligible child will be added to your Families First card or mailed
starting September 2022. If you are not a SNAP recipient, you will get a new card in the mail even if
you received P-EBT in the past.
 Summer P-EBT benefits are a one-time amount to cover the entire Summer 2022 period.
HOW DO I USE MY CARD?
For most SNAP recipients, benefits will be added to your Families First card. If you are not a SNAP
recipient, a P-EBT card, similar to a bank card with a PIN, will be mailed to you.
To use your P-EBT benefits, you must first activate your card by calling 1-800-997-3333.
You can use your P-EBT card at any store that accepts SNAP. Look for the SNAP EBT image or visit the
Using Your Benefits page on www.NJSNAP.gov for a list of stores. P-EBT benefits can be used to
purchase food items. However, prepared foods, such as a rotisserie chicken or hot meals, cannot be
purchased with these benefits.
WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT P-EBT AND MY CARD?
To use your P-EBT benefits, you must first activate your card by calling 1-800-997-3333.
 If you forgot your PIN, you can change it or report card issues online at www.NJFamiliesFirst.com, on
the ConnectEBT app or by calling New Jersey EBT Customer Service at 1-800-997-3333.
 If you need a replacement card, contact your county board of social services. A list with phone
numbers and addresses can be found on www.NJSNAP.gov.
 If you are not interested in using the P-EBT benefits, please destroy your card or mail it to the
address on the back of the card.
 Your P-EBT benefits are non-transferrable, which means they cannot be used by another person.
HOW DO I FIND MY P-EBT BALANCE?
• Go to NJFamiliesFirst.com or download the ConnectEBT app in the Apple App or Google Play store to
create an account to view your current card balance and transaction history; or,
• Call New Jersey EBT Customer Service at 1-800-997-3333; or,
• Check your last store receipt.
For Other Questions, please visit:
 
https://www.nj.gov/humanservices/njsnap/emergency/pebt/