The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration and the Indiana Department of Education sent “Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer” benefits to families whose children receive free or reduced-cost meals at school. These benefits are to reimburse the families of about 600,000 Indiana children for the cost of meals that their children were unable to receive due to COVID- 19 school closures.
P-EBT cards arrived in the mail in a white envelope addressed to the student and several local parents indicated that they almost threw the envelope away, believing it to be junk mail. Some families are hesitant to use the cards, feeling that they are not needed in their family situation. While giving the benefits card to another person is not lawful, many local food pantries have asked for families to consider using it for their groceries and donating excess or their typical food budget money to a local food pantry.
Free & Reduced Lunch Reimbursement
If you qualify and your family does not currently receive SNAP, you were to receive an electronic benefits transfer card in the mail by the end of May, along with instructions on how to activate and use the card. This is not a benefit that you have to apply for, it was automatically sent or applied to your existing SNAP benefits. The P-EBT card functions just like a debit card and can be used at any store that accepts SNAP, but you will not be able to use the card for cash withdrawals at ATM machines.
Pandemic EBT for Indianapolis Families
“For P-EBT, each household will receive an amount equal to the value of the daily allotment for breakfast and lunch multiplied by the average number of school days missed since school was cancelled. Families will receive this amount for each eligible child in the household for the number of days the child was eligible for free and reduced lunch. The value of the school meals per day is equal to the federal reimbursement rate for breakfast and lunch at the free rate, which is $5.70, as specified by the United States Department of Agriculture. (in.gov)”
Related: On June 3rd, it was announced that SNAP recipients now have the ability to use Hoosier Works EBT cards to purchase groceries online for pickup or delivery at Walmart and through Amazon. This change is automatic and no application is necessary. Delivery fees may not be paid for using SNAP benefits.
11 thoughts on “Pandemic EBT Program Sent $319 to IPS Students and Other Qualifying Families”
I need help from some one, I’m in michigan city Indiana and had a change of address and they sent my child card back I need food (help), how do i get that card sent to the right address please direct!
Thanks, have a bless day
I was told on July 6th I have my card in 10 days.i can’t get no one to give me an anwser where is my P EBT card all I want is an anwser I have 3 boys in school only got 1 card for 319.00 so please give me some kind of info..
How to replace a lost p ebt card and not knowing the numbers I need to have it replaced.
So what’s the current situation for the p-ebt benefits and recipients? Will there be another payment for the second time or no ? And how do we know if were getting this time it not?
So now that some states have exstended lent will new cards be issued or your current card will be reloaded.
Following .. as this is what I am wondering and if and when we will receive it and if we’re eligible for the second time
I never Received a card
Ours just came yesterday. Luckily we don’t need it.
My IPS students only got $180
Your only receiving money for time your child was not at school due to closures for Covid so if your school is open every day then you do not get benefits if it’s closed three weeks you’ll receive the 3 weeks on the deposit date you receive the amount the school was entitled to but didn’t get because they shut down I hope that helps If you have questions call your local branch and they should be able to direct you to someone who can help
I have 2 kids in school online. One does zoom everyday 5th grade and gets $139. she gets free lunch which it doesn’t equal to $319. last time on her card she got $129 when i moved from Evansville to Indianapolis. My other child is in the 10th grade had gotten $202. but not the $319 she does online school. she received $129 just like her sister once she moved here in dec 30. both im not sure why they get less when they get free lunch as well but do online work. So are they suppose to get $319?