TN Families Can Now Apply for Pandemic EBT Program

The Tennessee Department of Human Services and the Tennessee Department of Education have announced that Tennessee families are now eligible to receive financial support for their children’s nutritional needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. This support is provided through the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program.

Under the new P-EBT program, families of children who receive free or reduced meals at school or attend a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) school may receive financial assistance to replace school meals while schools were closed during March, April and May. The program will provide parents with $5.70 per child for each day that child qualifies for P-EBT.

Parents, who already receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits, do not need to apply. The funds began arriving on the EBT card they already use beginning on June 12.

Parents who do not receive SNAP benefits, but whose child or children were enrolled in Lawrence County Schools on March 13, 2020, will need to apply for P-EBT online if they wish to receive benefits. In order to be eligible for P-EBT benefits children must receive free or reduced meals at school or attend a CEP school (Ingram Sowell) and be enrolled in Lawrence County Schools. The application is available on-line at tdhs.service-now.com

The application period will be open from June 15 – 29, 2020.

Individuals who need assistance completing their P-EBT application or have general questions about the program are encouraged to call the TDHS hotline at 1-833-496-0661 and select option 3.