WAC 388-439-0020. Eligibility for pandemic EBT benefits for children under age six

(1) To be eligible for federally funded pandemic electronic benefits transfer (P-EBT) benefits for children under age six, a child must be: (a) A member of a household that received supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) between September 1, 2022, and May 11, 2023; (b) Under age of six during the specified time period. (2) Children who do not qualify for federally funded P-EBT benefits because they receive state-funded food assistance program (FAP) may be eligible for state-funded P-EBT. (a) State-funded P-EBT follows the same eligibility rules as subsection (1) of this section, except that the child must be a member of a household that received FAP, instead of SNAP, between September 1, 2022, and May 11, 2023. (b) State-funded P-EBT benefits are contingent on the availability of state funds. (3) We calculate a standard benefit level for each month of P-EBT eligibility by: (a) Using the full daily meal reimbursement rate of $8.18 for breakfast, lunch, and snack; (b) For September 2022, through April 2023, multiplied by the statewide average operating days of 18 days per month; (c) For the partial prorated month of May 2023, multiplied by the nine operating days prior to the May 11 expiration of the PHE; (d) Multiplied using a percentage of benefit reimbursement based on statewide child and adult care food program (CACFP) reported meal service prior to the COVID-19 PHE compared to the current school year, a 29.8 percent reduction, as follows: Child Care Months Daily Reimbursement Rate Average Operating Days Reduction in CACFP Claims Average Monthly Benefits September 2022 - April 2023 $8.18 18 29.8% $43.88 May 1 - May 11, 2023 $8.18 9 29.8% $28.94 Child Care Months Daily Reimbursement Rate Average Operating Days Reduction in CACFP Claims Average Monthly Benefits September 2022 - April 2023 $8.18 18 29.8% $43.88 May 1 - May 11, 2023 $8.18 9 29.8% $28.94 (e) P-EBT benefits are issued for each month that the household receives a SNAP or FAP benefit more than zero dollars. (4) P-EBT benefits are issued for a child under age six for a retroactive period of time as a lump sum one-time payment covering eligible months from September 2022, through May 2023. (5) Benefits for a child under age six will be placed on a P-EBT card under WAC 388-439-0015 . (6) USDA requires all issuances of P-EBT benefits to be complete by December 31, 2023, as federal funding will be exhausted. Any and all P-EBT benefits issued beyond this date will be subject to additional USDA approval and funding.