Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) SNAP Benefits

PEBT for School year 2021/2022 is not yet approved for Illinois. Please check back later for an update!

What is Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer Benefits (P-EBT)?

  • P-EBT is a temporary food benefit program operating during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • P-EBT provides benefits to all eligible children without needing to apply. 

Who is eligible for School P-EBT benefits?

Your Child:

  • Must be enrolled in free or reduced-price school meals at a school operating the National School Lunch Program; OR,
  • Must be enrolled in a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), which offers breakfast and lunch free to all students; AND,
  • Must be without access to an in-school provided meal.

Your School:

  • Must operate the National School Lunch Program; AND,
  • Must have been closed or operating remote learning for at least 5 consecutive days at some point during the 2020-2021 School Year.

When will School P-EBT benefits start?

Beginning in March 2021, the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) in collaboration with the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), began issuing School P-EBT benefits to families with eligible children for the 2020-2021 school year. Families receiving regular SNAP and non-SNAP households can qualify for School P-EBT benefits

Who is eligible for Child Care Pandemic EBT (Child Care P-EBT )benefits for the 2021/2022 school year?

The child must meet following criteria to be eligible: :

  • Must be under the age of 6 as of 10/01/2021, and
  • Must have actively received SNAP benefits for one or more months between August 2021 through May 2022, assessed on a month by- month basis; and
  • Has not already received School P-EBT Benefits for the same month.

When will Child Care P-EBT benefits start being issued?

  • Benefits will be issued to eligible children between 06/11/2022 - 06/21/2022 for August 2021 through December 2021 benefits.
  • Benefits will be issued to eligible children 07/11/2022-07/21/2022 for the months of January through May 2022.

More Information on P-EBT for school year 2020/2021 and Summer 2021.

For more information, see Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on School P-EBT or Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on Child Care P-EBT or Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on Summer 2021 P-EBT.