Frequently Asked Questions
Here are a few ways that 2022 P-EBT will be different from 2021 P-EBT:
Mississippi was authorized to issue P-EBT benefits to more children this year. This includes children who were under age 6 and receiving SNAP benefits during the 2021-22 school year or 2022 summer months.
The eligibility criteria for K-12 students is simpler. The only factor considered in determining whether a K-12 student is eligible for P-EBT benefits is whether they were eligible for Free or Reduced Priced Lunch under the National School Lunch program at their school during the 2021-22 school year. Whether K-12 students attended virtually or in-person will not be part of determining their eligibility or benefit amounts at this time.
Benefit amounts have changed. Eligible K-12 students will receive one payment of $391. Eligible SNAP Under 6 kids will also receive one payment, but the amount will vary based on when and how long they received SNAP benefits.
All eligible children will be issued a new P-EBT card. For K-12 students, the P-EBT card will be mailed to the address provided by the child’s 2021-22 school district. For SNAP Under 6 children, the P-EBT card will be mailed to the family’s most updated address on file with the SNAP program.
There will be more call center staff. There will be more than 4x as many call center staff members available to assist families.
There will be a new process for updating mailing addresses. Families that need to update their mailing address will be able to submit an address update request form online or by calling the call center.
Two groups of children are eligible to receive 2022 P-EBT benefits:
Group 1 – K-12 Students
Children who were enrolled in grades Pre-K through 12 and were eligible for the Free or Reduced Lunch Program in their school during the 2021-22 school year are eligible for 2022 P-EBT.
Only students who were enrolled as of the last day of the 2021-22 school year are eligible.
While students in all MS public schools received meals for no charge during the 2021-2022 school year due to USDA waivers, eligibility for P-EBT is limited to those students who would have been eligible for free or reduced-price meals under normal school meals operations as part of the National School Lunch Program.
There are three ways that children were approved:
- In some schools, every child is eligible for free or reduced-priced lunch every year under the National School Lunch Program. These are called CEP schools.
- Click this link for a list of 2021-22 school year CEP schools.
- Children who receive SNAP benefits are automatically approved for free or reduced-price lunches.
- Families were able to submit an application form for free or reduced-price lunch for the 2021 – 2022 school year through July 31, 2022. Families who submitted an application received a letter stating whether their application was approved or not.
Completing an application for free or reduced-priced lunch during the 2022-23 school year after July 31 does NOT make a child eligible for 2022 P-EBT benefits.
Group 2 – SNAP Kids Under 6
Children who were under the age of 6 as of September 1, 2022 and received SNAP benefits for any month between August 2021 and July 2022.
Children who qualify under both groups (e.g. children under 6 who received SNAP benefits and attended K-4 during the 2021-22 school year) will receive benefits under Group 2 – SNAP Kids Under 6. They will not receive benefits under both groups.
Group 1 – K-12 Students
Children who were enrolled in grades K through 12 and were eligible for the Free or Reduced Lunch Program in their school during the 2021-22 school year will receive a one-time payment of $391.
This benefit is set by federal rules.
Group 2 – SNAP Kids Under 6
Children who were under 6 and were members of an SNAP case in Mississippi between August 2021 and July 2022 will receive benefits based on which months they received SNAP benefits. These benefit amounts are set by federal rules.
Benefits for all the months when the child was enrolled in SNAP will be added together and distributed in a single payment.
- The benefit amount for each of the fall 2021 months (August – December) is $33 per month.
- The benefit amount for the Spring 2022 months (January – May) is $34 per month.
- The benefit amount for Summer 2022 (June-July) is $391 total, not per month.
Fall 2021 and Spring 2022
The fall and spring monthly amounts are based on the percentage of child care facilities that were not able to serve meals during the school year in Mississippi.
| Months Enrolled in SNAP | Amount |
| August 2021 | $33 |
| September 2021 | $33 |
| October 2021 | $33 |
| November 2021 | $33 |
| December 2021 | $33 |
| January 2022 | $34 |
| February 2022 | $34 |
| March 2022 | $34 |
| April 2022 | $34 |
| May 2022 | $34 |
Summer 2022
There is a separate benefit amount for the summer months. Federal rules allow Mississippi to offer a single summer benefit amount to eligible children who participated in SNAP during June or July 2022.
| 2022 Summer | Amount |
| Enrolled in SNAP June or July 2022 | One benefit amount of $391 |
SNAP Under 6 children must have received SNAP benefits in Mississippi during either June or July 2022 in order to receive this benefit.
Here are four examples of different scenarios and the amount of benefits each child would receive:
Example A:
Child 1 was under age 6 as of September 1, 2022 and was part of a Mississippi SNAP case from November 2021-April 2022. The child was not part of a SNAP household in Mississippi after April 2022.
Child 1’s PEBT benefit amount for 2022 would be $202, because they would receive a $33 benefit for November and December 2021 and a $34 benefit for January, February, March, and April 2022.
Example B:
Child 2 was under age 6 as of September 1, 2022 and was part of a Mississippi SNAP case in July 2022, but did not receive SNAP benefits before that month.
Child 2’s PEBT benefit amount for 2022 would be $391 because they will receive the Summer benefit amount of $391.
Example C:
Child 3 was under age 6 as of September 1, 2022 and was part of a SNAP case in Mississippi in May 2022 and June 2022, but did not receive SNAP benefits before May or after July.
Child 3’s PEBT benefit amount for 2022 would be $425 because they will receive a $34 benefit for the month of May 2022 and the Summer benefit amount of $391.
Example D:
Child 4 was under age 6 as of September 1, 2022 and was part of a Mississippi SNAP case in June and July 2022, but did not receive SNAP before June 2022.
Child 4’s PEBT benefit amount for 2022 would be $391 because they will receive the Summer benefit amount of $391.
Each eligible child in your household will receive a new P-EBT card with the child’s name on it. This will be mailed to the most up-to-date address on file with the school your child attended during the 2021-22 school year.
Group 2 – SNAP Kids Under 6
Each eligible child in your household will receive a P-EBT card with the child’s name on it. The card will be mailed to your last address on file with the SNAP program.
Please consult the list below from the USDA:
P-EBT funds can purchase any food for the household, such as:
- Fruits and vegetables;
- Meat, poultry, and fish;
- Dairy products;
- Breads and cereals;
- Other foods such as snack foods and non-alcoholic beverages; and
- Seeds and plants, which produce food for the household to eat.
Households CANNOT use P-EBT benefits to buy:
- Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes, or tobacco
- Vitamins, medicines, and supplements. If an item has a Supplement Facts label, it is considered a supplement and is not eligible for SNAP purchase.
- Live animals (except shellfish, fish removed from water, and animals slaughtered prior to pick-up from the store).
- Foods that are hot at the point of sale
- Any nonfood items such as:
- Pet foods
- Cleaning supplies, paper products, and other household supplies.
- Hygiene items, cosmetics
These are the same guidelines that apply to SNAP benefits.
We anticipate that P-EBT benefits will be issued in October 2022.
2022 P-EBT benefits will be issued in a single payment.
P-EBT benefits do not have to be spent immediately. P-EBT benefits will expire after a minimum of 9 months of inactivity on the card. Using your P-EBT card at least once every 274 days will prevent your P-EBT benefits from being taken back.
This means that if you receive a P-EBT payment on October 15, 2022 you have until at least July 15, 2023 to spend those funds.
All eligible K-12 students will receive one standard P-EBT benefit amount of $391 regardless of whether their school attendance was impacted by Covid. The number of days a child was at home for Covid-related reasons is not part of the benefit calculation for K-12 students this year.
No. Mississippi was only approved to offer P-EBT benefits to students in public schools and private schools that operate the National School Lunch Program and to children who were under age 6 and participating in SNAP during the covered period.
Mississippi was approved to offer P-EBT benefits to children who were under age 6 and participating in SNAP during the covered period. Other Headstart children who were not receiving SNAP benefits between August 2021 and July 2022 are not eligible for P-EBT.
Mississippi was approved to offer P-EBT benefits to children who were under age 6 and participating in SNAP during the covered period. Other pre-school children who were not receiving SNAP benefits between August 2021 and July 2022 are not eligible for P-EBT.
Yes, each eligible child in your household will receive a new P-EBT card with the child’s name on it.
Yes. You should keep your card until MDHS & MDE announce that the P-EBT program has ended.
Group 1 – K-12 Students
The parent or guardian listed in the Mississippi Department of Education records provided to MDHS will receive the funds. This is typically the individual who registered your child for school during the 2020-21 school year.
Group 2 – SNAP Kids Under 6
The head of household listed on the SNAP case that the child was most recently part of when the data is pulled in late July will receive the funds.