Louisiana received federal approval to issue Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) benefits for the 2021-22 school year. Eligible students are those who normally receive free or reduced- price school meals but haven’t received those meals because of school-approved virtual learning schedules or approved quarantine caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Eligible students in approved FULLY VIRTUAL learning situations: $127.80 per month
• Eligible students in APPROVED QUARANTINE DUE TO COVID-19 for:
  • 1-5 school days in a month: $21.30 per month
  • 6-15 school days in a month: $71 per month 16 school days or more in a month: $127.80
  • Benefits will be retroactive (beginning Aug. 1, 2021) to cover the whole 2021-22 school year.Who’s eligible?

Your student is eligible for P-EBT if:

• He or she has an approved application for free- or reduced-price meals under the National School Lunch Program. This includes any student in a school that provides free meals to all students (under a special rule called “Community Eligibility Provision”), AND
• The student was on a school-approved fully virtual schedule or was out of school under a school- approved quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Each school and district sets its own COVID-19 protocols and attendance requirements. Non- compliance with school policies could affect your child’s eligibility. Your school will confirm your student’s situation.

No Application Needed!

Schools will determine student eligibility and provide DCFS with a list of eligible students and their learning situations. DCFS will issue benefits based on the information schools provide.

• IMPORTANT! If your child received P-EBT for the 2020-21 school year, the benefits for the 2021-22 school year will be issued on the same card.
• If your child is eligible but did not receive P-EBT for the 2020-21 school year, the student will receive a new card. Benefits for 2021-22 school year will be issued on a card in the student’s name.   Cards will be mailed to the address on record at the child’s school.
  • If you receive SNAP: P-EBT benefits will be issued on a separate EBT card in each eligible child’s name, not on your regular SNAP EBT card.
• STUDENT ID or Activation Number Needed: If you receive a new card, you will need your child’s student ID or activation number to enter in place of their Social Security Number when activating the P-EBT card. If you do not have your child’s student ID or activation number, please contact your child’s school.
• PLEASE KEEP YOUR P-EBT CARD: All P-EBT benefits for each eligible child for the 2021-22 school year,  and any potential future benefits, will be issued on  the same card per child. If the card is lost, stolen or damaged, a new one can be requested through the P-EBT Parent Portal, by calling the EBT customer service line at 1-888-997-1117 or through the LifeInCheck EBT mobile app.  

When will benefits be issued?

Any eligible P-EBT benefits will be issued in installments between April and May, depending on the submission of eligibility information by schools, and then on a monthly basis afterward. Benefits will be issued to the same card that was received for the 2020-21 school year. If you did not receive a card, it may take several weeks for you to receive your child’s card. Please be patient and do not request a new card, as that would only add to the delay of benefits being received.

Benefits will be issued as schools submit information and it is processed by DCFS. Therefore, families with more than one child may receive their children’s benefits at different times or may receive different benefit amounts, according to the information submitted by the schools.