Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) is part of the U.S. government response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 (PL 116–127), as amended by the Continuing Appropriations Act 2021 and Other Extensions Act (PL 116-159), the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021 (PL 116-260), and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (PL 117-2) provides the Secretary of Agriculture authority to approve state agency plans to administer P-EBT.
Under the FY 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act, P-EBT is available for the summer of 2023 to all children who attended a National School Lunch Program (NSLP)-participating school, including provisional/CEP schools, and qualified to receive free or reduced price school meals during the 2022-2023 school year. Eligible children will receive $120.00 each in a P-EBT benefit.
DFS received FNS approval for the 2023 Summer P-EBT Plan on March 20, 2023.
NEXT STEPS:
- Benefits were issued to eligible children based on student-level data received from the Wyoming Department of Education (WDE).
- A notice will be sent to the guardian on record at the school districts.
2023 SUMMER P-EBT QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:
A: P-EBT benefits are a food benefit that can be used to purchase any groceries that are not hot and prepared.
Q: What is P-EBT?
The benefit can be used at stores nationwide that accept Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Cards.
Q: How will I receive my P-EBT benefits?
A: A P-EBT card will be mailed and addressed to your child(ren) separately with instructions on how to activate and use the card. A postcard will also be sent with information to eligible child(ren) when that time comes.
For households currently on SNAP that have an active Wyoming EBT card, or have received P-EBT benefits in the past, P-EBT benefits will be loaded to your current EBT card. If you no longer have access to your EBT card, please contact the EBT vendor, FIS, customer service at 1-877-290-9401, www.ebtedge.com, or on your mobile device using the ebtEDGE app, to request a card replacement.
If your household has never received a SNAP or P-EBT card in Wyoming, an EBT card will be mailed to you separately with instructions on how to activate and use the card. It can take about seven (7) business days to arrive at your mailing address.
Q: How long do P-EBT benefits remain available on the EBT card?
A: Once the EBT card is activated, the household has 274 days to use the benefit. The clock restarts after each purchase. If an EBT card is inactive for 274 days, the benefit will be expunged, or removed.
2023 Summer Benefits
Q: Who is eligible for P-EBT Summer Benefits?
A: P-EBT is available for the summer of 2023 to all children who attended a National School Lunch Program (NSLP)-participating school, including provisional/CEP schools, and qualified to receive free or reduced price school meals during the 2022-2023 school year.
Q: How is eligibility for summer P-EBT determined?
A: DFS will complete a direct issuance to all eligible children based on data received from the WDE and DFS. This benefit is available without an application.
Q: How long is the covered summer period?
A: The covered summer period shall not be more than 90 calendar days that follow a school year during which there was a public health emergency declaration. In Wyoming, the covered summer period is from June 1, 2023 to August 31, 2023.
Q: What is the P-EBT benefit amount for 2023 Summer?
A: The Consolidated Appropriations Act set the summer amount at $120.00 per child.
P-EBT FAQ:
- P-EBT benefits can be used at any SNAP-authorized retailer, to purchase eligible foods. The SNAP Retailer Locator allows anyone to locate nearby SNAP-authorized retailers by entering a street address, city, and state, or zip code.
- P-EBT benefits can be used to purchase food, such as:
- Fruits and vegetables;
- Meat, poultry, and fish;
- Dairy products;
- Breads and cereals;
- Other foods such as snack foods and non-alcoholic beverages; and
- Seeds and plants, which produce food for the household to eat.
Households CANNOT use P-EBT benefits to buy:
- Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes, or tobacco
- Vitamins, medicines, and supplements. If an item has a Supplement Facts label, it is considered a supplement and is not eligible for SNAP purchase.
- Live animals (except shellfish, fish removed from water, and animals slaughtered prior to pick-up from the store).
- Foods that are hot at the point of sale
- Any nonfood items such as:
– Pet foods
– Cleaning supplies, paper products, and other household supplies.
– Hygiene items, cosmetics
- P-EBT violations and penalties include, but are not limited to:
- Trafficking: Buying or selling P-EBT benefits for cash. The penalties for trafficking include permanent disqualification, forfeiture of property, and/or a monetary penalty for each violation.
- Selling ineligible items: Selling cigarettes, tobacco, alcohol, or expensive nonfood items for P-EBT benefits may result in a 3- to 5-year disqualification or equivalent civil money penalty.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Please see the USDA Food and Nutrition Website at https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/recipient/eligibility or https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/state-guidance-coronavirus-pandemic-ebt-pebt for additional information.
Contact the EBT Help Desk, Wyoming Department of Family Services, Economic Security Division, 2300 Capitol Avenue, 3rd Floor Hathaway Building, Cheyenne, WY 82002.
Toll Free: 1 (800) 457-3659
Direct Line: (307) 777-6082
ann.bowen@wyo.gov