Child Care Pandemic EBT (P-EBT)

07/08/2021

Policy Memo

Summary

• This policy memo under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (P.L. 116-127; the Act) as amended by the Continuing Appropriations Act of 2021 and Other Extensions Act (P.L 116-159), provides information regarding Child Care Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) benefits for children under the age of 6 years old. The child must have received Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in a SNAP household for one or all months between the date range of October 2020 and the end of the 2020-2021 school year. The child's eligibility is determined on a month-by-month basis, pending they meet the eligibility criteria.
•  The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) will issue Child Care P-EBT benefits statewide to SNAP units with children under the age of 6 years old who have not received School P-EBT benefits and lived in an eligible area where at least one school was closed or had reduced attendance due to COVID-19. For October 2020 through March 2021, the entire State was eligible. The eligible areas for April through June 2021 are not yet determined.
• Child Care P-EBT benefits are similar to Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) benefits issued for school-aged children; however, to receive Child Care P-EBT benefits, the child must meet certain eligibility requirements as follows:
  • The child must have been eligible for SNAP benefits for the benefit month in question.
  • Child was under the age 6 as of 10/01/2020.
  • An eligible child may receive Child Care P-EBT benefits as long as they have not received School P-EBT benefits for the same benefit month in question.
  • The child must live in an area where children were eligible for School P-EBT benefits during the month in question.
• Child Care P-EBT benefits will be systematically issued for each of the eligible months of 10/01/2020 through 03/31/2021 in July of 2021.  The issuances will be viewable in the Benefit Issuance Summary of the SNAP case. Later issuance dates will follow to cover the months of April, May, and June 2021.
• The Child Care P-EBT benefit amount is based on the average amount of P-EBT benefits issued for school-aged children. For the months of October 2020 through March 2021, the average is $109.12 for each month. The average amount for April through June 2021 is not yet determined.
• Child Care P-EBT benefits will be issued for the child through the existing SNAP unit's Illinois Link account. Households that are no longer receiving SNAP benefits, but were eligible during October 2020 through April 2021, may need to request a Link Card by calling 1-800-678-5465(LINK) or www.link.illinois.gov
• Client notice CN 21.07 Notice of Child Care Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) Benefits will be sent to households with eligible children, and Child Care P-EBT FAQ's will be available on the Illinois DHS website.
• No action will be required from FCRC staff to create these issuances, however customers may call the FCRC asking for details pertaining to the Child Care P-EBT program and eligibility. Customers can be directed to the IDHS website which include Child Care P-EBT Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

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This policy memo under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (P.L. 116-127; the Act) as amended by the Continuing Appropriations Act of 2021 and Other Extensions Act (P.L 116-159), provides information regarding Child Care Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) benefits for children under the age of 6 years old. The child must have received Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in a SNAP household for one or all months between the date range of October 2020 and the end of the 2020-2021 school year. The child's eligibility is determined on a month-by-month basis, pending they meet eligibility criteria.

Child Care Pandemic EBT (P-EBT)

• The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) will issue Child Care P-EBT benefits to SNAP units with children under the age of 6 years old who did not receive School P-EBT benefits and lived in an eligible area where at least one school was closed or had reduced attendance due to COVID-19. For October 2020 through March 2021, the entire State was eligible. IDHS is reviewing eligibility for each month between 10/01/2020 through the end of the 2020-2021 school year and will issue the appropriate benefit amount based on the number of months in the specified time-period that the child was in an eligible SNAP unit. IDHS will continue to review eligibility for the months of April, May, and June 2021.
• Child Care P-EBT benefits are similar to Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) benefits issued for school-aged children; however, to receive Child Care P-EBT benefits, the child must meet certain eligibility requirements as follows:

Issuance Dates for Child Care P-EBT Benefits

• Child Care P-EBT benefits will be issued for the months of 10/01/2020 through 03/31/2021 in June of 2021. Later issuance dates will follow to cover April, May, and June 2021. The average amount for April through June 20201 is not yet determined. Benefits will be issued systematically for eligible children under the age of 6 for the months they were eligible for SNAP beginning the month of 10/01/2020 through the end of the 2020-2021 school year. Child Care P-EBT benefits will be issued for the child through the existing SNAP unit's Illinois Link account. Households that are no longer receiving SNAP benefits, but were eligible during October 2020 through April 2021, may need to request a Link Card by calling 1-800-678-5465(LINK) or www.link.illinois.gov

Child Care P-EBT Benefit Amount

Eligible children will receive their benefit amount based on the average amount used for the P-EBT school-aged children, which is $6.82 per day/per child for each month they were eligible for SNAP benefits. The average amount for April through June 2021 is not yet determined. The monthly benefit amount for Child Care P-EBT covering the months of October 2020 through March 2021 will be an average of $109.12 for each month.

FCRC Action

No action will be required from FCRC staff to create these issuances, however customers may call the FCRC asking for details pertaining to the Child Care P-EBT program and eligibility. Customers can be directed to the IDHS website which include Child Care P-EBT Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

Client Notices

Client notice CN 21.07 Notice of Child Care Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) Benefits will be sent to households with eligible children, and Child Care P-EBT FAQ's will be available on the Illinois DHS website.

[signed copy on file]

Grace B. Hou

Secretary, Illinois Department of Human Services

Forms referenced: