Overview
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act H.R. 6201, includes a provision called “Pandemic EBT or P-EBT” which allows a set amount of benefits to be issued to children who usually receive free or reduced-price meals and children in childcare. The Department received approval to continue providing P-EBT for families through summer 2023. The Summer P-EBT benefit is $120 per child, with the full payment slated to be issued on July 25, 2023.
School-aged Children
School-aged children are eligible for Summer P-EBT if they:
are eligible to receive free or reduced-price school meals under the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or
are newly eligible for free or reduced meals
A child who is newly eligible for P-EBT as part of the June file sent by DESE
A child enrolled in the 2022-2023 school year who becomes eligible during the covered summer period, defined as 6/25/2023 – 8/1/2023 via the direct certification process or through completion of a paper application at their local school district.
Children that become eligible after the July 25th issuance will be processed as a late file and will be issued Summer P-EBT benefits in September.
Important |
Children who have received P-EBT benefits but have subsequently moved out of Massachusetts are ineligible to receive Summer P-EBT benefits. Clients with SNAP cases that did not receive expedited benefits at application that were authorized for ongoing benefits Active at $0 and remain Active at $0 during the entire summer period are also ineligible for Summer P-EBT benefits. |
Children Aged 0-5
Children aged 0-5 are not eligible for Summer 2023 P-EBT benefits.
Benefit Issuance
Summer P-EBT benefits will be paid on current EBT and P-EBT cards for existing DTA and non-DTA households. Newly eligible DTA households will have benefits paid on their current EBT card. Newly eligible non-DTA households will have benefits paid on a new P-EBT card.
Summer P-EBT Payment Schedule
The total Summer P-EBT benefit amount is $120. School-aged children will receive one payment of $120 issued on July 25, 2023.
Summer P-EBT Payment Schedule for Late Eligibility
Children that become eligible after the July 25 issuance will be processed as a late file and will be issued the full Summer P-EBT benefits of $120 in September.
Summer Meals
In addition to Summer P-EBT benefits, the Summer Food Service Program will continue to provide free meals to children aged 18 and under when school is not in session. The program is located in eligible areas throughout the state, and the meals are often provided in conjunction with educational and recreational activities.
You can refer clients to meals sites by visiting projectbread.org/summereats. Clients may also call the Project Bread FoodSource Hotline at 1-800-645-8333 for information on meal sites. Staff must not direct clients to contact Project Bread with questions about their P-EBT eligibility.
Communications
BEACON will add batch narratives to P-EBT recipients for each summer issuance.
All P-EBT recipients with an available phone number who have either Opted-In or Requested Text Messages will receive a text message regarding the summer issuances.
An alert and a banner will be displayed on DTA Connect Mobile App and DTAConnect.com portal respectively starting the 25th of the month up until the last calendar day of the same month.
Clients may find additional information regarding P-EBT notices, text messages, flyers and other outreach materials at MAp-ebt.org.
P-EBT Client Support
DTA and non-DTA Households are advised to contact the DTA Assistance Line for any questions related to P-EBT. P-EBT calls are not to be directed to Project Bread, and clients are not to be directed to their local TAO.
If a client calls in to discuss their P-EBT case, you can review P-EBT information in BEACON for DTA and Non-DTA clients. You can view case details, update case information, view benefit history, write a narrative, view P-EBT client communications, and submit client requests for restoration of expunged P-EBT benefits (if applicable).
Last Update: July 20, 2023