Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT) is a program to help you purchase food for your child(ren)
who normally would get free or reduced price meals at school but couldn’t due to reduced school attendance
or hours. P-EBT benefits are available for any month of the 2020-2021 school year that your child(ren) had a
fully virtual or a hybrid learning schedule for most of the month.
TO BE ELIGIBLE, YOUR CHILD(REN) MUST BE:
• enrolled in free or reduced price school meals under the National School Lunch Program, and;
• in a school that was closed or had reduced attendance or hours for at least five consecutive days, and;
• on a fully virtual or hybrid learning schedule for most of the month; or
• under six years old in a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) household living in a county
where schools were closed or had reduced attendance.
WHEN DO I RECEIVE MY BENEFITS?
Children under six years old in SNAP households:
• Benefits will be added to your Families First card starting June 15
School-Age (K-12) Children:
• Benefits will be added to your Families First card or mailed starting at the end of July
HOW DO I USE MY CARD?
For most SNAP recipients, benefits will be added to your card. If you are not a SNAP recipient, a reloadable
P-EBT card, similar to a bank card with a PIN, will be mailed to you.
You can use your P-EBT card at any grocery or convenience store that accepts SNAP. Look for the SNAP EBT
image or visit the Using You Benefits page on www.NJSNAP.gov for a list of stores. P-EBT benefits can be used
to purchase food items. However, prepared foods, such as a rotisserie chicken or hot meals, cannot be
purchased with these benefits. In the store:
• Slide your card through the machine and choose the FOOD option.
• Enter your PIN.
HOW DO I FIND MY P-EBT BALANCE?
• Go to www.NJFamiliesFirst.com to create an account to view your balance and transaction history; or,
• Call New Jersey EBT Customer Service at 1-800-997-3333; or,
• Check your last store receipt.
WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT P-EBT AND MY CARD?
To use your P-EBT benefits, you must first activate your card by calling 1-800-997-3333.
• If you forgot your PIN or your card has been lost, stolen or damaged, you can change your PIN or report card issues
online at www.NJFamiliesFirst.com or by calling New Jersey EBT Customer Service at 1-800-997-3333.
• If you are not interested in using the P-EBT benefits, please destroy your card or mail it to the address on the back of the card.
• Your P-EBT benefits are non-transferrable, which means they cannot be used by another person.
• If you need more information about P-EBT benefits, visit the P-EBT section on www.NJSNAP.gov.
VISIT www.NJSNAP.gov.
AND CLICK ON P-EBT FOR MORE HELPFUL INFORMATION.
I HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT: WHO DO I CONTACT?
• My child(ren)’s attendance status used to determine benefit amount -> Call your Child(ren)’s School
• The address where my card was mailed-> Call your Child(ren)’s School
• The date of birth listed for my child(ren)-> Call your Child(ren)’s School
• My P-EBT benefits and case status -> P-EBT Hotline Call 1-833-581-2214
• A replacement P-EBT card (May be a fee to replace) -> County Board of Social Services Visit www.NJSNAP.GOV for a list by county or Board of Social Services.
