Summer P-EBT 2023: Food Benefits for Students During Summer Months

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

The Summer P-EBT program provides temporary food benefits to eligible students during summer months. This program covers the time between the 2022-2023 school year and the 2023-2024 school year.

Eligibility

For a child to be eligible for Summer P-EBT, they must have met requirements for the 2022-2023 school year. They must have been:

• Enrolled in a school participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or School Breakfast Program (SBP).
• Qualified for free or reduced price meals.
• On record as being qualified with their school district and the state as of June 3, 2023.

Due to federal law change, certain children will not be eligible to receive Summer P-EBT benefits in 2023. These are:

• Non-school-age children
• Students that opted for homeschooling or fully virtual schooling due to COVID-19 concerns

Receiving benefits

You will receive a one-time payment of $120 will for each eligible child in a household. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) sets the benefit amount. The USDA bases the amount on giving $40 per summer month to each eligible child. The payment will cover the months of June 2023, July 2023, and August 2023. Benefits will be issued on June 17, 2023.

Benefits will be automatically added to your existing QUEST or P-EBT card. 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.

Summer P-EBT 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:

• Breads 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 Service at 877-415-5164.

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

Notification

You will receive a letter if your family is eligible for Summer 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.