Here’s great news for all parents who have kids participating in the free or reduced school lunch program or who have children under 6 on Wisconsin Food Stamps! The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has extended the Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT) food assistance program through Summer 2021. In this post, we are going to explain how the Wisconsin P-EBT works, who is eligible, when cards will be reloaded and how to check the balance on your card.
First, we will explain in detail what the Wisconsin P-EBT program is about.
Next, we will cover who is eligible for the program and how many rounds of P-EBT benefits have been issued so far.
Additionally, we will explain the Summer 2021 P-EBT extension, who is eligible, and how much you can expect in benefits.
Also, we will walk you through how to check the balance of your P-EBT card and how to contact Wisconsin P-EBT customer service.
Lastly, we will answer the most frequently asked questions about the P-EBT program.
Table of Contents:
- What is Wisconsin P-EBT Program?
- Who is Eligible for P-EBT in Wisconsin?
- How to Apply for Wisconsin P-EBT
- P-EBT Extension in Wisconsin – Summer 2021
- When will Summer 2021 P-EBT be Loaded?
- How to Contact Wisconsin P-EBT Customer Service
- How to Check Wisconsin P-EBT Card Balance
- Wisconsin P-EBT FAQs
What is Wisconsin P-EBT Program?
Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) provides food assistance to households with children who are enrolled in a free or reduced-price school meal program while schools are out of session due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The program operates similarly to the Wisconsin SNAP/food stamps program.
Benefits are pre-loaded funds on P-EBT cards to eligible children and can be used exclusively for food purchases.
Pandemic EBT was originally scheduled to expire on September 30, 2020.
However, on October 1, 2020, the program was extended for an additional year – through September 30, 2021.
Additionally, under the American Rescue plan signed into law in March 2021, the P-EBT program was further extended through the end of the pandemic.
Therefore, as long as the COVID-19 pandemic continues and schools are not 100% in-person, the program is likely to continue.
Furthermore, the program’s eligibility was expanded to include children under 6 in SNAP households.
Also, on January 22, in support of President Biden’s call to action on hunger, USDA announced that it is increasing the P-EBT benefit by approximately 15 percent.
This was aimed at providing more money for low-income families and millions of children missing meals due to school and child care closures.
Who is Eligible for P-EBT in Wisconsin?
Here’s who is eligible for P-EBT benefits in the state of Wisconsin:
A child must meet one of the following criteria for the 2020–2021 school year to be eligible for P-EBT:
- The student attends a school that would normally operate the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program, and
- Student attended school either virtually, a hybrid of in-person and virtual learning, or in-person learning with reduced attendance hours, and
- The student is eligible for free or reduced-price school meals or is enrolled in a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) or Provision 2 school.
If you have any questions about eligibility for your child, contact your child’s school.
P-EBT Extension in Wisconsin – Summer 2021
As part of the American Rescue Plan, signed into law on March 11, 2021, by President Biden, children that are enrolled in the National School Lunch Program or are under 6 years of age and residing in a SNAP household will receive P-EBT over the summer as well.
As a result, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services announced that Wisconsin has been approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to continue the Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT) food assistance program through Summer 2021.
The P-EBT program helps families with eligible children whose access to free or reduced-price meals at school or other food assistance has been impacted by COVID-19.
The summer P-EBT is an extension of benefits for the 2020-2021 school year.
Eligible children will receive a one-time payment of $375.
Who is Eligible for P-EBT Extension in Wisconsin – Summer 2021?
- Children who received School P-EBT benefits during any month of the 2020-2021 school year.
- Young children who received Pre-6 P-EBT benefits for at least one month of the 2020-2021 school year and live in a household that receives FoodShare benefits during at least one covered summer month (June, July, or August 2021).
- Children who were enrolled during May or June 2021 in free or reduced price meals at a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program and that met certain other program eligibility criteria, even if they did not receive School P-EBT benefits during the school year
Families with a current P-EBT card should remember to keep their cards because summer benefits may be loaded onto it.
How to Apply for P-EBT in Wisconsin
Here’s how you can apply for Wisconsin P-EBT benefits:
Fill out the School P-EBT application if you have not received a letter from DHS about the School P-EBT program.
Click here for the application page.
To complete the application, you will need:
- Parent/guardian information – full name, date of birth, phone number, and address
- Student information – full name, date of birth, grade level, school name, and school city
Note that providing a Social Security number is optional.
If you have received a letter from DHS about the School P-EBT program, do not fill out the application.
Also, if you think your child is eligible for benefits that you didn’t get, please email or call the P-EBT support line.
The email address is PEBTsupport@wisconsin.gov.
If you prefer to call, the phone number is 833-431-2224.
You can call Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., excluding holidays.
When you call or email, please be prepared to share the information listed above, as well as your case number, which can be found on your notification letter at the bottom of each page.
The video below, from the Wisconsin DHS, provides a great summary of the P-EBT program and how to successfully apply.
When will Summer 2021 P-EBT be Loaded?
This program will cover the time between the 2020-2021 school year and the 2021-2022 school year and benefits will be issued on August 21.
Families eligible to get benefits who have an active QUEST card will have their benefits added to that card.
However, families eligible to get benefits who do not have an active QUEST card will get a P-EBT card in the mail.
Benefits will be added to it. The card can be used like a debit card to buy food.
Even if a family got benefits for the 2019-2020 school year, benefits for the 2020-2021 school year will be on a new P-EBT card.
When a family gets their new card, they must activate the card.
Once the new card is activated, any old P-EBT card (from the 2019-2020 school year) will no longer be usable.
Note: A P-EBT card sent to you this year should not be thrown away, even if all the benefits on it are spent.
Future benefits for the 2020-2021 school year will be added to that card.
How to Contact Wisconsin P-EBT Customer Service
If you need to speak to Wisconsin P-EBT Customer service, we can help.
You can reach them by email or by phone.
Here’s the information for the P-EBT support line.
The email address is PEBTsupport@wisconsin.gov.
If you prefer to call, the phone number is 833-431-2224.
You can call Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., excluding holidays.
How to Check Wisconsin P-EBT Card Balance
You have two options available to you to check the P-EBT balance.
Option 1 – Check by Phone
You can check your Wisconsin P-EBT Card balance by calling the Customer Service number on the back of your card.
We have also provided the number below for your convenience.
Wisconsin P-EBT Customer Service Number: Call QUEST Card Service at 877-415-5164.
The Customer Service Hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
After you call, enter your P-EBT card number and you will hear your account balance.
Option 2 – Check your Last Receipt
Also, you can check the balance on your Wisconsin P-EBT card through your last transaction receipt.
This is the easiest and quickest way to locate the current balance on your P-EBT Card.
To locate the balance, look at the bottom of your most recent grocery store receipt.
Furthermore, it is a good practice to keep your most current P-EBT receipt.
That way, you always have a quick way to check your P-EBT card balance before you shop.
Wisconsin P-EBT FAQs
Here are the most common questions readers have regarding the Wisconsin P-EBT program:
When will I get my P-EBT card?
It can take two to five weeks after completing your application to receive a P-EBT card loaded with benefits in the mail.
Cards will be mailed to the address entered on the application.
If it has been five weeks since you applied for P-EBT benefits and you have not received a P-EBT card or notice from DHS, here’s what to do:
Contact the Wisconsin P-EBT support line using the following information:
The email address is PEBTsupport@wisconsin.gov.
If you prefer to call, the phone number is 833-431-2224.
How do I activate my Wisconsin P-EBT card?
When you receive your P-EBT card, follow the instructions that come in the mail with the card to activate it.
These instructions will explain how to activate and use the card.
If there are questions, call QUEST Card Service at 877-415-5164.
How long do I have to use my P-EBT benefits?
You can begin using your card at any time.
If you do not use your card for one year, any unused benefits will expire.
What can you buy with Wisconsin P-EBT benefits?
Wisconsin P-EBT benefits must be used within one year of the date they are put on the card.
You can use the P-EBT benefits at any store that accepts FoodShare (SNAP).
This includes major grocery chains and convenience stores. You can use the benefits to buy food, including:
- Breads and cereals
- Fruits and vegetables
- Meat, fish, and poultry
- Dairy products
- Snack foods
Wisconsin P-EBT Summary
We hope this post on Wisconsin P-EBT Benefits was helpful.
If you have further questions about Wisconsin P-EBT, SNAP, or EBT in general, please let us know in the comments section below.
Also, be sure to check out our other articles about EBT, including:
Free Admission with Alabama EBT
Alabama EBT Card FAQs
Alabama EBT Deposit Schedule
How to Request a Replacement Alabama EBT Card
Illinois EBT Phone Number
Massachusetts P-EBT Benefits Program