PHOENIX – The USDA Food and Nutrition Service authorized Arizona through AZDES to reintroduce Arizona P-EBT Benefits program and provide assistance to households with eligible children. It is estimated over $636 million will be distributed to approximately 765,000 children across the state.
The $636 million comes on top of an initial $200.8 million provided through the program in the summer of 2020.
P-EBT is available for every child in the household that either:
● Is enrolled in the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act program in Arizona whose school is either closed or offering a full-time or part-time distance learning model due to the COVID-19 pandemic; OR
● Is under the age of 6 and receiving Nutrition Assistance (Child Care P-EBT) P-EBT Benefits will be provided to an estimated 631,000 school children eligible for free or reduced-price school meals, covering the months of August 2020 through May 2021.
Additionally, Child Care P-EBT will be provided to 134,000 SNAP-enrolled children under the age of 6, covering the months October 2020 through May 2021. DES anticipates it will begin distributing Child Care P-EBT mid-March, and distribution of P-EBT for school children is expected to begin mid-April.
P-EBT is a complement to the meals and snacks currently provided to children through the Child Nutrition Programs.
Receiving a meal does NOT prevent a child from receiving P-EBT. For additional information about P-EBT, click here.
The monthly benefit amount depends on the school’s designated learning model (excluding holidays and breaks). A child can receive a full payment, partial payment, or no payment for each month covered by the program.
Households do not need to apply for P-EBT benefits. If the eligible family was issued a P-EBT card in 2020 or is currently receiving Nutrition Assistance and/or Cash Assistance, P-EBT benefits for the 2020/2021 school year will be added to their existing P-EBT or EBT card.
Otherwise, eligible families will receive a pre-loaded Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card that can be used to purchase groceries.