Eligible Arizona families with kids in school get EBT cards to buy groceries

PHOENIX — Some Arizona families are unexpectedly getting EBT cards in the mail that can be used to buy groceries as part of pandemic relief benefits.

It’s for children who were enrolled in school in May and qualified for free or reduced-price meals at school through the National School Lunch Program. They were automatically eligible for the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) cards that come loaded with $391.

“Eligible families with school-aged children will receive a pre-loaded EBT card in the mail that can be used to purchase groceries,” Tasya Peterson, press secretary for the Arizona Department of Economic Security, said in a statement to KTAR News 92.3 FM.

P-EBT cards were also made available to children ages 6 and younger who are in households participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Those families received their cards in August and September.

But there was a delay in getting the P-EBT cards to school-aged children who received free or reduced-price meals last school year.

The cards were supposed to be distributed in September. Peterson explained data collection to determine eligibility as well as labor and supply challenges by the vendor pushed the timeline back.

A letter has been sent to families eligible for the P-EBT cards explaining what they should do next.

Peterson said if families need more information on how to use the cards – including setting up a PIN, checking their balance and where to purchase groceries – they can visit the DES website.

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