OTDA Home Programs & Services SNAP SNAP COVID-19 Information
Important Update for P-EBT Food Benefits Covering the 2020-21 School Year
New York State continues to distribute Pandemic EBT food benefits to all households with eligible children who receive free school lunch under the National School Lunch Act. Here are important updates to the distribution as of July 30:
- Benefits to students who had their in-person attendance to public school in the New York City area reduced due to the pandemic will be issued for the months of September 2020 through March 2021 beginning in June and distribution will continue through August.
- Eligible public-school students in the rest of the state—all areas outside the five boroughs—can expect to receive their first benefit beginning in August.
- Eligible children attending non-public schools such as private and charter schools will start to receive benefits starting in September.
- There is now a NYS School List to check the P-EBT distribution status for individual schools.
- Benefits for the period of April through June 2021 will be issued no earlier than September 2021.
The timeframe for when these food benefits are issued is based on a variety of factors, including the volume and nature of the data submitted by schools and the rate this information can be processed and benefits issued. Please keep in mind the dates provided here are to give a rough idea when benefits for your area will begin to be distributed.
SNAP COVID-19 Information
Information on Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) food benefits and Supplemental Emergency Allotment (EA) of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Benefits for eligible households.
- Frequently Asked Questions for the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) Food Benefits
Answers to many commonly asked questions about the P-EBT food benefits for New York State residents.
- Group 1/Children Receiving SNAP or Temporary Assistance (Cash)
- Group 2/Children Enrolled in Medicaid
- Group 3/All Other Eligible Children
- Frequently Asked Questions for the Emergency Allotment of SNAP Benefits
Answers to many commonly asked questions about the Supplemental Emergency Allotment of SNAP Benefits.
- College Student Expanded SNAP Rules
Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, which temporarily expands SNAP eligibility for students of higher education.
- Notice to All Recipients of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) will automatically issue an Emergency supplemental SNAP benefit to households not already receiving the maximum benefit.