Summer P-EBT Benefits in Louisiana to be Issued in Late Summer into Early Fall Months

Louisiana – The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), in collaboration with the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE), received federal approval on July 25, 2022, to expand the Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) program to cover the summer months for eligible K-12 students.

This is part of the USDA’s Summer P-EBT program, which provides food benefits to eligible children during the summer months.

Unlike the school year P-EBT program, all students in K-12 schools who receive free or reduced-price meals and are enrolled in school in May 2022 are eligible for summer P-EBT.

As schools and school districts submit eligibility information to DCFS, benefits for the Summer P-EBT program will begin to be issued in late summer and into the autumn months. The verification of eligible students who attended school in May 2022 is included in that eligibility information. As a result, most students will not benefit right away. Students who received P-EBT benefits in May 2022 will receive summer benefits immediately because their attendance in May 2022 has already been verified.

Each eligible child will receive a $391 payment for both June and July. The payment will be made in two installments, one of $195 and the other of $196.

Students who fall into one of the following categories are eligible:

• Receive free or reduced-price school meals through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP) or
• Attend a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) school, where all children receive free meals regardless of family income, as of May 2022.

Students who were previously denied free or reduced-price school meals but apply by July 29, 2022, and are approved, will be eligible for Summer P-EBT. Summer P-EBT benefits will be distributed to those who applied for free or reduced-price school meals by July 29, but there may be a delay.

Students who already receive free or reduced-price school meals or attend a CEP school do not need to take any action. DCFS will collaborate with school districts to collect eligibility information.

Follow this link for more information about the P-EBT program.