Pandemic EBT (P-EBT)

• School-aged children who were actively enrolled in a Washington state school participating in the National School Lunch Program/School Breakfast Program in June 2023 and eligible for free or reduced-price meals. This includes 2023 high school graduates.
• All students enrolled in schools that participate in the Community Eligibility provision.

• Children under the age of 6 (although these children may qualify for benefits under  Children Under 6 P-EBT).
• School-aged children enrolled in online academics, home school or private schools if they do not  participate in the NSLP program.
• School-aged children who left a participating school prior to June 2023.
• School-aged children not eligible for free or reduced-price meals.

• A one-time, lump sum of $120 in Summer P-EBT benefits for each eligible child.

• Issuance of Summer P-EBT benefits will begin in July 2023 and continue through Sept. 30, 2023.
• We estimate over 700,000 school-aged children may be eligible for Summer P-EBT.

• Due to the end of the public health emergency, P-EBT benefits will end on 12/31/2023.
• Please note that disputes may take up to two months to resolve and must be resolved before 12/31/2023.

• Children under the age of 6 who:
  
  • Received SNAP/Basic Food benefits between Sept. 1, 2022 and May 11, 2023.
• Note: Children under age 6 do not need to participate in free or reduced-price school meals, nor do they need to be enrolled in a school or a child care center to qualify for P-EBT.

• Children over the age of 6, unless they turned 6 between Sept. 1, 2022 and May 11, 2023.
• Children not receiving SNAP/Basic Food.
• Children approved for SNAP/Basic Food on or after May 12, 2023.
• Children in a SNAP/Basic Food household with a zero issuance benefit.

• Eligible children will receive $43.88 for each month they were active on Basic Food between September 2022-April 2023 and a prorated amount of $28.94 for the month of May if they received Basic Food in May 2023.

• P-EBT benefits for Children Under 6 will be issued beginning June 2023 and continue through September 2023.
• We estimate over 160,000 children will receive benefits under this plan.

• Due to the end of the public health emergency, P-EBT benefits will end on 12/31/2023.
• Please note that disputes may take up to two months to resolve and must be resolved before 12/31/2023.

Families do not have to apply for P-EBT! If your child is determined eligible for Summer P-EBT or P-EBT for Children Under 6, they may automatically qualify. If you did not receive P-EBT, you can call the P-EBT Contact Center to review your eligibility.

Similar to SNAP, P-EBT can be used to purchase eligible food items such as fruits, vegetables, meat and more. P-EBT benefits can be used like a debit card to buy food in most grocery stores and farmers markets, or to buy food online at retailers participating in the Online Purchasing Pilot across Washington state. Please see the eligible food items page on the USDA website for a full list. Families can also use their P-EBT to get double the amount of food at participating farmers markets. Learn more at DOH SNAP Market Match. 

If your P-EBT card was lost, stolen or misplaced, call 833-518-0282 to request a replacement. Please Note: Replacement cards will be sent to the last known address on file. If your address has changed, please call the P-EBT Contact Center at 833-518-0282 to review and update your information. Cards may take seven to 10 business days to arrive once they are sent and will need to be activated.

Once P-EBT cards are mailed out, families may call the EBT vendor, FIS, at 888-328-9271 to set up their PIN. When using the automated system to set up their PIN, they will input the information based on the child’s name that is printed on the P-EBT card. (Example: the card comes in the child’s name – use the child’s DOB and Zip Code). 

Yes! Your child may be eligible for future programs.

USDA’s rules state that $0 households are not considered participating in the Basic Food program; therefore do not qualify for P-EBT. Encourage the customer to reapply for Basic Food if they believe their circumstances have changed.

No. P-EBT benefits are not taxable under the Federal Income Tax rules.

No. Children who receive P-EBT benefits don’t need to repay them.

No. P-EBT benefits are not subject to Public Charge rules.

Benefits are automatically removed after 274 days of non-use and cannot be replaced. We encourage households to use the P-EBT benefits for your family and help boost the local economy. If you receive multiple cards for multiple children, you are also encouraged to make at least one purchase on each card to prevent funds from being expunged (removed) after 274 days of non-use. Benefits are not transferable and cannot be gifted or donated. If you wish to decline the benefits, you may destroy the card or return the card to the address on the back of the card.

DSHS staff do not have access to P-EBT case information, and cannot replace a lost or stolen P-EBT card since this process is completed outside of DSHS and OSPI by the P-EBT Contact Center.

We have developed an escalation process with Accenture through the P-EBT Contact Center to attempt to resolve issues. Please have the individual contact the P-EBT Contact Center and ask to have their P-EBT case reviewed. Most issues are resolved with a case review. If the P-EBT Contact Center is unable to resolve, the customer can request a hearing through the P-EBT call center agent. Do not set a SUPCOM. All escalations must go through the P-EBT Contact Center.

No, this year Washington was only approved by USDA to provide Summer P-EBT and P-EBT for Children Under 6. In order to operate an approved school plan, it must be accepted and approved by USDA.

No, Pandemic EBT is not the same as Permanent Summer EBT, which begins in 2024. States have the option to apply for this program with USDA. We are waiting for additional USDA guidance on this program.

Department of Social and Health Services

EBT Vendor (FIS-EBT)

School District

Community Services Division Customer Service Contact Center

Fidelity National Information System (FIS)

Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

1-877-501-2233

1-888-328-9271

School District Contact & Directory Website

• Apply for, report changes or renew Food and Cash programs (SNAP, ABD/ HEN Referral, TANF/WorkFirst, Refugee Assistance).
• P-EBT eligibility and information is NOT available through the Customer Service Contact Center.
• DSHS cannot mail, issue, or replace P-EBT Cards.

P-EBT: 

• Activation of P-EBT card (create PIN).
• Change PIN number.

P-EBT specific cards are issued under the child’s name and account, not the head of household’s name/information. 

Client will need the child’s:

• Name.
• Date of birth.
• Address on file with the P-EBT Contact Center, including zip code.

For regular Food/SNAP or Cash EBT card information, the client will need:

• EBT card number.
• Head of household’s Social Security number.
• Mailing address on file with DSHS.

FIS will not replace P-EBT cards.

Eligible students must have been enrolled in a participating school in June 2023 to be eligible for Summer P-EBT benefits.

Hours of operation: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday – Friday (except state holidays).

Interview hours:  8 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Please have your Client ID or Social Security number available.

Hours of operation:  Sunday-Saturday, 24 hours a day.

Customers can PIN cards, order replacement cards (when address is correct) and make balance and transaction inquires using the Cardholder Portal (Login) at www.ebtEDGE.com or by using the ebtEDGE Mobile App.

Hours of operation:

See district website for details. Districts may have limited or reduced hours during the summer.