Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) frequently asked questions

Families with school-aged children must complete an Application for Educational Benefits (free or reduced-price meals) through their child’s school. Please note that for students attending in-person learning, applications must be submitted to the school by the date set by your child’s school to be eligible for P-EBT summer benefits.

Students who are homeschooled or attend a virtual school due to a concern about COVID must complete an Application for P-EBT Benefits for Homeschool and Virtual Students through the local school district. 

Parents of children who are aged 5 and younger (born Sept. 2, 2016 or later) and enrolled in SNAP, MFIP or Tribal TANF and who meet eligibility requirements will receive benefits. Families who are not currently enrolled in SNAP, MFIP or Tribal TANF are encouraged to apply at MNbenefits.mn.gov or contact their local county or Tribal human services agency for additional information. Families do not need to apply separately for P-EBT benefits.

For the 2022-23 school year, a limited number of homeschooled students and students attending a virtual school may be eligible for benefits during the school year if they meet the eligibility criteria in compliance with USDA rules.

Students who are homeschooled or who attend a virtual school are not eligible for summer benefits.  See the Eligibility section on the main P-EBT webpage. See the Eligibility section on the main P-EBT webpage.

Yes, P-EBT benefits are separate from other assistance programs. 

Congress prohibited states from providing P-EBT benefits during a covered summer period to children who did not attend a school participating in the National School Lunch Program at the end of the school year immediately preceding the summer. This means that during a covered summer period, states may not issue benefits to homeschooled children or children attending virtual schools that do not participate in the lunch program.

Under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, once the public health emergency ends on May 11, 2023, children ages 5 and younger will not be eligible for P-EBT benefits in the summer of 2023.

The public health emergency ends on May 11, 2023. Benefits will not be issued for any days missed due to COVID-19 after May 11 through the end of the 2022-2023 school year.

The Summer 2023 P-EBT benefit will be available to eligible students who attended in-person schooling. See the Eligibility section on the main P-EBT webpage.

Summer 2023 P-EBT benefits will not be available to children ages 5 and younger. 

Summer 2023 P-EBT benefits will not be available to homeschooled or virtual learning students.

All funds must be distributed by Sept. 30, 2023.

Families can opt out of receiving P-EBT benefits by contacting the school’s P-EBT coordinator.

If your family did not apply for free or reduced-price meals but received a P-EBT card, your student might attend a Community Eligibility Provision school. These are designated schools or districts where at least 40% of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals. All students who attend Community Eligibility Provision schools are automatically eligible for P-EBT benefits. 

Children who are enrolled in Medicaid may also be eligible for P-EBT benefits. Students who are enrolled in Medicaid and absent from school due to a COVID-19 impact are issued P-EBT benefits for the days of school they missed unless their parents or legal guardians have opted out of receiving them. 

If your family received a P-EBT card but you do not want to use the benefits, you can destroy the card.

If children previously received school-based P-EBT benefits, benefits for the current school year will be loaded onto their existing P-EBT card. If families no longer have their P-EBT card, they can request a replacement card through EBT Edge by calling 888-997-2227. There is a $2 fee to replace the card.

Newly eligible students will receive a new P-EBT card. Please allow up to four weeks after the department notifies you of your eligibility to receive your card. The department will notify you via text or email, unless you have opted out of receiving messages.

Benefits for eligible children age 5 and younger will automatically be loaded onto the household’s SNAP EBT card.

A student will receive $8.18 per day in food benefits for each school day missed due to a COVID-19 impact and reported by the school to the Minnesota Department of Education. The total daily benefit is equal to the reimbursement for free breakfast, lunch and snack for the 2022-23 school year. The Summer P-EBT benefit is a one-time issuance of $120. The amount has been set by Congress in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023.

Eligible students who are homeschooled or attend a virtual school will receive benefits for the number of instructional days based on the state school calendar, with the total number of days being modified to the end of the federal public health emergency.

Eligible children who were age 5 or younger on Sept. 1, 2022, received $35 for every month of eligibility between September and December 2022. Eligible children will receive $34 for every month of eligibility between January and April 2023 and $16 for May. The amount is based on Child and Adult Care Food Program data collected by the Minnesota Department of Education. 

A COVID impact is defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as:

• Any absence from school where the school directs students to stay home for a COVID-19-related reason. An absence is considered a COVID impact as long as the students are home at the school’s direction, and the school is acting out of “concern” about COVID-19. This would include a school-ordered quarantine of a student, a group of students, a classroom or a school. It would also include any other stay-at-home order mandated by the school, whatever its duration, as long as it is part of the school’s or the state’s protocol for managing COVID-19 outbreaks, positive tests and potential exposure.  
• Any absence from school reported by the parent that is recognized and accepted by school officials as COVID-19-related and submitted by the school to the Minnesota Department of Education. 

COVID impact dates and school closures do not include weekends or days when the school is closed due to a holiday or regularly scheduled break (e.g., Thanksgiving, New Year’s Day, spring break).

Please note that dates are estimates and subject to change.

School-aged students

• May 2023: Benefits will be issued for eligible days from September 2022 through March 2023.
• July 24-26, 2023: Benefits will be issued for eligible days from April 2023 through the end of the federal public health emergency, as well as September 2022 through March 2023 for eligible students who did not receive benefits in May.

Homeschooled and virtual/online students

• May 2023: A very limited number of students may receive benefits for instructional days from September 2022 through March 2023.
• July 24-26, 2023: Benefits will be issued for instructional days from September 2022 through the end of the federal public health emergency. For those who received benefits in May, the July benefit will cover instructional days from April 2023 through the end of the public health emergency. 

Children 5 and younger

• May 2023: Benefits will be issued for September through December 2022.
• July 31-Aug. 4, 2023: Benefits will be issued for January 2023 through the end of the federal public health emergency.

Summer P-EBT benefits for school-age students

• July 24-26, 2023: One-time issuance of $120 for summer benefits.
• August 2023: Issuance of summer benefits for eligible students who were missed in the July distribution of benefits.

Congress required that the P-EBT benefit for the entire 2023 summer period not exceed $120 per eligible child in the contiguous United States.

P-EBT benefits on the card will expire after nine months if they have not been used. Once removed, these benefits cannot be replaced. 

You can check your P-EBT balance by:

• Looking on your latest grocery receipt 
• Contacting EBT Edge Customer Service at 888-997-2227 or by visiting www.ebtEDGE.com 
• Downloading the free ebtEDGE mobile app at www.FISGLOBAL.COM/EBTEDGEMOBILE. 

If you have questions about your P-EBT benefits, contact the P-EBT Call Center at 651-431-4608 or 833-454-0153, or submit a Help Form at pebthelp.state.mn.us. .

There are many reasons why one child in a household receives benefits while others do not. Call center staff can review your household information and help you understand who did and did not receive benefits, and why.

The P-EBT Call Center can be reached Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., at 651-431-4608 or 833-454-0153. You can also submit questions online by using our P-EBT Help Form. 

Unfortunately, all P-EBT benefits for the prior school year have been issued. The Department of Education and the Department of Human Services are no longer looking back for missed payments.

Cards can be activated by contacting EDGE at 888-997-2227 or visiting ebtEDGE.com or downloading the EBT app available at www.fisglobal.com/en/ebtedgemobile. 

You will need the child’s full name, date of birth and mailing zip code. 

Families who are homeless or who received their P-EBT card directly from their school will need the zip code for the school the child attends.

There are several troubleshooting steps you can take if you are having trouble setting your PIN. These should be followed in order until you have successfully created a new PIN.

1. If you are using the English-language system, ensure that you are entering your child’s date of birth as follows: two-digit month, two-digit day, four-digit year (e.g., 04052021 for April 5, 2021).
   If you are using the Spanish-language system, ensure that you are entering your child’s date of birth as follows: two-digit day, two-digit month, four-digit year (e.g., 05042021 for April 5, 2021).
2. Check the address that’s on the envelope your card came in and use the zip code that’s printed there.
3. Try using the zip code of your school.
4. Try setting the PIN on the webpage at ebtEDGE.com.
5. Try setting the PIN using the mobile app at www.fisglobal.com/en/ebtedgemobile.
6. Choose a complex PIN. Common PINS such as 1111 or 1234 or 9876 etc. are not allowed.
7. Call EBT EDGE at Edge Customer Service at 888-997-2227.
8. Contact the P-EBT Call Center and let them know you have tried the steps above and are still unable to set a PIN.

Call EBT Edge Customer Service at 888-997-2227. You have four tries each day to enter your correct PIN. After four incorrect attempts, you cannot use your card until 12:01 a.m. the next day or until you reset your PIN, whichever is sooner.

To use EBT card support, you may need to verify you are the authorized user of the card by validating your identity and address. If you have moved, please validate using the address you listed on your application.

If you received your P-EBT card directly from your school, you may need to provide the school’s name and address to verify your use of the card.

You can request a replacement card by contacting EBT Edge at 888-997-2227 or by visiting ebtEDGE.com. There is a $2 fee to replace a card. EBT Edge customer service staff is available 24 hours per day, seven days per week.

When calling EDGE, you will be asked to enter the card number. If you do not have a card, please wait until a customer service representative comes on the line. It may take a minute for someone to reply.

EBT Edge can also help you:

• Activate your card
• Check your balance
• Review past transactions, including benefit payments.

P-EBT benefits can be used to purchase the same items that can be purchased by SNAP benefits. For information on what can be purchased with P-EBT, visit USDA’s “What can SNAP Buy?” webpage. Additional information is available in the How to use your MN EBT Card (PDF) brochure.
At the store, use your P-EBT card like a debit card:

• Select “EBT”
• Swipe the card
• Enter your private PIN number.

P-EBT benefits can be used to buy food online from multiple retailers. Visit Stores Accepting SNAP Online for an up-to-date list. 

Learn more about using your card for online purchases.

There are many ways you can check your P-EBT food benefit balance.

• After each food purchase, you can find the balance of your benefits on the receipt.
• Call EBT Edge Customer Service at 888-997-2227.
• Download the EBT app available at www.fisglobal.com/en/ebtedgemobile.
• Go to www.ebtEDGE.com, select the ‘Cardholder Login” and log in using your user ID and password. You can:
  • Check your balance and transaction history
  • Sign up for text message notifications if desired.

Please note: If you received your P-EBT card directly from your school, you may need to provide the school’s name and address to verify your use of the card when calling EBT Edge.

No. P-EBT cards are issued in the name of each eligible child. The name on the card does not need to match the name of the person purchasing the groceries. 

Stores that accept EBT cards (including both the Minnesota EBT card and P-EBT card) are not permitted to ask the purchaser for identification to use the card. EBT cards are secured through their PIN number, not identification. You must enter your PIN to use the benefits stored on your card. 

If a store requires identification to use your P-EBT card, please contact SNAPRetailerComplaints@usda.gov to report the incident.

Yes. Multiple P-EBT cards can be used for the same transaction. Store staff can provide additional instructions.

P-EBT food benefits on the card expire after nine months of not being used. Benefits will be removed nine months after the last date of activity on the card. Once removed, benefits cannot be replaced.

P-EBT cards are intended to be used by the family member who most frequently provides meals for the children named on the card in the benefit month.

If you did not receive a P-EBT card but were notified that you were eligible, please complete the P-EBT Help Form.

If you are having a problem using a P-EBT card, please contact EBT Edge by calling 888-997-2227 or visiting www.ebtEDGE.com.

If EBT Edge is unable to resolve problems with your P-EBT card, such as address changes or date of birth questions, please complete the P-EBT Help Form.

Contact EBT Edge at 1-888-997-2227 or www.ebtedge.com immediately to notify them that your card has been stolen. By reporting your card stolen, the card will be cancelled. Calls are answered 24 hours a day. 

When calling EDGE, you will be asked to enter the card number. If you do not have the card number, wait until a customer service representative comes on the line. It may take a minute for someone to reply.

Unfortunately, in compliance with federal regulations, stolen P-EBT benefits cannot be replaced, so it is important to report any theft immediately.

You are also encouraged to report any theft to your local police department.

Skimming happens when someone steals card and PIN information from EBT cards using a skimming device placed on top of a store’s card swiping machine. 

Take steps to prevent scams: 

• Check the card swiping machine for any overlays or irregularities. 
• Change your PIN regularly.
• Freeze your card when it is not in use.
• Avoid keeping a large balance in your EBT account.
• Check your balances and report any problems right away.

The Minnesota Department of Human Services sends periodic text messages and/or emails with updates and information about P-EBT benefits to families who provided a valid cell phone number or email address to their children’s school. 

All text messages come from 1-855-965-0703 and include instructions for opting out of future text messages. Texts messages will not be sent to families who opt out of receiving them or to those who have opted out in the past. 

Families who wish to continue receiving text or email messages will be notified when their children’s P-EBT card is issued. They’ll receive additional messages telling them when benefits are added to the card.

The department is aware of a text messaging scams asking recipients to go to mn.org/dhs/pebt to apply for P-EBT benefits. These text messages are not from DHS. Any link or website that the department sends by text message always starts with mn.gov. If you receive a text message with a link that starts with mn.org or mn.com, it’s not from the department.

The two most frequent texts that DHS sends related to P-EBT include the following messages:

• The Department of Human Services invites you to get texts with important notices. If you do not want to receive messages, please reply with STOP.
• This is the Department of Human Services. You are approved for P-EBT benefits which have been loaded on your child’s card. Visit mn.gov/dhs/p-ebt for information. If you do not want to receive messages reply with STOP.

If you receive a text message asking you to click on a link that starts with something other than mn.gov, delete the message. Do not click on the link.

If you do not receive a P-EBT-related text message or email from the Minnesota Department of Human Services, it is possible the department does not have a valid cell phone number or email address for you. To receive texts or emails from the department, make sure your children’s school has your current contact information. Even though you haven’t received text messages or emails, your children may still be eligible for P-EBT.

No. Families with more than one child who is eligible for P-EBT benefits will receive a single notification that applies to all children. If you receive a P-EBT-related text message or email notification from the Department of Human Services, it means that at least one of your children will receive P-EBT benefits. When your children’s P-EBT cards arrive they will be individually labeled with the name of each eligible child. Be sure to check the balance on each card. In some situations, children in the same household may qualify for different P-EBT benefit amounts.

To opt out of future text messages, reply with the word "STOP." 

To opt out of future email messages, select “unsubscribe” at the bottom of the email.

• Apply for SNAP at MNbenefits.mn.gov, or contact your local county or tribal human services agency for additional information and ways to apply.
• Contact your school to inquire about free or reduced-price meals.
• Use the Hunger Solutions online food shelf finder to locate resources near you.
• Download the Free Meals for Kids App.

Contact your school to report any address change.

If you currently have funds on an existing card, or you have been notified by email or text that you have received P-EBT benefits, please use the P-EBT Help Form to report the address change. When you fill out the form, list all of the children in your household to ensure all P-EBT cards are redirected. Address changes cannot be processed until after a family has been issued benefits.

If there is a change in custody, give all active P-EBT cards to the children’s custodial parent. The parent or guardian with current custody is responsible for contacting the children’s school to report the change in custody. The school will verify all custody changes.

The P-EBT Call Center is unable to discuss a child’s case if you are not the parent or guardian whose name was provided by the school.

No, P-EBT does not count as benefits under the public charge rule. If you have additional questions about how public charge may affect your ability to access other programs, please contact: Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid at LawHelpMN.org or call 800-292-4150.

No. As with SNAP benefits or typical free or reduced price school meal benefits, P-EBT benefits will not be counted as income by Social Security.

P-EBT Call Center
The P-EBT Call Center can be reached Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 651-431-4608 or 833-454-0153 for assistance, or you can submit questions using the P-EBT Help Form (24 hours a day/7 days a week). Assistance is available in multiple languages.

Please do not submit more than one  form for the same issue. It will not result in faster service and slows down responses for others.

The P-EBT Call Center and P-EBT Help Form can help you:

• Answer general questions relating to P-EBT
• Sign up for or opt out of P-EBT texting
• Understand notifications you received from the P-EBT program
• Answer questions about the amount and timing of benefits issued to your card
• Change the address where your P-EBT card will be sent (online form only).

For questions about the free or reduced-price school meal application, please contact your child’s school.

EBT Edge Customer Service

For EBT card support, call 888-997-2227 or visit www.ebtEDGE.com. Customer service is available 24 hours per day, seven days per week. EBT Edge can help you:

• Activate your card
• Replace a lost or stolen card
• Check your balance
• Access transactions such as benefit issuances.

View How to use your MN EBT Card (PDF).

The EBT Edge mobile application is available for IOS and Android at www.FISGLOBAL.COM/EBTEDGEMOBILE.

Yes. To request assistance, contact Minnesota Relay at 7-1-1 to connect with a communications assistant who can help place a phone call to the P-EBT Call Center. 

For assistance in Spanish, call the Spanish relay at 1-877-627-5448.

The P-EBT Call Center staff can provide assistance in multiple languages by using the Language Line. EDGE also provides assistance in multiple languages.