Second Round of Pandemic EBT Benefits Coming for Louisiana Children

The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) says it has received federal approval to distribute a second round of Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) benefits to eligible Louisiana families.

P-EBT benefits will start in the summer to qualifying households with children in grades K-12 (including pre-K students in public and some private schools).

Students are eligible to receive P-EBT if they normally receive free or reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program, but have not received those meals during the 2020-21 school year because their school is closed or they are on a virtual or hybrid learning schedule.

During the first round of Pandemic EBT, the state of Louisiana distributed more than $137.1 million P-EBT benefits to 284,259 families.

The good part is that parents do not need to apply for P-EBT. Schools report to DCFS which students meet the criteria for eligibility. DCFS will then issue P-EBT benefits on a Louisiana Purchase EBT card to each eligible student at the mailing address provided by their school.

Eligible students in fully virtual learning situations will receive $120.71 per month while eligible students in hybrid learning situations will get $48.23 per month.

Benefits will be retroactive to August 1, 2020 to cover the full school year and will be issued in installments over the next few months.

If a student's learning schedule changes, their benefit level may change according to information reported by their school.

DCFS is asking families to be patient as it may take several weeks for your child's card to arrive.