Update 4/1/21

Housing Assistance for Renters Coming Soon! Get your paperwork together.

Update: 2/19/21

Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer

Who is eligible for the 2020-2021 P-EBT Program?

To be eligible, K-12 students must qualify for free or reduced-price meals and their school must also meet certain requirements. Students qualify for free or reduced-price meals in one of three ways:

• Receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) or Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (Tribal TANF) benefits

• Enrolled in a Community Eligibility Provision school

• Approved for free or reduced-price school meals through the Application for Education Benefits at the child’s school.

In addition, their school must meet certain requirements for each month of benefits. Qualifying students receive monthly benefits when:

• The school reports distance learning for a majority of the month OR

• The school reports hybrid learning for a majority of the month OR

• The student elected distance learning for at least 11 days in a month.

How much will I receive? When and how will I receive it?

For eligible children in qualifying schools, benefits will be calculated based on whether the school was in a distance or hybrid status for the majority of the month. As a result, families will receive different benefit amounts, and some families may receive different benefit amounts for each child. Benefits will be retroactive to September 2020.

Students who spent the majority of the month in distance learning will receive $130 in P-EBT benefits for that month. Students who spent the majority of the month in hybrid learning will receive $75 in P-EBT benefits for that month. Students who spent the majority of the month doing in-person learning will not receive P-EBT benefits for that month. Please see the frequently asked questions page for more details.

The Minnesota Department of Human Services expects to begin issuing P-EBT benefits in late March 2021. One new P-EBT card per child will be mailed to the address on file with child’s school. Please notify your child’s school if your address has changed. Cards will be labeled with the child’s name and P-EBT case number. After the initial benefits are issued in late March, additional benefits will be issued monthly on the same card for the remainder of the school year.

What do I need to do now?

To receive benefits, your child must be enrolled in SNAP, the Minnesota Family Investment Program, Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or approved for free or reduced-price school meals through their school. There is no separate P-EBT application process for school year 2020-2021.

Your family’s eligibility for the 2020-2021 P-EBT program may be different from your eligibility for the 2019-2020 P-EBT program. To ensure your child is considered for benefits covering the full school year:

• Make sure your school has your current address and contact information

• Apply for free or reduced-price school meals by asking your school for an Application for Educational Benefits if you are not already approved for free or reduced-price meals for the 2020-2021 school year.

If you have questions, please contact your child’s school.

To ensure your benefits arrive as soon as possible, be sure to qualify for free or reduced-price school meals before Feb. 28, 2021.

To apply for Free and Reduced Meals, click here. If you need a paper copy of the application, please call 763-506-3766 or email xiong.vue@ahschools.us.