Eligible Louisiana Children to Receive 3rd Round of Pandemic EBT Benefits

Published February 16, 2022

Louisiana – Benefits to be issued to eligible students who were on an approved virtual schedule or who missed days due to COVID-19

The USDA Food and Nutrition Service has approved the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) to distribute a third round of Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) benefits to eligible students.

P-EBT benefits will begin to be distributed to qualifying households with children in grades K-12 in April and May. (including pre-K students in public and some private schools).

Students are eligible for P-EBT if they meet the following criteria:

• They would normally receive free or reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program, BUT
• They haven’t been receiving those meals during the 2021-22 school year because they are on a fully virtual schedule or missed days of school due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the second round of P-EBT, Louisiana distributed more than $811.4 million in benefits to nearly 1 million students and children. These benefits covered meals missed during the 2020-21 school year as a result of school closures, summer closures, and child care center closures.

Schools Determine Eligibility

There is no application process for P-EBT for parents. Schools will report to DCFS which students meet the eligibility criteria. This year, benefits are calculated differently. Students are eligible if they are on an approved fully virtual learning schedule or have missed school days due to COVID-19, as determined by the school or district COVID-19 protocol. DCFS will then mail P-EBT benefits to each eligible student at the mailing address provided by their school on a Louisiana Purchase EBT card.

Students on an approved fully virtual learning schedule would be eligible for $127.80 per month. Students who miss school days may receive between $21.30 and $127.80 per month, depending on the number of approved absences due to COVID-19.

P-EBT benefit levels:

• Eligible students in approved FULLY VIRTUAL learning situations: $127.80 per month

Eligible students in APPROVED QUARANTINE DUE TO COVID-19 for:

• 1-5 school days in a month: $21.30 per month
• 6-15 school days in a month: $71 per month
• 16 school days or more in a month: $127.80

Using P-EBT does NOT impact your or your student’s immigration status. The public charge rule does not apply to P-EBT funds.

• Families who received P-EBT for the 2020-21 school year or summer P-EBT: The benefits for this year will be issued on the same card.
• Families who did not previously receive P-EBT: The benefits for this year will be issued on a new card in the student’s name.
• Families who receive SNAP: P-EBT benefits will be issued on a separate EBT card in each eligible child’s name, not on the regular SNAP EBT card.
• Student ID or Activation Number Needed: The child’s student ID or activation number will be used in place of their Social Security Number to activate the P-EBT card. Parents who do not have their child’s student ID or activation number should contact their child’s school.
• KEEP YOUR P-EBT CARD: All P-EBT benefits for each eligible child for the 2021-22 school year, and any potential future benefits, will be issued on the same card per child. If the card is lost, stolen, or damaged, a new one can be requested through the P-EBT Parent Portal, by calling the EBT customer service line at 1-888-997-1117 or through the LifeInCheck EBT mobile app.

Benefits will be distributed to eligible students as soon as DCFS receives information from each school.

Receiving P-EBT benefits has no effect on a student’s or family’s immigration status because P-EBT funds are not subject to the public charge rule.

P-EBT benefits can be used to buy SNAP-eligible food at stores that accept EBT cards. The benefits are non-transferable and are valid for 9 months from the issue date or the last purchase.

Visit www.pebt-la.org for more information on P-EBT eligibility and how to use P-EBT benefits.

Follow this link to report a typo or other issue.