2023 Pandemic EBT Updates for Families (2024)

Updated August 7, 2023

Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) has been one of the most vital supports for children and families throughout the last couple of years, providing grocery money to families who would have usually received free and reduced school meals.

We are excited to share that Kentucky has started distributing P-EBT benefits for certain populations. We do not know how every type of Pandemic EBT will be distributed yet, but we will be updating this page as the Kentucky Department for Community Based Services makes information available.

NOTE: Kentucky Youth Advocates does not administer P-EBT, and we can only answer general questions about the program. Please DO NOT send us any personal information about you or your child. If you need help with your specific P-EBT case, please contact the Cabinet for Health and Family Services at (855) 306-8959.

Regular Child Care

Child Care Pandemic EBT benefits will cover the months of September 2022 – May 11, 2023. To be eligible for Child Care Pandemic EBT benefits, the child must be a member of a household that was enrolled in SNAP between the months of September 2022 and May 11, 2023. Please note that your child will only receive P-EBT benefits for the months they were enrolled in SNAP.

These benefits were distributed to existing SNAP EBT cards the week of June 20th, 2023. Your child should have received $8.18 for every day they were eligible.

School Year 2022-2023 Pandemic EBT

Pandemic EBT benefits will cover COVID-19-related school absences during the period of September 1, 2022 – May 11, 2023. To be eligible for Pandemic EBT benefits, children must have been enrolled in a Kentucky school during the 2022-2023 school year and meet one of the following requirements:

• Students who are current SNAP recipients
• Students who attend a Community Eligibility Program (CEP) school
• Students who receive free or reduced lunch at school

These benefits will be distributed onto existing Pandemic or SNAP EBT cards. Eligible students will receive $8.18 for each day missed. The application period opens on August 7th, and families can apply on www.kypebt.ky.gov.

P-EBT will also be available to virtual and home school students this year. This application will open on September 4, and families will need to provide the student’s personal identifying information and household financial information.

Summer Pandemic EBT

Summer Pandemic EBT benefits will cover the summer period of June 1-August 31, 2023. To be eligible for Summer Pandemic EBT benefits, children must have been enrolled in a Kentucky school during the 2022-2023 school year and meet one of the following requirements:

• Students who are current SNAP recipients
• Students who attend a Community Eligibility Program (CEP) school
• Students who receive free or reduced lunch at school

Please note that you had to apply for free and reduced school meals by May 31st in order to be eligible for Summer P-EBT payments.

These benefits will be distributed onto existing Pandemic or SNAP EBT cards by the end of September. Families who are newly eligible for the program will have a P-EBT card sent to the address on file at their child’s school. Eligible children will receive $120.

Due to the federal Public Health Emergency ending on May 11, 2023, SNAP recipients under age six, homeschooled, and virtual students are not eligible for Summer EBT benefits.

Things to consider:

• There is an application for School Year 2022-2023 Pandemic-EBT benefits at www.kypebt.ky.gov. Please keep you and your child’s information safe and do not share personal information or fill out any applications that are not directly through the Department of Community Based Services.
• If you no longer have your P-EBT card or it is damaged, you can request a new card by calling (888) 979-9949 and it will be mailed within two weeks.
• If your address has changed and you need a new P-EBT card, you can call (855) 306-8959 to update your address and have a new card mailed to you.
• If you receive the wrong amount of Pandemic-EBT benefits, you can request a reconsideration by calling the Cabinet for Health and Family Services at (855) 306-8959. You will need to have the student’s full name, date of birth, and State Student ID (SSID) number when you call.

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