P-EBT Update: May 17, 2023
We are continuing to work with USDA's Food and Nutrition Service to receive approval for the Children Under Age 6 and Summer P-EBT benefit plans and timing for 2023. Thank you! In the meantime, please sign up for text alerts.
Expungement Notices are Going Out
April 3, 2023: DSHS has started sending expungement notices by mail and through the P-EBT text program. P-EBT benefits are "expunged" or removed from P-EBT accounts that are not used. To avoid removal of any benefits, you must make at least one purchase within 274 days (about nine months) of your last purchase or deposit date. We cannot replace P-EBT benefits after we remove them but we can remind you before it happens. To get the latest information about your account, sign up for P-EBT text updates.
P-EBT Latest News
May 17, 2023: We are continuing to work with USDA's Food and Nutrition Service to receive approval for the Children Under Age 6 and Summer P-EBT benefit plans and timing for 2023. Thank you! In the meantime, please sign up for text alerts.
Aug. 30, 2022: We've started processing and distributing Summer P-EBT benefits for children of all ages and will continue to do so over the next several weeks. If you need to confirm your child's eligibility, please call 833-518-0282.
Aug. 5, 2022: We’ve started processing and distributing P-EBT benefits for Children Under Age 6 and will continue to do so over the next several weeks. Be sure to sign up for text message alerts on the status of your child’s P-EBT by clicking the image above.
Aug. 1, 2022: We anticipated sending benefits for Children Under Age 6 beginning in July but we are delayed. Summer 2022 benefits may also be delayed. We do not have specific dates at this time. We are working on processing P-EBT benefits as quickly as possible. We thank you for your patience.
July 13, 2022:
On July 8, 2022, the USDA Food Nutrition Service approved Washington state to provide P-EBT benefits to children under age 6 as well as summer benefits for children under age 6 and school-aged children.
- Benefits for Children Under Age 6 will start being deposited in late July 2022.
- Benefits for Summer 2022 will start being deposited in August 2022.
Although we received approval for Children Under 6 and Summer P-EBT, we continue working with FNS for an approved plan to implement P-EBT for school-aged children for the 2021-22 school year.
What is the P-EBT program?
General P-EBT Information
Each child who qualifies for P-EBT benefits will receive an approval letter along with a designated P-EBT card. Watch the mail for a card that looks like this!
The P-EBT card is separate from and doesn’t replace a food or cash (Quest) EBT card.
How do families apply?
Great news: Families don’t have to apply for the P-EBT Program! If your child is determined eligible they may automatically qualify.
How are P-EBT benefits used?
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 Amazon, Walmart and Safeway/Albertsons as well as the A&J Select Market in Stevenson, Washington. 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.
What if I lost or misplaced my P-EBT card?
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 7-10 business days to arrive once they are sent and will need to be activated.
Should I keep my child’s P-EBT card after funds are used?
Yes! Additional benefits may be issued to the card for as long as the COVID-19 public health emergency continues and we receive federal approval to extend the program.
Who do I call for information?
For information on who to contact with questions on P-EBT, please review the table below. This information is also available in a downloadable version that can be printed and shared with families.
|
Department of Social and Health Services |
P-EBT Contact Center |
EBT Vendor |
School District |
|---|
|
Community Services Division Customer Service Contact Center |
Contracted with Accenture Staff |
Fidelity National Information System (FIS) |
Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1-877-501-2233 |
1-833-518-0282 |
1-888-328-9271 |
Use the OSPI Websites and Contact Information webpage for district information. |
|
P-EBT Contact Center is responsible for:
Text message updates make it easier than ever to stay on top of P-EBT benefits. To receive personalized text messages, visit https://www.textpebt.dshs.wa.gov/ to sign up for updates. |
P-EBT:
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:
For regular Food/SNAP or Cash EBT card information, the client will need:
Mailing address on file with DSHS. FIS will not replace P-EBT cards. |
Families should contact their local school district to fill out a school meal application if their child doesn’t already receive free or reduced-price meals.
Contact your district to:
Note: Free and Reduced-Price Meal Application collection processes vary by district.
|
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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: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday – Friday (except state holidays).
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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 months. |
No. P-EBT benefits are not taxable under the Federal Income Tax rules.
Do I need to pay back these benefits?
No. Children who receive P-EBT benefits don’t need to repay them.
Are P-EBT benefits subject to public charge rules?
No. P-EBT benefits are not subject to Public Charge rules.
How long will benefits stay on my card?
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 to 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 being expunged after 274 days. 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.
Additional Resources
State Guidance on Coronavirus P-EBT | USDA Food and Nutrition Service (usda.gov)
2022: P-EBT for Children Under 6
Children may qualify for P-EBT if they:
- Are under age 6.
- Live in a household with an active Basic Food Assistance account between Sept. 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022.
Note: Children under age 6 don’t 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.
Eligible children will receive a standard benefit of $43 for each month they reside in a household active on Basic Food from September 2021 – June 2022, up to a maximum of $430. Federal P-EBT guidance bases these benefits on the reduction of meal reimbursement rates reported by Washington to the Child and Adult Care Food Program. This data showed an overall 34% reduction of meals served in child and adult care centers when compared to the prior pandemic year of 2019, likely from closures and impacts due to COVID-19.
| Child Care Calculation | Change in CACFP Lunch Claims | Average Child Care Center Operating Days Monthly | Months in the 2021-22 School Year | Daily Meal Reimbursement Rate | Average Monthly Benefit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full Year Benefit | 34% | 18 | 10 | $7.10 | $43 |
Children in a household active for Basic Food but eligible for $0 in benefits are NOT eligible for P-EBT for children under age 6. If $0 benefit households are issued P-EBT benefits in error, they’ll receive a subsequent notice explaining that they aren’t eligible. Families are welcome to contact the P-EBT contact center for assistance with a case review.
Issuance:
Eligible children will receive approval letters beginning late July 2022 and newly eligible children will receive a P-EBT card shortly after. Benefits for children who qualified for P-EBT previously will be available on their existing P-EBT cards. This card is to be used in addition to your normal Quest EBT card. We intend to issue benefits for September through June 2022 in July 2022.
2022 Summer Benefits
Summer P-EBT will be provided to school age children and children under age 6. For each group, the eligibility will be as follows:
Summer P-EBT for School Children
Students who were registered and enrolled in June 2022 in a Washington school that normally participates in the National School Lunch Program/School Breakfast Program and are eligible for free or reduced-priced meals will receive a one-time, lump-sum Summer P-EBT benefit of $391 ($7.10 daily meal reimbursement rate x 55 summer days). Newly eligible children will receive a new P-EBT card, and children who qualified for P-EBT will automatically be added to their existing P-EBT cards beginning August 2022.
This includes students who graduated in June 2022. If your child doesn’t already receive free or reduced-price meals, contact your local school district to fill out a school meal application. Families must submit and be approved for Free and Reduced-Price Meal Applications by Aug. 31, 2022 to receive P-EBT benefits for the Summer P-EBT.
Summer P-EBT for Children under 6
Children under age 6 who are part of a household active on Basic Food anytime in June, July or August 2022 will receive a one-time, lump-sum Summer P-EBT benefit of $391. Benefits will automatically go onto existing P-EBT cards beginning August 2022. Newly eligible children will be mailed a new P-EBT card.
Families who aren’t active on Basic Food assistance are encouraged to apply for food assistance by completing an application online at Washington Connectionor calling the Customer Service Contact Center at 877-501-2233.Households newly approved for Basic Food will be automatically reviewed for P-EBT eligibility in September 2022.
2022 P-EBT for Children in K-12 Schools
As of July 2022, Washington does not have an approved plan to provide P-EBT benefits for school-aged children in the 2021-22 school year.
Throughout the 2021-22 school year, Washington has worked with FNS to develop an approvable P-EBT plan for school-aged children. We are continuing our efforts and will provide additional information should a school plan be approved in the future.