The state of Missouri announces important information regarding Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) benefits, both for the 2021-22 School Year and Summer 2022. Please carefully review this information, as eligibility criteria has changed.
P-EBT for School Year 2021-22
P-EBT benefits are now available for the 2021-22 school year. Eligibility criteria for these benefits is NOT the same as it has previously been. Please read the following information carefully and review the new eligibility criteria. If your child is eligible, benefit amounts will vary, as these P-EBT benefits are tied closely to the number of consecutive days your child missed school due to a COVID-related absence.
There is no application to apply for this round of benefits. To be eligible for the 2021-22 school year P-EBT benefits, your child must:
- Be certified for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) through their school district.
- Be enrolled in grades K-12 only during the 2021-22 school year.
- Have been approved for free or reduced-price meals during the 2021-22 school year. (See more details below.)
- Have a documented COVID-related absence on-file with their school so the school can verify the child’s absence or virtual learning day was COVID-related. If your child’s absence or virtual learning was not reported to the school as COVID-related, your child may not be eligible for these benefits.
Your school district will be sending information about eligible students directly to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). This includes information on students’ free or reduced-price meal eligibility and information on COVID-related absences, virtual attendance, and school closures. The number of consecutive COVID-related absences will be linked to a benefit level. (See Benefit Chart below.) This information will be sent to the Department of Social Services (DSS). If your child is eligible, a benefit will be loaded onto an existing P-EBT card. If your child does not have an existing card, a card will be mailed to the address the school had on-file. If you no longer have that card, call the Family Support Division at 855-FSD-INFO (855-373-4636).
Please read carefully and notice the eligibility criteria. If your child was unable to receive a free or reduced-price lunch at school because of a COVID-related absence, COVID-related virtual learning day, or a COVID-related school closure, your child is eligible for these P-EBT benefits. Free or reduced-price eligibility is based on these criteria only:
- Applied for free or reduced-price meals during the 2021-22 school year and was found eligible based on income guidelines.
- Enrolled in a school that participated in Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) or Provision 2. If you are not sure your child attended an eligible school, you should contact the school district the child attends.
- Found eligible based on categorical eligibility including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or another source, such as homeless or foster.
Note: Children receiving meals at no cost through the Seamless Summer Option (SSO) program does not automatically qualify the child for free or reduced-price meals. The SSO program is a provision to offer meals at no cost to children.
If your child does not receive SNAP and you did not complete a free or reduced-price meal application to apply for free or reduced-price meals in school year 2021-22, your child is not eligible for P-EBT. If your child was not determined eligible for free or reduced-price meals in school year 2021-22, your child is not eligible for P-EBT.
P-EBT benefit amounts will be determined based on the number of consecutive days the child did not have access to a free or reduced-price meal at school due to a COVID-related absence or virtual learning day. If the school was closed, meaning all classes were virtual due to COVID reasons, this school closure would qualify free or reduced-price eligible students for a P-EBT benefit amount based on the number of consecutive school days the building was closed. (See Benefit Chart below.) Alternative Methods of Instruction (AMI) due to weather does not apply to P-EBT and AMI days are not eligible for P-EBT. If your child’s absence or virtual learning was not made aware to the school as COVID-related, your school district may review absences that consist of five (5) or more consecutive days. If your child’s absence was not recorded and did not consist of five (5) or more consecutive days, the parent must provide proof of COVID-related illness and a confirmation to the district that the child’s absence was COVID-related.
P-EBT for Summer 2022
Benefits are now available for Summer 2022. Please read carefully and notice the eligibility criteria. If your child is eligible, benefit amounts will be based on the summer benefit amount of $391. (See Benefit Chart Below.)
Please read carefully and notice the eligibility criteria. Children eligible for free or reduced-price meals during school year 2021-22 are eligible for a summer benefit. Children enrolled in grades K-12 during school year 2021-22 and newly approved for free or reduced-price meals between July 1, 2022 and the end of the summer are eligible for a summer benefit. Children had to have been enrolled in grades K-12 during school year 2021-22 to be eligible for summer.
Free or reduced-price eligibility is based only on:
- Applied for free or reduced-price meals during the w2021-22 school year and was found eligible based on school year 2021-22 income guidelines; or applied for free or reduced-price meals from July 1, 2022 through the end of the summer based on school year 2022-23 income guidelines;
- Enrolled in a school that participated in Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) or Provision 2. If you are not sure your child attended an eligible school, you should contact the school district the child attends.
- Child was found eligible based on categorical eligibility including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or another source, such as homeless or foster.
If your child is eligible, the benefit will be loaded onto a P-EBT card in their name.
If you think your child may be eligible and you do not want to receive this benefit, do not activate the card.
DESE is working with your local school district to collect free or reduced-price eligible students and the number of P-EBT eligible days. DSS’ Family Support Division (FSD) will obtain the information to process a benefit(s) for your child. If your child is not eligible for the benefit you will not receive a denial letter.
Who to call for the following questions:
I lost my child’s P-EBT card: You can use the online chat feature at mydss.mo.gov or call 855-373-4636.
I have a different address: If you think your child is eligible for this benefit and your address has changed, you should first contact the school district that your child attended during school year 2021-22 to review your case and notify the school about the address change.
I have questions about the P-EBT card: DO NOT CONTACT YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR P-EBT CARD. You can use the online chat feature at mydss.mo.gov or call 855-373-4636.
I have questions about my child’s COVID-related absences: Contact the school district that your child attended during school year 2021-22.
I have questions about my Pre-K child’s benefit: You can call 855-373-4636 for questions related to children enrolled in Pre-K during school year 2021-22.
I have questions about my child’s P-EBT benefit from school year 2020-21: P-EBT benefits from school year 2020-21 have been issued and are no longer available.
What if my child’s school did not track my child’s absence or my child’s absence was not reported: Contact the school district that your child attended during school year 2021-22 to review absences recorded.
When will my child receive a benefit: Upon this release, your child’s school district will begin submitting information that is needed to issue P-EBT. The exact timeline of when you will receive a P-EBT benefit is not known. Depending on when DSS has the information to process the card, you may receive a benefit by the end of 2022.
| Tier: Days Absent | Benefit Day Used | Benefit Amount |
| Tier 1: 1-5 day | 3 days | $21.30 |
| Tier 2: 6-15 | 10 days | $71.00 |
| Tier 3: 16+ or more days | 17 days | $120.70 |
| Summer | 55 days | $391 |
P-EBT cards are used the same way as EBT cards. For more information on the card, visit: mydss.mo.gov/food-assistance/ebt.
If you have questions on how to apply, if you need additional assistance with food, childcare, transportation, and/or other services, visit the Missouri Services Navigator at mo.servicesnavigator.org.