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Pandemic EBT

Indiana families whose children receive free or reduced-cost meals at school will receive “Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer” benefits. These benefits are intended to reimburse the families of about 600,000 Hoosier children for the cost of meals that their children were unable to receive due to COVID19-related school closures.

For more information, refer to this media release, or to the questions and answers below.

Who should receive Pandemic-EBT benefits?

Children who are enrolled in an Indiana school (public, private or charter) from kindergarten through grade 12 and who are eligible for free or reduced lunch are eligible. Children who are homeschooled, in pre-K or head start are not eligible.

How much will my household receive?

Most children will be eligible for approximately $319 per school-age child in the household. This is calculated based on the daily reimbursement for free breakfast and lunch multiplied by 56 days. If the child was determined eligible for free or reduced lunch in April or May, the amount will be less.

How do I create a PIN for the EBT card I received?

Call EBT customer service at 877-768-5098. Follow the prompts to select a PIN. Enter the card number, all zeroes for the SSN (Do NOT enter the actual SSN) and the date of birth for the child whose name is on the card. Enter a 4-digit PIN.

If you cannot successfully complete this process, please provide the information below so we can assist.

We must have ALL of this information, or we will be unable to resolve your inquiry:

PLEASE BE PATIENT AS WE REVIEW AND RESOLVE YOUR ISSUE. PLEASE ALLOW UP TO 10 DAYS FOR A RESPONSE. 

PLEASE DO NOT SUBMIT MORE THAN ONE REQUEST AS THIS SLOWS DOWN THE REVIEW PROCESS.
 

  1. Parent name
  2. Phone number
  3. Address
  4. Name and date of birth of EACH eligible child
  5. Click this link and provide all of the information in 1-4 above.

What if I have eligible children and did not receive my Pandemic EBT card?

In order for us to research and resolve your issue we need the following information. We must have ALL of this information, or we will be unable to resolve your inquiry:

PLEASE BE PATIENT AS WE REVIEW AND RESOLVE YOUR ISSUE, PLEASE ALLOW UP TO 10 DAYS FOR A RESPONSE. 

PLEASE DO NOT SUBMIT MORE THAN ONE REQUEST AS THIS SLOWS DOWN THE REVIEW PROCESS. 

  1. Parent name
  2. Phone number
  3. Address
  4. Name and date of birth of EACH eligible child
  5. Click this link and provide all of the information in 1-4 above.

What can I do if someone else received benefits for my child because we live together or we used to live together?

The Division of Family Resources issued Pandemic EBT benefits to households based on information provided by the Indiana Department of Education. The DFR received the name and address of children enrolled in each school who received free or reduced lunch. DOE received this information directly from each school. Information reported to the DFR was current as of May 8, 2020. The benefits on the card should be used to provide food for all children in the household. Because it is not possible to verify who spent the benefits on a given card, there will be no replacement of benefits that are spent.

I do not receive SNAP benefits, can I give this card to someone else?

You do not have to be eligible for SNAP to be eligible for Pandemic EBT. This card and food benefit cannot be transferred to anyone else. If you do not want to participate in this program or use the benefit, cut through the magnetic stripe on the card and dispose of the card in a secure manner.