Department of Family Services – Financial and Medical Assistance

CONTACT INFORMATION: Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Mulitple Locations - Main Office: 12011 Government Center Parkway, Pennino Building
Fairfax, VA 22035
Lisa Tatum
Director

Redirecting: Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT)

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Virginia Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT) CardIf you are already receiving SNAP, the P-EBT benefit has been loaded on to your existing EBT card.

If you are not receiving SNAP, the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) mailed a Virginia P-EBT card to the address on file at your child’s school. The envelope this card comes in may not show that the mailing is from the Virginia Department of Social Services – please check your mail carefully.

The P-EBT card will have resources on it that can be used to purchase food items anywhere SNAP benefits are accepted. For a list of approved food items you may purchase with SNAP, visit the Food and Nutrition Service website.

Virginia has established benefit levels for fully remote and hybrid students, respectively. 

For students who attend a Virginia school remotely on average of 17.8 days per month, the P-EBT program will issue the full benefit level of $121.40 per student each month. 

For students who attend a Virginia school remotely on average of 8.9 days per month, the P-EBT program will issue the full benefit level of$60.70 per student each month. 

All retroactive benefit amounts were calculated based on the school's modality as of January 2021.

Questions regarding current or previous issuances of benefits should be directed to the P-EBT Call Center between Monday - Friday, 7 a.m.-6p.m. at 866-513-1414 (toll-free) or 804-294-1633 or through the P-EBT Online Inquiry Form.

You may also visit the VDSS website dedicated to P-EBT and learn more from the frequently asked questions in English and Spanish.

For customers who receive a P-EBT card, it will need to be activated.

You may activate the card by either:

  1. Calling 1-866-281-2448.
  2. Visiting http://www.connectebt.com.
  3. Downloading the ConnectEBT app on your mobile phone from the Google Play Store (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.conduent.ebt) or Apple iTunes Store.
  4. Create an account to activate your card.
    Activación de su tarjeta electrónica de transferencia de beneficios pandémicos.
Important Information to activate the card.

To activate your card, you will be prompted to enter the following information:

  1. You will be asked to enter the 12-digit P-EBT card number located on the front of the card.
  2. Next enter the date of birth of the oldest child receiving free or reduced meals (enter the date as mm/dd/yyyy).
  3. Enter 0000 when asked for the last 4 digits of your Social Security Number. Do not enter the last 4 digits of your actual Social Security number- always use 0000. If at any time you are asked to enter your social security number, enter 000-00-0000.
  4. Enter a 4-digit pin number of your choice.
  5. Once activated the card is ready to be used at a grocer or other retailer that participates in the SNAP Program.

Eligible students were automatically enrolled in the P-EBT program.

If your student was not participating in free and reduced lunch at school during the last school year, they did not receive a P-EBT card. 

If you think your family may be eligible for the Free and Reduced Meals program, please apply online or call Fairfax County Public Schools Food and Nutrition Services at 703-813-4800 or 703-813-4844 for a paper application.

P-EBT benefits will be issued to eligible households on the following schedule:

Benefit Period Issuance Date
October 2020–November 2020 March 17, 2021
December 2020–January 2021 March 20, 2021
February 2021 March 25, 2021
March 2021 April 25, 2021
April 2021 May 25, 2021
May 2021 June 25, 2021
June 2021 July 25, 2021

Note: All retroactive benefit amounts were calculated based on the school's modality as of January 2021.

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