Second Round of Pandemic EBT Benefits Coming to Eligible Students
The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) has received federal approval to distribute a second round of Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) benefits to eligible families.
Students are eligible to receive P-EBT if they would normally receive free or reduced-price meals, but haven’t been receiving those meals due to virtual or hybrid learning schedules during the 2020-21 school year. Benefits will be retroactive (beginning with Aug. 1, 2020) to cover the whole school year.
No Application Needed
Parents do not need to apply for P-EBT. Schools have reported to DCFS which students met the criteria for eligibility and whether they were on a hybrid or fully virtual learning schedule. DCFS has begun the process of mailing P-EBT benefits on a Louisiana Purchase EBT card to each eligible student at the mailing address provided by their school.
- Eligible students who were on a hybrid learning schedule will receive $48.23 per month
- Eligible students who were fully virtual learning will receive $120.71 per month.
- Benefits will be retroactive to Aug. 1, 2020 to cover the full school year, and will be issued in installments over the next few months.
How to Activate Your P-EBT Card
Cards will be issued in the student's name. Students will need their Student ID Number (SIDNO) to activate the P-EBT card. Most students know this number as their Clever or lunch number. Your child’s SIDNO can also be found on their report card and in the Student Progress Center.
If you are unable to find your child’s SIDNO, then you should visit Jefferson Parish Schools main office at 501 Manhattan Blvd. during business hours, weekdays from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Identification is required. We are unable to give student ID numbers over the phone.
If a student was enrolled in another Louisiana public school at any point during the school year, your activation code may be your previous SIDNO should your JP Schools SIDNO not work.
If you have questions or need help locating your child’s SIDNO, please call 504-365-5301
Keep Your New P-EBT Card.
All P-EBT benefits for each eligible child for the 2020-21 school year, and any potential future benefits, will be issued on the same card per child.
When will I receive my P-EBT card?
P-EBT benefits will be rolling out in the summer to qualifying households with children in grades K-12. Due to the number of cards being issued, it may take several weeks for a child’s card to arrive. Families are asked to be patient and not request a new card, as that would only cause more delay. Cards will be issued as DCFS receives information from each school. Therefore, families with more than one child may receive their children’s cards at different times, according to when each child’s school submitted their information.
Families may receive P-EBT benefits and also receive food from grab-and-go student meal sites. Receiving P-EBT benefits also does not affect a student’s or their family’s immigration status, as the public charge rule does not apply to P-EBT funds.
P-EBT benefits may be used to purchase SNAP-eligible food items at stores that accept EBT cards. The benefits are available for 365 days from the issue date and are non-transferable.
More information about P-EBT is available at www.pebt-la.org.