February 26, 2021 update: find the latest P-EBT information in this post.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, food security continues to be a top priority for many Kentucky families. Last school year, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) approved Pandemic-EBT to allow families of Kentucky students to receive money for groceries to replace meals missed at school due to distance learning during the pandemic.

The USDA has now approved Kentucky to provide Pandemic-EBT to students for August and September 2020. This round of benefits will be available to any Kentucky student that receives free lunches at school through the National School Lunch Program. Eligible students will receive benefits for school days spent distance learning in August and September due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Students will receive $5.86 per eligible school day in August and September. The total amount received will vary for each family. Students who participated in virtual learning or a hybrid model during the months of August and September are eligible for this benefit. Students attending in-person classes or traditional home-school are not eligible.

Eligible students will automatically receive a new EBT card in the mail with their benefit amount and are expected to arrive in the month of October or November. Each eligible student in the household will receive a separate card. Families do not need to reapply for this round of benefits. Please make sure your child’s address is up-to-date with your child’s school. 

Check out an FAQ document from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services and visit the Pandemic-EBT webpage for additional details. 

If you have questions about Pandemic-EBT, your student’s eligibility, or your student’s benefit amount, you can reach out to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. Please call toll free (888) 979-9949 for assistance. Additionally, the Family Support Call Service lines at (855) 306-8959 will be open to assist clients with Medicaid, SNAP, P-EBT, and other public assistance benefits 8 A.M. – 5 P.M. ET Monday through Friday and 9 A.M. – 2 P.M. ET on Saturdays.

Find the latest updates on the Pandemic-EBT benefit HERE.