Policy Memo
08/23/2023
Summary
- This policy memo under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (P.L. 116-127; the Act) as amended, Pursuant to Section 1101 of the Act through United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) provides information and guidance on Summer 2023 Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for children in schools.
- The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) along with Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has approved Summer 2023 Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) benefits following the end of the Public Health Emergency (PHE) for eligible school children.
- School-aged children must continue to meet eligibility criteria for Summer 2023 P-EBT benefits.
- Students that attend a school that does not participates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) will be ineligible to receive P-EBT benefits.
- Summer 2023 P-EBT benefits will not be issued to children in child care.
- The standard P-EBT benefit amount will be $120.00 for all eligible children and is only a portion of the summer value due to the end of the Public Health Emergency (PHE) on May 11, 2023.
- P-EBT benefits for School Year 2022-2023 will be issued in September 2023.
- Client notices will be sent to households following Summer 2023 P-EBT and School Year 2022-2023 P-EBT issuances. Staff should direct customers to the IDHS website for more information or they can email: dhs.fcs.pebt@illinois.gov or contact the P-EBT Call Center at 1-833-621-0737.
This policy memo under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (P.L. 116-127; the Act) as amended, Pursuant to Section 1101 of the Act through United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) provides information and guidance on Summer 2023 Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for children in schools.
Summer 2023 P-EBT
In order to receive Summer 2023 P-EBT benefits, the child must have been enrolled in an eligible Illinois school for the months of May and/or June 2023 and eligible for free or reduced-price meals during May and/or June 2023. A child is eligible to receive Summer 2023 School P-EBT benefits if the child meets the following criteria:
- Attended a school that participated in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) at the end of the 2022-2023 school year (end of PHE May 11, 2023) or attended a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) school in the 2022-2023 school year.
- Is eligible to receive free or reduced priced meals during the 2022-2023 school year.
- Children who are approved by application for free or reduced priced school meals during the 2022-2023 school year.
- Children who are determined newly eligible for free or reduced priced meals for the 2022-2023 school year.
NOTE: Child Care children will not receive Summer 2023 P-EBT benefits.
Summer 2023 P-EBT Benefit Amount
Illinois will use the U.S. standard benefit amount set by FNS. The benefit amount equals a fixed summer benefit of $120 per eligible child for school children. Summer 2023 P-EBT is a portion of the summer value due to the PHE ending May 11, 2023.
Summer 2023 P-EBT Benefit Availability Dates
Issuances for Summer 2023 P-EBT will begin between 08/16/2023 through 08/27/2023. Summer 2023 P-EBT Benefits for potentially unidentified children and children determined newly eligible will be issued September 2023. The following chart provides the availability dates based on first letter of the child last name:
|
Summer 2023 P-EBT
Availability Dates
|
Issuance by First Letter
of Last Name
|
| 16th |
A |
| 17th |
B |
| 18th |
C |
| 19th |
D,E,F |
| 20th |
G |
| 21st |
H,I |
| 22nd |
J,K,L |
| 23rd |
M |
| 24th |
N,O,P |
| 25th |
Q,R |
| 26th |
S,T |
| 27th |
U,V,W,X,Y,Z |
Summer 2023 P-EBT IES Systematic Issuances
Summer 2023 P-EBT benefits will be systematically issued onto the eligible child's P-EBT card and will be viewable on the Benefits Summary Screen and within the P-EBT module in IES. If the child has never received P-EBT benefits prior to summer, a new P-EBT account will be established for the child and a new card will be mailed to the child in their name.
FCRC Action
No action is required by FCRC staff to issue Summer 2023 P-EBT benefits. Staff should direct customers to the IDHS website and Summer 2023 P-EBT FAQs for more information, or they can contact the P-EBT Call Center at 1-833-621-0737 or email P-EBT at: dhs.fcs.pebt@illinois.gov.
Client Notice
A client notice will not be sent to households regarding Summer 2023 P-EBT. However, workers should direct customers to the IDHS website and Summer 2023 P-EBT FAQs for more information, or they can contact the P-EBT Call Center at 1-833-621-0737 or email P-EBT at: dhs.fcs.pebt@illinois.gov.
[signed copy on file]
Grace B. Hou
Secretary, Illinois Department of Human Services
Forms Referenced:
