P-EBT Update
Last updated May 4, 2023
School Year 2022-2023 SNAP-participating Children In Childcare Plan
- For families who are/were participating in SNAP and have a child/children under 6 enrolled in childcare there may be benefits issued if it is determined that there was a reduction in childcare access between August 2022 – May 2023.
- The state is working on determining if there was a reduction in childcare access, so we are not sure whether there will be benefits for families in this category. We will update this page when we have more information.
Summer 2023 Benefits for All Eligible Children
- Children will be eligible to receive the 2023 Summer P-EBT benefit of $120 (per child) if they are, as of May 2023, enrolled in a school district that participates in the federal free and reduced-price meal program, AND are deemed eligible through one of the following ways:
- Applied and approved for free or reduced-price meals for the 2022-2023 school year.
- Being directly certified for free meals through participation in programs like SNAP.
- Attending a school that provides free meals to all students during the 2022-2023 school year.
- Establish their eligibility through a state application.
- At this time, the state plans to issue the benefit beginning in July 2023.
Click here for more information on the Oklahoma State Department of Education website.
For emergency food assistance resources, click here.
What is P-EBT?
Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT) helps families with children who would have received free or reduced-price meals if school or childcare buildings were not closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
P-EBT can be used to buy groceries.
Families with qualifying children will receive benefits, no application required. Not only does P-EBT help families directly, it helps our local economy as well! Using your benefit helps support stores in our state as well as workers employed at those stores. Using your benefits will not take it away from families in need of assistance.
Click here for quick information and tips to use or get help with your PEBT benefits.
Click here to read the full press release from the Oklahoma State Department of Human Services for school year 2020-2021 P-EBT benefits.
Click here to read more information about school year 2020-2021 P-EBT benefits on the Oklahoma State Department of Education’s website.
Video for Caregivers (English)
PEBT: What It Is and How It Works from Hunger Free Oklahoma
Video for Caregivers (Spanish)
PEBT: En Que Consiste y Como Funciona from Hunger Free Oklahoma
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible?
For school year 2021-2022 P-EBT benefits, children must have met both of the following requirements:
- Must have been enrolled in a school district that participated in the federal free and reduced-price meal program.
- Must have been eligible for free or reduced-price school meals through one of the following ways:
- Applied and approved for the program.
- Being directly certified through participation in programs like SNAP.
- Attended a school that provided free meals to all students prior to the pandemic. For a list of those schools, please click here.
Eligible children receive benefits based on the number of days they were unable to attend school in-person due to the pandemic.
For summer 2022 P-EBT benefits, children must have met both of the following requirements:
- As of May 2022, must have been enrolled in a school district that participated in the federal free and reduced-price meal program.
- Must have been eligible for free or reduced-price school meals through one of the following ways:
- Applied and approved for the program.
- Being directly certified through participation in programs like SNAP.
- Attended a school that provided free meals to all students prior to the pandemic. For a list of those schools, please click here.
Eligible children receive a $391 benefit for summer 2022 P-EBT.
Note: Schools participating in the National School Lunch Program have been able to serve no-cost meals since the beginning of the pandemic. This does not necessarily mean your child is qualified to receive P-EBT benefits.
Do you have to meet SNAP guidelines to get P-EBT?
No. Families are not required to meet SNAP eligibility requirements.
Does P-EBT impact my citizenship status?
No. Participating in child nutrition programs, including P-EBT, does not impact citizenship status.
Do I need to apply to get P-EBT?
No. There is no application for the P-EBT program. Eligible families will receive benefits automatically.
What if I’m not sure if my child receives free or reduced-price school meals?
Please contact your school’s child nutrition department.
My child attended a school that offered free meals to all students before the pandemic. Will my family receive the P-EBT benefit?
Yes. Students at schools that provided free meals to all students before the pandemic should be automatically enrolled and sent the P-EBT benefit. For a list of those schools, please click here.
Do children who are homeschooled or attend a virtual charter school receive P-EBT?
Likely not. Only children who were enrolled in a school that serves in-person meals qualifies for the P-EBT program. P-EBT is meant to help with the cost of meals that children would have otherwise received in school. These rules are set by the USDA.
How much money will each student receive?
For school year 2021-2022 P-EBT:
Eligible students will receive a P-EBT card equivalent to $6.82 per day for school days in which the student was enrolled in a participating school AND received virtual instruction.
Note: No benefits will be issued for those days in which the student received in-person instruction or was counted absent from virtual instruction.
For summer 2022 P-EBT:
Each eligible student will receive a P-EBT benefit of $391.
One of my students received a different amount on their card than a sibling. Is this correct?
For school year 2021-2022 P-EBT:
Probably. P-EBT benefits are based on individual student attendance.
For summer 2022 P-EBT:
No. Summer P-EBT benefits are $391 for all eligible students.
What if my address has changed?
If you already have a P-EBT card, benefits will be issued to that card.
For those who are receiving P-EBT cards for the first time the card will be sent to the address on file with your school as of May 2022. To report a change of address, please use the Parent P-EBT Review form on this page.
How will I get benefits?
For school year 2021-2022 P-EBT:
If you already have a P-EBT card, benefits will be issued to that card.
If you did not previously have a P-EBT card you should receive an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card in the mail. The outside envelope may not have been clearly marked. If you have not received an EBT card please fill out the form on this page.
For summer 2022 P-EBT:
If you already have a P-EBT card, benefits will be issued to that card.
If you did not previously have a P-EBT card you should receive an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card in the mail. The outside envelope may not have been clearly marked. If you have not received an EBT card please fill out the form on this page.
Note: Benefits are tied to a specific case/account number, and not the specific card.
When will I receive P-EBT benefits?
For school year 2021-2022 P-EBT:
We are not sure yet. We will share a timeline as soon as we are able.
For summer 2022 P-EBT:
OKDHS’s goal is to issue summer 2022 P-EBT benefits in the month of July.
How do I activate my P-EBT card?
Call (888) 328-6551 and follow the instructions. Speaking to a representative is not required to activate a P-EBT card. When prompted, enter ‘0000’ for the last four digits of the Social Security Number. If the system tells you the birthdate you entered is incorrect please call the Oklahoma Department of Human Services at (405) 522-5050.
My child mistakenly got a letter saying that they applied for SNAP benefits and/or they are required to register for work. What should I do?
If you received a work registration requirement letter addressed to your minor children, it was generated automatically and sent in error. You may disregard the letter.
Note: If you receive a letter addressed to an adult in the home, it is likely pertaining to a case you have with OKDHS. Please do not disregard letters addressed to an adult in the home.
If you have additional questions on this topic, please contact the Oklahoma Department of Human Services at (405) 522-5050.
What should I do if my card is lost or stolen?
Call the EBT Card Customer Service line at (888) 328-6551.
How do I activate my P-EBT card?
Call (888) 328-6551 and follow the instructions. Speaking to a representative is not required to activate a P-EBT card. When prompted, enter ‘0000’ for the last four digits of the Social Security Number. If the system tells you the birthdate you entered is incorrect please call the Oklahoma Department of Human Services at (405) 522-5050.
Where can I use my P-EBT benefits?
You can use your P-EBT benefits at any store that accepts SNAP. To find stores in your area, please visit this link.
What can I purchase with my P-EBT benefits?
You may purchase food items such as fruits and vegetables, meat and fish, snacks for your kids, dairy products, eggs, cereal, rice, pasta, bread, and baby formula.
You may not purchase items such as pre-prepared food, hot food, pet food, alcohol, tobacco, or vitamins.
If using online shopping options, delivery fees and tips cannot be paid for with an EBT card.
What happens to unused funds?
Unused funds will carry over from month to month. Benefits that are not used for more than a year will be removed from the card.
What should I do with my P-EBT card once I have used the benefits?
Keep the P-EBT card even if you have used the entire benefit. There could be additional benefits issued in the future.
Does using this benefit take it away from others in need of assistance?
No. P-EBT is available to all families who qualify and using the benefit will not take it away from other families in need of assistance. P-EBT helps families directly and our local economy as well! Spending your benefits helps support stores and workers in our state.
What should I do if I don’t think I need the benefit?
If you do not want the benefit, please contact the Oklahoma Department of Human Services at (405) 522-5050.
Please note: P-EBT helps families directly and our local economy as well! Spending your benefits helps support stores and workers in our state. Using your benefits will not take it away from families in need of assistance.
If you got P-EBT, you are likely eligible for SNAP
SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) is monthly money for food like P‑EBT – but you need to apply. You can get P-EBT and SNAP at the same time. If you apply and are eligible, you get a SNAP EBT card, which can be used like a debit card for food shopping.
SNAP eligibility is based on household size and monthly income. But, not all income counts (e.g. federally boosted unemployment benefits, one-time payments like stimulus checks and child tax credit monthly payments). Find out more!
SNAP is not considered in a “public charge” test. If you are not a US citizen, you can get SNAP for an eligible family member (like your U.S citizen child). Find out more!
Like P‑EBT, SNAP can be used at most grocery stores, corner stores, and other food stores like farmers markets. You can also buy food online at ALDI, Amazon, Cash Saver, FireLake Discount Foods, Homeland Food Stores, Reasor’s, Sooner Foods, United Supermarkets, and Walmart.
SNAP can connect you to other kinds of help, like utility discounts and extra food dollars through Double Up Oklahoma. If you receive SNAP, you can get up to $50 off your monthly internet bill and a one-time discount of up to $100 for a laptop, tablet, or desktop computer through the Emergency Broadband Benefit.