Kentucky Approved for P-EBT Benefits

The Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program is a financial resource for families with students who lost access to free or reduced-price school meals due to COVID-19. P-EBT provides households with an EBT card with funds (up to $313.50 per student) to spend on food at home for students. Kentucky has now been approved by USDA to provide these benefits. The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) and the Kentucky Department of Education are partnering in providing this benefit to families as quickly as possible. The program will be expedited in three specific groups of students.

• Group 1: CHFS direct certification public school students – Currently enrolled students who are receiving SNAP benefits on an active EBT card will automatically receive additional funds for P-EBT added on to their existing card beginning this week. Currently enrolled students who are receiving Medicaid or KTAP benefits based on income levels below the NSLP income guidelines, or who are in Foster Care, will automatically receive a P-EBT card in the mail.

• Group 2: All other eligible public school students – Beginning June 1st for 30 days all other eligible public school families will be able to opt-in to receive the benefit by applying on https://benefind.ky.gov/. Benefits will be processed immediately upon confirmation that the student had access to free or reduced lunch.

• Group 3: Private school students - Private school Food Service Directors are currently compiling the list of eligible students that will then be provided to KDE. All private school student benefits will be processed simultaneously.