275 Prospect Street, PO Box 67, Norwood, MA 02062
781.762.6804 Phone | 781.762.0229 Fax

Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) Benefits

The USDA has approved Massachusetts' P-EBT plan for the 2022-2023 school year. Please click here for the Massachusetts P-EBT site. The MA P-EBT website can be translated by clicking on the language in the lower right corner of your screen.

To qualify for P-EBT benefits students must:

  • Be eligible for Free or Reduced lunch - either by Direct Certification (i.e. SNAP, Medicaid, etc.), or by completing the Free & Reduced Lunch Application
    • THERE IS NO ELIGIBILITY CARRYOVER FROM 2021-2022 - YOU MUST RE-CERTIFY FOR 2022-2023
  • Had COVID-related excused absences during the school year

P-EBT 2022-2023 School Year Information from Department of Transiational Assistance (DTA)

Summer P-EBT Benefits

  • All students who qualify for Free or Reduced meals will receive a summer P-EBT Benefit
  • Student must have been enrolled and Active at Norwood Public Schools between 5/21/23-6/21/23
  • Benefits will be distributed on July 25
  • The Benefit amount is $120
  • You will receive the benefit on your existing P-EBT Card
  • Students may qualify for Summer P-EBT benefits if they are found eligible for Free or Reduced Meals before 8/1/23.
    • They must still meet the enrollment requirement: active at NPS between 5/21/23-6/21/23
    • A new data file will be pulled on 8/1/23 to find newly eligible students
    • Families in this group will receive their benefit on 9/25/23

P-EBT 2023 Summer Information from Department of Transiational Assistance (DTA)

COVID-Related Absences as defined by DESE

“COVID-related absences” in accordance with Protocols A – C of the state’s COVID absence policy. These are excused absences that fall under one of the following categories:

  • Absences due to positive COVID test
  • Absences due to asymptomatic close contact or quarantine
  • Absences due to student being symptomatic in accordance with Protocol C of the state’s COVID absence policy (any symptoms that would keep student home from school, COVID positive or not)
  • Days that a student participated in remote learning (either due to temporary school closure or due to remote learning during quarantine) also count as P-EBT eligible days

Ineligible absences include but are not limited to:

  • vacations/travel
  • bereavement 
  • family emergency
  • broken bones 
  • chronic illness treatment
  • surgery
  • mental health treatment

Example 1: A child stayed home for four days because they had a fever and were required to obtain a negative test result to return to school. This absence is in accordance with Protocol C of the state’s COVID absence policy. This child did not have COVID-19. The entire time the child was out of school while symptomatic and while waiting for test results is eligible for P-EBT.
Example 2: A child had a reaction to the vaccine and was kept home sick. These absences are eligible for P-EBT. 
Example 3: A child missed school to attend a funeral of a family member who passed away due to COVID. This absence is not considered eligible for P-EBT. 

Distribution of P-EBT Benefits

  • Norwood Public Schools submits to DESE a total count of the student's COVID-related absences per month.
    • Please note that NPS is only responsible for submitting data.
    • We do not have any responsibility for cards, lost cards, replacement cards, benefit amounts, distribution dates, etc.
    • Please reference the Massachusetts P-EBT site for more information. The MA P-EBT website can be translated by clicking on the language in the lower right corner of your screen.
  • Families will receive their P-EBT benefits on the same card they received P-EBT in the past.
  • Families who are new to P-EBT will receive a new card in the mail
  • DTA will include a summary of the benefit received, and a form for reconsideration if needed.
  • Benefits are distributed on the 25th of June for ALL months September-May.
    • Benefits only go through May 11

Benefit Amounts

# of COVID-Related Absences Per Month P-EBT Benefit Amount
1-5 Absences $25
6-15 Absences $82
16+ Absences $147

Reconsideration Process

Fill out this form if you are a parent/guardian and you think your student missed more school days for COVID-related reasons than listed in your DTA notice or you believe your student is eligible but did not receive any benefits. YOU DO NOT NEED TO SUBMIT THIS FORM UNLESS YOU HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE TOTAL ABSENCES REPORTED FOR THAT MONTH.

Only make requests if the change will bring you to a higher benefit level, for example:

  • If you are changing from 3 days to 5 days your benefit amount will remain the same. You do not need to send in a form. 
  • If you are changing from 3 days to 7 days you will be eligible for an additional $57.

If you complete a form to correct your P-EBT amount:

  1. The form must be submitted to the school on or before 8/1/2023, the school will approve or deny your form
  2. Bring the completed form to your school.
    1. If you don't feel comfortable sharing your families' free or reduced lunch status with the school front office, you can bring the form to the Food Services Office in the Savage Educational Center.
  3. The front office will check the number of absences on your form with the number of absences that are in the student information system (Aspen).
  4. If they match, the school will sign off, and the updated absence count for that month will be sent to DESE. 
  5. If approved, the school will send the information to the Department of Education
  6. You will receive the P-EBT funds on September 30th, 2023.

Request for Review Forms

This site provides information using PDF, visit this link to download the Adobe Acrobat Reader DC software.