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 the P-EBT Hotline at 833-496-0661. 

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. 

LEARN MORE: HERE