Updated August 7, 2023
Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) has been one of the most vital supports for children and families throughout the last couple of years, providing grocery money to families who would have usually received free and reduced school meals.
We are excited to share that Kentucky has started distributing P-EBT benefits for certain populations. We do not know how every type of Pandemic EBT will be distributed yet, but we will be updating this page as the Kentucky Department for Community Based Services makes information available.
NOTE: Kentucky Youth Advocates does not administer P-EBT, and we can only answer general questions about the program. Please DO NOT send us any personal information about you or your child. If you need help with your specific P-EBT case, please contact the Cabinet for Health and Family Services at (855) 306-8959.
Regular Child Care
Child Care Pandemic EBT benefits will cover the months of September 2022 – May 11, 2023. To be eligible for Child Care Pandemic EBT benefits, the child must be a member of a household that was enrolled in SNAP between the months of September 2022 and May 11, 2023. Please note that your child will only receive P-EBT benefits for the months they were enrolled in SNAP.
These benefits were distributed to existing SNAP EBT cards the week of June 20th, 2023. Your child should have received $8.18 for every day they were eligible.
School Year 2022-2023 Pandemic EBT
Pandemic EBT benefits will cover COVID-19-related school absences during the period of September 1, 2022 – May 11, 2023. To be eligible for Pandemic EBT benefits, children must have been enrolled in a Kentucky school during the 2022-2023 school year and meet one of the following requirements:
- Students who are current SNAP recipients
- Students who attend a Community Eligibility Program (CEP) school
- Students who receive free or reduced lunch at school
These benefits will be distributed onto existing Pandemic or SNAP EBT cards. Eligible students will receive $8.18 for each day missed. The application period opens on August 7th, and families can apply on www.kypebt.ky.gov.
P-EBT will also be available to virtual and home school students this year. This application will open on September 4, and families will need to provide the student’s personal identifying information and household financial information.
Summer Pandemic EBT
Summer Pandemic EBT benefits will cover the summer period of June 1-August 31, 2023. To be eligible for Summer Pandemic EBT benefits, children must have been enrolled in a Kentucky school during the 2022-2023 school year and meet one of the following requirements:
- Students who are current SNAP recipients
- Students who attend a Community Eligibility Program (CEP) school
- Students who receive free or reduced lunch at school
Please note that you had to apply for free and reduced school meals by May 31st in order to be eligible for Summer P-EBT payments.
These benefits will be distributed onto existing Pandemic or SNAP EBT cards by the end of September. Families who are newly eligible for the program will have a P-EBT card sent to the address on file at their child’s school. Eligible children will receive $120.
Due to the federal Public Health Emergency ending on May 11, 2023, SNAP recipients under age six, homeschooled, and virtual students are not eligible for Summer EBT benefits.
Things to consider:
- There is an application for School Year 2022-2023 Pandemic-EBT benefits at www.kypebt.ky.gov. Please keep you and your child’s information safe and do not share personal information or fill out any applications that are not directly through the Department of Community Based Services.
- If you no longer have your P-EBT card or it is damaged, you can request a new card by calling (888) 979-9949 and it will be mailed within two weeks.
- If your address has changed and you need a new P-EBT card, you can call (855) 306-8959 to update your address and have a new card mailed to you.
- If you receive the wrong amount of Pandemic-EBT benefits, you can request a reconsideration by calling the Cabinet for Health and Family Services at (855) 306-8959. You will need to have the student’s full name, date of birth, and State Student ID (SSID) number when you call.
Is it a one time payment
So your saying if a family has 3 kids that for each month that is going to be covered for that child the $120 x9 (for 3 months) will be distributed all at one time in Aug? Let me get that cleared. I am a single mother and really depend on this to help my family a lot since we have struggled all summer with food.
I want to know is my kids are eligible for SNAP EBT
Hello my son goes to a CEP school and recieved PEBT last year but this summer he did not revieve anything for pebt when others have . Im not sure why
You all say snap recipients were to get there benefits in June. Well my children get snap and never got their payments. My EBT app shows there not even getting the summer ebt either.
When will kids over six get the pebt benefits for 2023?
Will the current P-EBT balance expire? Does it have to be used by a certain amount of time?
When are they starting to distribute the summer ebt
I receive snap and did not get pebt June 20th
am i reading this correctly those children who already get snap benefits receive a benefit of $8.18 per day for 130 days totaling about $1000.00 and those who do not receive snap got a lump some of 120.00 for the same amount of time.
It’s a blessing for me and countless other parents who generally don’t get food stsmp
But this says you have to receive snap in order to get these, which doesnt make sense at all to me.
Even for people who do get food stamps it’s a blessing. Every little bit counts.
If 2022-2023 was the child’s first year in school, will they automatically receive a card or do parents need to apply for benefits?
No one has got their payments.
When will my child get it
Do you have to fill out anything to recieve the summer PEBT this year
When will the p ebt be posted on pir cards? Thank you
Kentucky has to the end of October to hand out pebt stamps for the summer
It is a shame that joint 50/50 custody . All the benifiets are being sent to one household because they have food stamps when our home provides care half of the year for the children too ! What about the other parent !!!
Y hasn’t Kentucky kids haven’t got any Pebt. Yet like they said it almost middle of September and still nothing
Kentucky Youth Advocates does not administer P-EBT and we can only answer general questions about the program, which are included in this blog post. Please do not send us any personal information about you or your child. If you need help with your specific P-EBT case, please contact the Cabinet for Health and Family Services at (855) 306-8959.
Is Kentucky going to get any more for the year 2024 if so when will they start