New P-EBT Information for Parents

New P-EBT Information for Parents
Posted on 08/17/2022

Dear Parent or Guardian:

We know P-EBT questions are popping up again. 

Students did not receive P-EBT benefits during the 2021-22 school year. There will be summer payments for students enrolled in a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program for the 2021-22 school year for the summer of 2022. 

All students were fed free due to the pandemic, but that does not make them eligible for P-EBT. Only students approved for free or reduced meals by meal application or that attended a CEP school may receive P-EBT. Students approved for free or reduced meals via meal application or who participated at a CEP school in the 2021-22 school year will be paid benefits in late August 2022. Students approved for free or reduced meals via meal application between the end of school and August 16 may receive P-EBT benefits in late October 2022. 

There is no application for P-EBT. Eligibility for P-EBT is solely based on free and reduced meal applications and attending a CEP school. For meal applications, please reach out to the school/district the student attends. 

For P-EBT questions regarding child care benefits (0-5 years), please, contact DSS at [email protected]

DSS will not make further changes or payments for the 2020-2021 school year. You can check the status of 2020-2021 payments here, https://benefitsportal.dss.sc.gov/#/pebt/benefitinquiry. If you need a new card issued or an address changed, please call 1-800-554-5268. If that does not work, please email DSS at [email protected]

Address Update and Requesting Replacement P-EBT Card: 

  1. Dial 1-800-554-5268 (Customer Service) 
  2. Select Option 1 for English or Option 2 for Spanish 
  3. The system will ask the caller to enter the card#, but they will not enter anything; after a few seconds, it will take them to the Retry Menu.
  4. From this menu, they should press 4 
  5. The system will then take them for SSN/DOB/PIN validation. 
  6. It will ask them to enter their SSN; here, they should make up a Social Security number. 
  7. After that, it will ask them to enter their DOB as MM/DD/YYYY here; they should make up a DOB, for example, 02/12/2012 
  8. After this, it will ask them to enter their PIN. As they do not have a PIN, they will enter 1234 
  9. It will take a few seconds to say that we could not validate your information. 
  10. It will again ask them to enter their SSN, enter the same made-up SSN used earlier, and it will say the number you entered. If this is correct, Press 1. They should press 1 
  11. After that, it will ask them to enter their DOB as MM/DD/YYYY and the made-up DOB, for example, 02122012. It will say you joined on February 12, 2012. If this is correct, Press 1. They should Press 1 
  12. After this, it will again ask them to enter their PIN, and they will again enter 1234; the system will take a few seconds and say that we could not validate your information. Please wait while we transfer you to a representative. 
  13. Here, you will connect to a CSR where they can tell them that they never received their PEBT card and would like a replacement card sent to them. 
  14. The representative will ask them for their DOB and SSN. They give 000000000 for SSN and Childs DOB. CSR will ask them to verify their address. If the address is incorrect, they should provide the new address to the CSR, which the CSR will update and will replace the card. The CSR will tell them they will get their card in 7 to 10 business days.

Frequently Asked Questions for K-12 P-EBT