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Iowa Department of Health and Human Services

Summer Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) Program

Summer P-EBT is a temporary United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) food benefit that provides extra support to Iowa families with children who were approved for free or reduced-price school meals. Significant changes have been made to the Summer P-EBT program. More information is below.

Who is eligible for P-EBT?

2023 Summer P-EBT

A student may be eligible if they were enrolled in Kindergarten through 12th grade in Iowa and, before or on May 31, 2023:

  • Were eligible for free or reduced-price school meals through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and enrolled in a school that participated in the NSLP during the 22-23 school year, or
  • Attended a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) school during the 22-23 school year

The following are not eligible for 2023 Summer P-EBT benefits: Non-school aged children in childcare, virtual school students (during 2022-23 school year), homeschooled school-aged children (during the 2022-23 school year), and virtual students who were dual-enrolled (during the 2022-23 school year).

How will eligible children get P-EBT benefits?

P-EBT cards for eligible children will be mailed to the address provided by their school. The card should be received by October 4, 2023. If the child has a different last name than the adults who receive mail at the address, it may be helpful to notify the post office that the child will receive mail.

How do I update the mailing address?

Contact the child’s school to report an address change. The post office may not forward the P-EBT card to the new address. If the card is not received at the new address, contact the P-EBT Customer Service Center at 515-420-6048 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday to update the address and request a new card. If you don’t receive the card, the earliest you can request a replacement is October 4, 2023.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

To find more information, read the FAQ (PDF) or Spanish (PDF)

P-EBT Customer Service Center

The P-EBT Customer Service Center can:

  • Answer general P-EBT questions
  • Change the address where the P-EBT card will be sent

If you don’t receive the card, the earliest you can request a replacement is October 4, 2023.

P- EBT Customer Service Center contact information:

  • 515-420-6048
  • Monday - Friday
  • 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Direct all questions about eligibility for free or reduced-price school meals to the child’s school.

EBT Customer Service - help with the actual benefit card

front of p-ebt card iowaback of p-ebt iowa card

The EBT Customer Service can:

  • Activate a P-EBT card
  • Replace a lost or stolen card
  • Check your balance
  • Access benefit purchases and issuance

EBT Customer Service contact information:

  • 800-359-5802
  • Available 24/7

Online EBT card help:

  • Visit www.connectebt.com
  • You can access a child’s P-EBT card information on the Connect EBT app or on the web at connectebt.com. Download the Connect EBT app to your mobile phone. Available for IOS and Android.