Pre-6 P-EBT 2022-2023: Food Benefits for Young Children in FoodShare Families

Food benefits for young children whose learning was affected by COVID-19

The Pre-6 P-EBT program provides temporary food benefits to families with children under the age of six who receive FoodShare but are not enrolled in school.

Eligibility

For the 2022-2023 School Year, you may receive Pre-6 P-EBT benefits if your child meets the Pre-6 P-EBT eligibility criteria. To meet the eligibility criteria, your child must be:

• Eligible for FoodShare on a CARES case for at least one day during the month(s) for which benefits are issued

• Younger than six years old on September 1, 2022

• Not eligible for School P-EBT benefits

You child may only receive Pre-6 P-EBT benefits from September 2022 through May 11, 2023.

Receiving benefits

DHS calculates the benefit amounts for the 2022-2023 Pre-6 P-EBT program using a formula. This formula was developed to meet federal requirements and provide maximum benefits for families. DHS calculated the benefit amounts for September 2022 through January 2023 as $37.55. Benefits for future months are still being determined.

For May 2023, the benefit amount will be adjusted. This is because the federal government ended the COVID-19 PHE partway through the month. The PHE ended on May 11, 2023.

Your benefits will be added to your existing QUEST or P-EBT card if you have one. If you do not have a QUEST or P-EBT card, benefits will be added onto a new P-EBT card and mailed to your address on file. Once you receive your card, please follow the instructions on the back of the card to activate it. Once activated, it is ready to use like a debit card to buy food. If you have any questions, please call QUEST Card Service at 877-415-5164.

Pre-6 benefits can be used wherever FoodShare benefits are accepted. This includes grocery stores, convenience stores, farmers markets, and some online retailers. You can use the benefits to buy certain food items, including:

• Bread and cereals

• Fruits and vegetables

• Meat, fish, and poultry

• Dairy products

• Snack foods

See a detailed list of items you can and cannot buy with these benefits.

We recommend using your card at least once every few months. If you do not use the card for nine months, any benefits that have been on your account for more than nine months will be removed.

To check the balance on your card, go to the ebtEDGE website or use the ebtEDGE mobile app. If you lose your card, call QUEST Card Services at 877-415-5164.

Please remember that you cannot give your card to someone else. It is illegal to sell, trade, or give your Pre-6 P-EBT benefits to another person.

Notification

You will receive a letter if your family is eligible for Pre-6 P-EBT. The letter will detail the benefit amount per eligible child.

You have the right to request a fair hearing. A fair hearing allows you to tell why you think there has been a wrong decision about your application or benefits. At the hearing, a hearing officer will hear from you and the agency. They will then determine if the decision was right or wrong. You may bring a friend or family member with you to the hearing.

To request a fair hearing, you will need to send either a fair hearing request form or a letter asking for a hearing to the Division of Hearings and Appeals, PO Box 7875, Madison, WI 53707. You can also fax it to 608-264-9885. The deadline to request a fair hearing is July 31, 2023.

You may be able to get free legal help for the hearing. To learn more about legal help, call 888-278-0633.