School P-EBT: Food Benefits for Students

Families,

Find out if you are eligible for food benefits for your child during the pandemic.

The State of Wisconsin is compensating families for breakfast and lunch meals that students would normally receive in school but are unavailable when schools close due to COVID-19. MPS is committed to working with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) to make sure all families with eligible children get the benefits they need.

Starting in March 2022, DHS is sending out benefits for the School Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer or School P-EBT Program for the 2021–2022 school year.

Some parts of the program are continuing.

• The program is for our students who are signed up for free or reduced-price meals that we provide under the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program.
• Most benefits will be provided on families’ existing QUEST or P-EBT cards. If a family is getting benefits for the first time, a new card will be sent to them in the mail.

Some parts of the program are new.

• This year, the program will provide benefits for those days that students were learning from home, like last year, AND also for days students were absent for a COVID-19 related reason.
• This year, our school district sent in information for each student based on their individual attendance and learning location during this academic year.
• Each eligible student will receive an amount specific to their attendance and learning each month.
• Because many of our students are spending more time learning in person this year and getting their meals at school, families will probably see lower amounts of benefits.

On March 5, 2022, DHS sent benefits to families based on attendance information reported by MPS. These benefits reflect days that students missed meals in August, September, and October of 2021. DHS is providing a letter to each family indicating how much was placed on the family’s card—per child, per month.

If You Received Benefits in March 2022

If you received P-EBT benefits, great! If you think your benefit was low even though your child learned remotely in August, September, and October OR due to a COVID-19 related reason:

• Please wait until you get the letter from DHS explaining your benefits. The letter will explain the amount you received per child, per month.
• Next, review your records to see how many days your child was absent from school due to COVID-19 or learned from home in each of the months listed in the letter.
• Families receive $7.10 per day for breakfast and lunch. If the number of days in your records doesn’t match the amount of benefits you received, contact the DHS P-EBT Support Team at PEBTsupport@wisconsin.gov or 1-833-431-2224.

If You Did Not Get Benefits in March 2022 and Think You Are Eligible

• Go to the list that DHS has posted of schools that submitted student information by the February deadline. First, find your school district (Milwaukee Public Schools). Next, look for your child’s school.
• If your child’s school is NOT on the list, you don’t need to do anything at this time.
  • This means additional time is needed to place information into the DHS system.
  • The next deadline for submitting information is March 25. For information submitted by this date, benefits cards will be sent beginning April 9, 2022.
  • DHS has assured us that no child will miss out on P-EBT benefits for the days we report that your child was absent due to a COVID-19 related reason or learned remotely from home, even if it takes extra time to provide this information.
• If your school IS on the list, there are several reasons why you might not have received benefits.
  • Records indicate your child did not participate in the free or reduced meal program at their school.
  • Your child did not have any eligible absences or remote learning days in August, September, or October.
  • DHS might be missing information for your family that is needed to send benefits.
  • To find out what you should do next, DHS recommends that you contact the P-EBT Support Team at PEBTsupport@wisconsin.gov or 1-833-431-2224.

DHS has this information and more on the School P-EBT webpage. This site is frequently updated.  Please bookmark this webpage for easy reference.