Policy Memo
08/12/2021
Summary
This policy memorandum, in accordance with Section 1106 of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (P.L. 116-127), as amended by the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021, and Other Extensions Act (P.L. 116-159); the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (P.L. 116-260), and the American Rescue Plan Act, 2021 (P.L. 117-2), provides information and guidance on Summer 2021 Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for school-aged children and children in child care. The Summer 2021 P-EBT program is an extension of the School P-EBT and Child Care P-EBT benefits programs.
- A child is eligible to receive Summer 2021 School P-EBT benefits if the child meets the following criteria:
- The child must be enrolled in an eligible Illinois school at the end of the school year (May and/or June 2021);
- The child must attend a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program;
- The child must have been eligible to receive free or reduced-price meals through their eligible school in May and/or June 2021. Eligibility for free or reduced-price meals is based on the following:
- Enrollment in a Community Eligibility Provisions (CEP) school; or
- Income eligibility guidelines.
- The child must not have received Child Care P-EBT benefits through the Summer 2021 Child Care P-EBT issuance process.
- A child is eligible to receive Summer 2021 Child Care P-EBT benefits if the child meets the following criteria:
- The child was under 6 years of age as of 10/01/2020;
- The child was eligible for SNAP benefits for at least one month - May, June, or July 2021; and
- The child must not have received School P-EBT benefits through the Summer 2021 School P-EBT benefits issuance process.
- Student enrollment will be reviewed by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) to determine which children were enrolled in an eligible school and eligible to receive free or reduced-price meals in May and/or June 2021, or if they submit a new free or reduced-price meal application by 07/31/2021.
- Illinois schools will accept applications for students to receive free or reduced-price meals through 07/31/2021. Any free or reduced-price meal application received after the end of the school year will only qualify a child for Summer 2021 P-EBT benefits. Benefit eligibility will not be established for the prior school year.
- A notice will not be issued to households, however, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) will be available on the IDHS website with more information pertaining to Summer 2021 P-EBT benefits.
- Illinois will use the U.S. standard benefit amount set by Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) which is equal to the median number of weekdays in the sampled school districts multiplied by the daily P-EBT rate. That equals a fixed summer benefit of $375 per eligible child (55 days at $6.82 per day).
This policy memorandum, in accordance with Section 1106 of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (P.L. 116-127), as amended by the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021, and Other Extensions Act (P.L. 116-159); the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (P.L. 116-260), and the American Rescue Plan Act, 2021 (P.L. 117-2), provides information and guidance around Summer 2021 Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for children enrolled in school and children in child care.
Summer 2021 P-EBT
To receive Summer 2021 School P-EBT, the child must have been enrolled in an eligible Illinois school for the months of May and/or June 2021 and eligible for free or reduced-price meals during May and/or June 2021. An eligible school is defined as a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or is a Community Eligibility Provisions (CEP) school. To receive Summer 2021 Child Care P-EBT, the child must have been under the age of 6-years old as of 10/01/2020. The child must have also received SNAP benefits for one of the following months: May, June or July 2021.
The Summer 2021 P-EBT program is an extension of the School P-EBT and Child Care P-EBT benefits programs.
Eligibility for Summer 2021 P-EBT
- A child is eligible to receive Summer 2021 School P-EBT benefits if the child meets the following criteria:
- The child must be enrolled in an eligible Illinois school at the end of the school year (May and/or June 2021);
- The child must attend a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program;
- The child must have been eligible to receive free or reduced-price meals through their eligible school in May and/or June 2021. Eligibility for free or reduced-price meals is based on the following:
- Enrollment in a Community Eligibility Provisions (CEP) school; or
- Income eligibility guidelines.
- The child must not have received Child Care P-EBT benefits through the Summer 2021 Child Care P-EBT issuance process.
- A child is eligible to receive Summer 2021 Child Care P-EBT benefits if the child meets the following criteria:
- The child was under 6 years of age as of 10/01/2020; and
- The child was eligible for SNAP benefits for at least one month - May, June, or July 2021; and
- The child must not have received School P-EBT benefits through the Summer 2021 School P-EBT benefits issuance process.
Summer P-EBT Benefit Amount
Illinois will use the U.S. standard benefit amount set by Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) which is equal to the median number of weekdays in the sampled school districts multiplied by the daily P-EBT rate. That equals a fixed summer benefit of $375 per eligible child (55 days at $6.82 per day).
Availability Dates for Summer 2021 P-EBT
Summer 2021 School and Child Care P-EBT benefits will be available between August 11th and 20th, 2021. Later issuance dates will follow in September 2021 for any potentially unidentified children who are eligible for benefits.
Summer 2021 School P-EBT benefits will be systematically issued onto the eligible child's existing P-EBT Link card. If the child has never received School P-EBT benefits prior to summer, a new P-EBT account will be established for the child and new card will be mailed to the child in their name. Summer 2021 Child Care P-EBT benefits will be issued onto the household's existing SNAP Link card.
Individuals may request a new Link card by calling 1-800-678-5465(LINK) or by accessing the webpage at www.link.illinois.gov
Reminder: FCRCs can service P-EBT Link accounts like any other Link account. If the customer contacts the FCRC and the FCRC deems that the household is experiencing a situation that warrants a replacement card be provided right away, a regular Link card may be issued as a replacement.
FCRC Action
No action is required by FCRC staff to issue Summer 2021 P-EBT benefits. Individuals should be directed to the IDHS website and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for more information regarding Summer 2021 P-EBT benefits.
Client Notice
A client notice will not be sent to households regarding Summer 2021 P-EBT.
[signed copy on file]
Grace B. Hou
Secretary, Illinois Department of Human Services
Forms Referenced:
