P-EBT: Feeding Children Who are Learning Virtually

Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) is back again in South Carolina! This benefit may be able to help your family pay for higher grocery bills due to COVID-19.

What is P-EBT?

Pandemic EBT is a federal program that helps feed children who may not be attending school in-person due to COVID-19. The SC Department of Education (SC DE) and the SC Department of Social Services (SC DSS) host the P-EBT program. The program is issued automatically by mail to the address listed on file with your school unless you notify SC DSS.

What If Our Address Has Changed?

You can verify your address with SC DSS HERE. SC DSS requests households with potentially eligible students to validate their addresses in the portal by March 19, 2021. Your submission will only update this address specifically for the P-EBT program. You will still need to update your address with the school and with your SNAP caseworker, if applicable.

Who Is Eligible For P-EBT?

To be eligible for P-EBT, your child or children must meet EACH of the following criteria:

• Your child is enrolled in a free and reduced-price school meals program OR attending a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) school. (Wondering if your child’s school is a CEP school? There are 527 in South Carolina. Check out the list HERE.)
• Your child is attending a school that had to change their attendance structure due to COVID-19.
• Your child is attending school virtually, either full-time or on a hybrid schedule.

When Will We Get The P-EBT Benefits?

P-EBT benefits will be issued to South Carolina families for the 2020-2021 school year on a staggered schedule. Benefits from September 2020 to December 2020 will be issued by the end of April 2021. Additional benefits for the remainder of the year will be added to the cards you have in a staggered schedule through July. If you haven’t received your P-EBT card by the end of April, reach out to SC DSS.

What If We Already Have SNAP?

If you already have SNAP benefits, you will still be issued a specific P-EBT card.

How Long Do We Have to Use P-EBT Benefits?

You have a full year from the date of issuance to use your P-EBT benefits. If you receive benefits in April 2021, be sure to use them all before April 2022. If you received this program’s benefits on a card last year and haven’t used them, please use those benefits before they expire.

What If We Got P-EBT Benefits Last Year?

If you received P-EBT benefits last year, you will receive a new card for this year’s benefits. You can use those benefits for a full year after they are issued. If you received the benefits in May 2020, please use them all before May 2021.

What If I Have More Than One Child?

SC DSS will send a different card for each eligible child in your household. If you have three eligible children, you will receive three separate cards.

Where Can I Learn More?

You can learn more from the SC Department of Social Services in their P-EBT fact sheet HERE. You can also learn more about SNAP and how to apply HERE.