Monday, The Tennessee Department of Human  Services (TDHS) announced  the next round  of the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program  which supports children  who receive free or reduced school meals. In order  to ensure these new P-EBT cards are mailed to the right addresses next month, qualifying families must verify information online.

“We have been working  directly with school districts and community groups  to ensure qualifying families  receive these funds  directly in a timely manner,”  said TDHS Commissioner  Clarence H. Carter. “With eligibility changes to this new round, more children are now eligible, and we need any family receiving free or reduced lunch support to check their status online.”

The deadline for parents to update their address at this  website before the first payments are sent to families is March 14th. For eligibility assistance, parents may contact our P-EBT Hotline at 833-496-

0661. The department additionally worked with schools to provide a letter with additional guidance that families can be on the lookout for and support is always available online  in Somali, Arabic, and Spanish languages.

Changes to P-EBT eligibility  will allow  for  some students who  didn’t qualify  for  the last round  to participate this time. To be eligible for P-EBT Round 3:

•      The child must qualify for free or reduced-price  school meals under the National School Lunch Program.  This includes any student in a school that provided  free meals to all students (under a special rule called "Community Eligibility Provision").

•      And, the child did not receive free or reduced-priced meals at the school because the school is closed to in-person learning; or has been operating with reduced attendance or hours for at least 5 consecutive days in the current school year.

P-EBT cards will be reloaded with benefits on a rolling basis as long as the USDA continues to fund the program.  These P-EBT cards can be used like a debit card to purchase food at any establishment that accepts EBT or online with Amazon, Walmart, Aldi, Food Lion, and Superlo in Memphis.

The amount each student will receive varies based on the below learning schedule.

•       Students who are learning 100% virtually will receive $122.76 in P-EBT a month.

•      Students who are on a hybrid  learning  schedule will receive an amount based on the statewide average number  of days students spent that month on hybrid schedules. For October 2020 that amount is $51.15.

Public Information and Legislative Office • James K. Polk Building • 505 Deaderick Street • Nashville, TN 37243

Tel: 615-313-4707 • tn.gov/humanservices

P-EBT benefits were provided  to more than 740,000 children during the first round of P-EBT for the spring 2020 school semester and another 364,000 children  received benefits for the second round that ended in September.

The Families First Coronavirus  Response Act authorized the U.S. Department of Agriculture to approve states for P-EBT. Approved state agencies may operate P-EBT when a school is closed for at least five consecutive days during a public health emergency designation when the school would otherwise be in session. This institution is an equal opportunity provider

Learn more about the Tennessee Department of Human Services.