The Families First Coronavirus Response Act includes a benefit called Pandemic-EBT (P-EBT) for children who received free or reduced-price school meals in the 2019-2020 school year, but their school was closed. The Georgia Division of Family & Children Services (DFCS) in partnership with the Georgia Department of Education (DOE) has been approved to operate the new P-EBT program, according to a press release issued by the Liberty County School System.

This program will provide extra help to families of more than 1.1 million children who normally would receive free or reduced school lunch. Families will receive a onetime allotment of $256.50 in total P-EBT benefits per child. Families who are currently receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly Food Stamps) do not need to apply for P-EBT benefits. Eligible SNAP recipients will receive a P-EBT benefit preloaded on their existing Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card. The program is also available to families not currently receiving SNAP but approved for the free or reduced school lunch program. These families will need to submit a formal application (link below) to receive P-EBT benefits. Each child’s GTID number is a requirement for the application, so contact your child’s school if you do not have this number. 

Once the application is approved, an EBT card will be mailed to the family within three (3) to four (4) weeks. The family will receive information with their P-EBT card in the mail explaining how to activate and use their P-EBT card. Pandemic-EBT Resources State P-EBT online application URL address and deadline: https://dfcs.georgia.gov/pandemic-electronic-benefit-transfer 

The P-EBT application was released on July 28, 2020. Applicants will have 60 days to request benefits before the application cycle closes on September 25. For state P-EBT troubleshooting, call Customer Contact Center (toll-free): 877-423- 4746. For state P-EBT general information, email customer_servicesdfcs@dhs.ga.gov. For state P-EBT general information phone number: 404-657-3433.