P-EBT

Who is eligible?
For school year 2021-2022 P-EBT benefits, children must have met both of the following requirements:

1. Must have been enrolled in a school district that participated in the federal free and reduced-price meal program.
2. 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:

1. As of May 2022, must have been enrolled in a school district that participated in the federal free and reduced-price meal program.
2. 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.