Food benefits worth $132 available for thousands of children who missed more than 12 days of school

THOUSANDS of children across the United States are eligible to receive up to $132 of food benefits.

The money comes from the Pandemic-EBT program, which was created to help feed children during school closures due to Covid-19.

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Similar to food stamps or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the Pandemic-EBT program works toward ending hunger by providing food to various different eligible families who were affected by the pandemic

Having started in 2021, provides food benefits to families with children under the age of 6, and to those who received between October 2020 and August 2021.

School-age children (kindergarten - 12th grade) who were eligible for free or reduced-price school meals during the 2020–21 school year are also eligible.

According to "You do not (and cannot) apply for P-EBT food benefits. P-EBT food benefits will automatically be issued to eligible children."

QUALIFYING FOR THE PANDEMIC-EBT PROGRAM

The benefit applies as long as the child's school has shut or is operating with reduced in-person attendance due to Covid-19 for at least five straight days.

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In order to receive a free lunch under the program, students must come from households with incomes at or below 130% of the federal poverty line.

For reduced-price lunches, students must come from homes between 130% and 185% of the federal poverty line.

The amount of children eligible to receive P-EBT benefits can vary depending on your state and in-person school attendance rate.

For example, in New York, children whose attendance was cut by 1 to 12 days received a total of $82 in benefits for each month

If the child's attendance was cut for more than 12 days, this $82 amount increased to $132.

RECEIVING THE BENEFITS

The SNAP Covid-19 information noted that "P-EBT food benefits will be issued as monthly in-person school attendance information provided by schools and school districts is reviewed and processed"

Those eligible for the P-EBT program will receive a debit card in the mail. Once you have received the card you must create a pin.

You can call the helpline here at  1-888-328-6399 to select a pin

For more detailed instructions this provides more information on how best to choose and create the pin for your P-EBT card.

This debit card allows you to shop at most places that accept Cal Fresh food benefits, these include a variety of grocery stores, various different farmers markets.

P-EBT cards may also be accepted online at certain stores such as and