This post will provide a detailed guide to Summer 2023 P-EBT for New Mexico. The Summer Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) has been a crucial federal food program that has provided support to families during the summer period of COVID-19 pandemic.
Even though the official COVID-19 health has ended, the federal government is still approving state Summer P-EBT benefits to eligible students.
The New Mexico Human Services Department (HSD) in collaboration with the Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) will issue P-EBT benefits in the state for Summer 2023.
In this blog post, we will provide information about the 2023 New Mexico Summer P-EBT benefits, including eligibility criteria, application process, distribution timeline, and the amount of benefits.
Additionally, we will answer the most frequently asked questions about New Mexico Summer 2023 P-EBT Benefits.
Let’s dive in!
What is P-EBT?
The Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program was established by Congress in 2020 to assist families in purchasing food while schools and child care facilities were closed due to the pandemic.
P-EBT provides funds to households with children who qualify for free or reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP).
Summer 2023 P-EBT for New Mexico
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved New Mexico’s Summer 2023 P-EBT State plan for school-age children.
This means that eligible families will continue to receive P-EBT benefits during the summer months.
Who is Eligible for 2023 New Mexico Summer P-EBT Benefits?
To be eligible for the Summer P-EBT benefits in 2023, your child must meet the following criteria:
- Attended a National School Lunch Program (NSLP) participating school during the school year 2022-2023.
- Qualified to receive free or reduced-price school meals.
- Children who attended schools that participated in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) or Special Provisions 2 or 3 in school year 2022-2023.
- Children who were directly certified for free school meals or who were certified by application for free or reduced-price school meals during school year 2022-2023.
- Newly eligible children for free or reduced-price school meals in schools or school districts approved to begin operating under CEP or Provisions 2 or 3 in school year 2022-2023.
When will 2023 New Mexico P-EBT Benefits be Distributed?
The Summer P-EBT benefits for 2023 are tentatively scheduled to be distributed in August.
Please note that the specific date has not been announced yet.
If your child is eligible and receives the benefits in August, a second round of benefits will be issued in September to eligible children who were missed in the August issuance.
How Much will my Child Receive in Summer 2023 P-EBT Benefits?
The Summer P-EBT benefit for 2023 will be a one-time set amount of $120 per eligible child.
This amount will be deposited onto the child’s P-EBT card, and a new card will be sent to those who have never received P-EBT in the past.
Also, if you have multiple school-aged children in your household, the benefits will be deposited onto the oldest child’s card.
2023 New Mexico Summer P-EBT Benefits FAQs
Here are the most frequently asked questions about Summer 2023 P-EBT for New Mexico:
Do I need to apply for Summer P-EBT for 2023?
If your child is already eligible and meets the criteria mentioned above, there is no need to apply separately for the Summer P-EBT benefits.
The HSD and school districts will identify eligible children based on the information they have from the previous school year.
What is the School Aged P-EBT program for?
The School Aged P-EBT program was initiated in the spring of 2020 to provide additional support to families whose children would have received free or reduced-price meals at school if not for the COVID-19-related school closures.
For the summer of 2023, the program will only be issued one time during the summer months to supplement the meals children miss while on summer break.
How can I get the Summer 2023 benefit for my school-aged child?
To be eligible for the Summer 2023 P-EBT benefits, here are the requirements:
First, your child must have attended school as of the last date of the 2022-2023 school year.
Additionally, they must have been approved for Free or Reduced-Price meals for Breakfast/Lunch through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP).
Alternatively, the child may have attended a school that received Free Meals through the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP).
For households that become newly eligible during the summer, applications for Free or Reduced-Price Meals must be submitted to the school by May 30, 2023.
Whom do I contact at my child’s school to see if they are eligible?
Here’s how to verify if your child is eligible for free or reduced-price meals:
The verification can be done through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP).
You can directly contact your child’s school. Make sure to inquire about their eligibility status before the May 30, 2023 deadline.
How will the Summer 2023 P-EBT benefits be issued?
The Summer P-EBT benefits for 2023 will be deposited onto the child’s P-EBT card.
If your child has never received P-EBT before, a new card will be sent to you.
It’s important to note that benefits will be deposited onto the oldest school-aged child’s card if there are multiple children in the household.
How much will the Summer 2023 P-EBT benefit be?
The Summer 2023 P-EBT benefit will be a one-time set amount of $120 per eligible child.
This benefit aims to provide crucial support to families during the summer months when school meals are not available.
When will the Summer School Aged P-EBT be deposited on my eligible child’s card?
While a specific date for deposit has not been announced yet, here’s what we know:
The Summer School Aged P-EBT benefits are tentatively scheduled to be deposited on your child’s card in August 2023.
Keep an eye out for updates to stay informed about the exact deposit date.
I have my child. Someone else got the School Aged P-EBT benefit. Why?
The School-Aged P-EBT benefits are issued based on the information the school district has on file for your child, including address and guardian or parent details.
However, if the benefit was issued to someone else, it might be because the school had your child listed as living at another address or associated with another guardian.
In such cases, please work with the relevant party to ensure your child receives their benefits.
How do I check my New Mexico P-EBT Card Balance?
Call FIS Customer Service. Call 1-800-843-8303.
Additionally, you can check the P-EBT card balance online. Go to http://www.ebtedge.com
Summary – Summer 2023 P-EBT for New Mexico
Here’s the bottom line about the 2023 New Mexico Summer P-EBT Benefits:
The 2023 New Mexico Summer P-EBT benefits aim to provide additional support to families with school-age children during the summer months.
Eligible households do not need to apply for these benefits as they will be automatically distributed to students who meet the eligibility criteria.
The set benefit amount of $120 per eligible child will help alleviate some of the financial burdens associated with providing food during the summer.
For more information or assistance, households can contact the P-EBT Helpline.
Questions?
We hope this post on the Summer 2023 P-EBT for New Mexico was helpful.
If you have further questions about New Mexico P-EBT benefits, please let us know in the comments section below.
In the meantime, be sure to check out our other articles on SNAP EBT and Food Stamps:
