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Apply for the Colorado Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) Benefit

By Christen Reiner, Macaroni Kid Lakewood-Littleton & Macaroni Kid Denver Editor and Publisher August 7, 2020


Did your children qualify for free or reduced-price school meals during the 2019-2020 school year? Was your income reduced during March, April, and/or May?

If you said yes to either of these questions, you may be eligible to receive up to $279 per child to help offset the cost of meals missed at school this spring due to COVID-19 closures through the Colorado P-EBT program.

In an effort to support Colorado’s families during the COVID-19 epidemic, CDHS and the Colorado Department of Education have teamed up to secure USDA approval to issue Pandemic-EBT (P-EBT) benefits to school-age children who would have received free or reduced-price meals during the time that schools have been closed. 

Because schools have been closed due to COVID-19, some students have experienced increased food insecurity while not being at school to receive meals. P-EBT is a way to re-direct funding that usually supports school meals directly to families. 

HOW IT WORKS

What you will need to apply:

  • Name of each student you are applying for
  • Birthdate of each student you are applying for
  • State Issued ID Number (or SASID) for each student (this is NOT your students' school ID numbers)
  • Legal name of the head of household
  • Birthdate of the head of household
  • Phone number 
  • Mailing address
  • Your income for the months of March, April and May

Are you eligible?

  • Families with children eligible for free or reduced-price school meals in the 2019-2020 school year are eligible to apply.
  • Students not already participating in the free or reduced-price meal program could potentially be eligible for P-EBT depending on household size and income; this could be the case for families with school-aged children that lost income during COVID-19 school closures. 
  • Eligibility for your family for P-EBT benefits will be checked via the application.
  • Immigration status is not considered in your eligibility for P-EBT.
  • P-EBT is not part of the public charge (formerly referred to as food stamps).

What if I already have an EBT card from SNAP?

  • Colorado families who currently receive SNAP benefits and whose children attend a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program, no action will be needed from the family and benefits will have been automatically issued starting Wednesday, July 22.
  • If you did not receive your benefits on your current EBT card, you are encouraged to apply
  • P-EBT benefits will not affect your SNAP eligibility.

Can I still participate in the Grab and Go meal sites program offered by the CDE?

  • Yes. P-EBT benefits will supplement the grab-and-go meal sites created in response to COVID-19 school closures. They do not replace them. 
  • Find a meal site in your community.  
  • Families are encouraged to use both resources.

What happens next?

  • If approved, a P-EBT card will be sent in the mail with money on it for groceries, along with instructions on how to use it.
  • If you currently have an EBT card from any Colorado program such as Food Assistance (SNAP), Colorado Works, or Old Age Pension, your money will be loaded to that card! 
  • Email PEBT2020@state.co.us if you need a new EBT card (if you previously had one). Include the applicant’s name, date of birth, mailing address, phone number, State Issued ID Number (or SASID), and P-EBT application reference number.
  • If you have not heard about your eligibility determination after two weeks, email PEBT2020@state.co.us.



Still have questions? Check out a list of FAQ's here.