VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Learn more about eligibility requirements for students

1. The student would be eligible for free or reduced-price meals if the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program were operating normally.
2. The student does not receive free or reduced-price meals at the school because the school is closed or has been operating with reduced attendance or hours for at least five consecutive days in the current school year. Once the minimum five consecutive day threshold is met, children are eligible to receive P-EBT benefits for closures or reductions in hours due to COVID-19.

If you don't receive benefits, but believe there are eligible students in your household, please contact the P-EBT Call Center from 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Monday - Friday at 866-513-1414 (toll-free) or 804-294-1633, or complete the P-EBT Online Inquiry Form.

Virginia has established benefit levels for fully remote and hybrid students, respectively.

Fully remote - Students who attend a Virginia school remotely on average of 17.8 days per month. The P-EBT program will issue the full benefit level of $121.40 per student each month.

Hybrid - Students who attend a Virginia school remotely on average of 8.9 days per month. The P-EBT program will issue the full benefit level of $60.70 per student each month.

All retroactive benefit amounts were calculated based on the school's modality as of January 2021.

What happens next? - Benefits will be automatically loaded to your existing P-EBT or EBT card. If this is your first time receiving a card, a pre-loaded Virginia P-EBT card will be mailed to the address of the child's parent or guardian. Ensure your address is correct with your local school division records. If you lost or discarded your previously issued P-EBT card, contact ConnectEBT at 1-866-281-2448.

P-EBT benefits will be issued on the following schedule:

For more information, view our frequently asked questions.