Chattanooga, TN – According to the statement, the TDHS announced three new developments with the administration of the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Program.

School Year 2021/2022 P-EBT – the distribution of P-EBT benefits covering the 2021/2022 school year will begin on July 30, 2022. Eligibility for P-EBT is based on National School Lunch Program qualification and school attendance related to COVID-19. P-EBT benefits are available to children who:

  • Are eligible to receive free meals through the National School Lunch Program or attend a Community Eligibility Program, Provision 2 or 3 school.
  • Attended a school that experienced a closure or reduction of hours of 5 consecutive days.
  • Had a COVID-19 related absence reported to their school during the 2021/2022 school year.

Children are automatically enrolled in P-EBT for the 2021/2022 school year according to records provided by Tennessee schools regarding excused absences and closures related to COVID-19. No application is required.

Eligible children will receive approximately $7.10 per each excused absence day, related to COVID-19. The total amount of P-EBT benefits will vary for each eligible child.

If the child already has an active P-EBT card, benefits will be added to that card. If a new P-EBT card is needed please visit www.connectebt.com or call 1 (888) 997-9444. If the child has not received P-EBT before, a new EBT card will be mailed to their home.

School Year 2021/2022 P-EBT Reconsideration Process – parents who believe their child’s School Year 2021/2022 P-EBT benefits do not reflect the number of school meals missed due to COVID-19-related school closures or excused absences during the 2021/2022 school year can submit a Reconsideration request via the P-EBT Parent Portal at https://onedhs.tn.gov/parent. Requests must be made between July 22, 2022 and August 29, 2022. 

P-EBT is administered by the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) in partnership with the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE). Both departments were instrumental in developing P-EBT plans and taking the steps necessary to identify eligible children and distribute benefits.

Child Care P-EBT (For SNAP Households) – the Child Care P-EBT program provides financial assistance to cover meals for children ages 6 and under, living within households that receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and may have missed meals due to Child Care interruptions caused by COVID-19. To be eligible for Child Care P-EBT children must:

·       Be 6 years old or under, and

·       Live in a household currently receiving SNAP food assistance benefits

Child Care P-EBT benefits will be issued in one lump sum payment on July 28, 2022 on the household’s existing SNAP EBT card. The amount of Child Care P-EBT benefits will vary for each eligible child and household based on the child’s age and number of months over the August 2021 to May 2022 timeframe in which the family received SNAP benefits.