How To Activate P-EBT Card Illinois?

COVID-19 has led to a lot of destruction in terms of the economy and health. In response to the pandemic that struck the world in 2020, the U.S. government issued P-EBT Card Illinois. This card holds importance for its users. How? In this blog post, we will learn about Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer Program(P-EBT) card. So, let's begin!

How to Link P-EBT Illinois Card?

There are two possible ways to link your P-EBT Illinois card in 2023. They are as follows –

Illinois Link Card Website - The Illinois Link Card Website is available in updated form. You need to register yourself on the link for an account. There is a valuable guide mentioned in this pdf, ebtEDGE Registration Help. All you have to do is click on the link, and you'll be redirected to the pdf, which will help you how to register.
Illinois Link Help Line 1-800-678-LINK (5465) - The second method to link the card is by ringing the helpline number. When you call on 1-800-678-LINK (5465), the language options selection will prompt you. It would help if you chose English, Arabic, Chinese, Polish, Spanish, or Russian. To speak your responses, reply with the 16-digit or 19-digit card number. At times, users of P-EBT cards do not have their card numbers. In such a scenario, you might use your social security number, date of birth, and PIN. Any of the three works well.

What are the Advantages of Activating P-EBT Card Illinois?

P-EBT card provides eligible families with funds worth $6.82 in benefits per student per day. If you can avail of the card's benefits, you can use it as a debit card to buy food at any grocery shop. K-12 school-going kids had to face the lacking access to their in-school lunch, and thus, the P-EBT Card Illinois.

Some of the best benefits of activating a P-EBT Card include the following –

Increase a family's food budget by helping families buy food for school-age children between the ages of 3-17.
With an active P-EBT Card, adults between 18-22 years can also avail the benefits of shopping for food and eatables items.
This card funds family who require help to afford food or medical necessities.
The dynamic team of The Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer program can help you apply for SNAP/Link (food stamps) or Medicaid within seconds.

Steps to Activate the Illinois EBT Card

After issuing the EBT card through the link or call, you will get the card in your mail. Before jumping on the procedure of activating the P-EBT card, call the Illinois LINK Hotline number 1-800-678-LINK (5465). This simple step will put a Personal Identification Number (PIN) on your card.

Follow the step-by-step guide to set up your PIN and activate the EBT card –

Step 1: First and foremost, fill in the 16-digit P-EBT card number.

Step 2: Now, for every digit of the Social Security, enter the number nine (999-99-9999).

Step 3: You must carefully enter the Date of Birth of the child whose name is on the EBT card.

Step 4: Now, select 4- a digit PIN as your preference.

Step 5: The final step is to confirm the entry. Once you confirm, your child's P-EBT Card Illinois is ready to use.

Congratulations, you have successfully activated the P-EBT card. You can get the benefits as a cardholder in several ways. For example, use this card to buy food to be eaten by the child. Remember, once you activate the P-EBT, it can't be sold or traded to others.

How to Check the Available Balance on P-EBT Card in Illinois?

If you want to check your EBT balance in Illinois, follow the guidelines.

Visit your online EBT account.
Click on this link https://ebt-link.illinois.gov/ilebtclient/login.recip.
You'll be automatically redirected to a login page. Enter the asked details, i.e., social security number, date of birth, and EBT card number.
You can log in and view your balance as soon as you fill in the correct and asked details.

Note: Don't take tension if you have any issues logging in to your online EBT account. Just call the Illinois EBT helpline number at 1-800-678-LINK (5465) and follow the guidelines shared over the call to resolve the issue.

Things An Already Active P-EBT Illinois Link Card can Do

Users of the active P-EBT card in Illinois can manage their Link Card. Managing their card allows them to learn more about their Link Card. Below, we have highlighted some of the things every user of an EBT card can do via the card –

Checking the available account balance on the Illinois Link CardReport a lost or stolen Link card
You can order a replacement Link card
Changing the current PIN is also possible.
Examine the recent purchases and withdrawals from the EBT Card.
Users can report a problem with a purchase or withdrawal via an active P-EBT Card.

Overview of P-EBT Card Illinois

P-EBT Card is the abbreviation for 'The Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer.' This card had been announced as a reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic. The main aim with which the card had been issued was to offer food assistance to families.

You must note that the food assistance would be provided only to families with students eligible to receive free or reduced lunch while attending school but have not received their meals due to COVID-19 restrictions.

The United States released the P-EBT card as a part of government aid. And it is helping many families by paying for food while their children are home because of lockdown and dismissals of school during the pandemic. Users of the P-EBT card first need to activate and link the card to receive free lunches at school.

Conclusion

So, by now, you must have learned all about P-EBT Card. We can conclude by saying that activating EBT is a relatively straightforward process. This card is designed for your benefit. Hence, the usage is also quite simple. Ensure you go through the Illinois Link Activate Card Login process and your EBT card that works in all 50 states of the United States.

Must Check - FAQs

1. Can the P-EBT Card be utilized for online shopping?

Users must first attach a payment method for using this card during online shopping. Several mainstream stores accept EBT cards when shopping online. However, attaching a payment method is necessary because your EBT card covers only the cost of food items. And if you are shopping for non-food items attaching a payment gateway becomes necessary.

2. Do I need to apply for the Benefits of my child's P-EBT Card in Illinois?

No. Any cardholder does not have to apply for card benefits. The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) is responsible for offering benefits to eligible students. The ISBE examines the information for the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) and provides the card's benefits monthly. However, you must complete an accurate address on the child's school's documentary.

3. What is the Benefit Amount per child issued by the U.S. Government?

An eligible student gets a total allocation of $6.82 per month. You will not get the benefit twice for a particular month. And suppose your child (also a student) did not get benefits through the extension. The benefit amount shall get issued for any eligible days.