Pandemic EBT(P-EBT), as introduced in H.R. 6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, provides assistance to households with children who are eligible for free or reduced-price school meals while schools are out of session due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Arizona P-EBT Pandemic School Meal Replacement Benefits program is a partnership between the Department of Economic Security (DES), Arizona Department of Education (ADE), and USDA Food and Nutrition Service.
Eligible families will receive a pre-loaded Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card that can be used to purchase groceries. Households currently receiving Nutrition Assistance and/or Cash Assistance benefits will have this additional benefit added to their existing EBT cards. This benefit is available for every child in the household that is enrolled in the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act program in Arizona.
Benefit Amount for Each Child
$69 for March
$126 for April
$120 for May
Note: Families who first start participating in the free and reduced-price school meal program after March 16 will receive Pandemic EBT benefits prorated to their start date if their child is enrolled at a participating school.