Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) Program

The Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) is a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) program that provides food assistance benefits to children in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade who have temporarily lost access to free or reduced-price school meals due to changes in instruction schedules and school closures related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020, as amended by the Continuing Appropriation Act of 2021 and Other Extensions Act, extended and expanded the P-EBT program through the school year 2020-2021. The Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Iowa Department of Education (Department) are collaboratively administering this program in Iowa.

P-EBT for Children in SY 2020-21 Webinar - Recorded 3-5-21. Department consultants, Keerti Patel and Jennifer Schroeder-Thomas, share information on how the P-EBT program is different this year and provide training on the processes to ensure that accurate and timely data are received from all public school districts and nonpublic schools in Iowa.

• P-EBT Webinar Q&A for Schools - Provides responses from the Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT) school webinar held on March 5, 2021. Note: Answers are subject to change pending U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) approval of Iowa’s P-EBT plan.

Schools with additional P-EBT questions, contact your regional school nutrition consultant or state SRI contact.