USDA announced that the agency will be allowing states to provide the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT benefits) to low-income families through the summer.
The P-EBT program gives funding to families whose children qualify for free or reduced-price meals while schools are operating remotely. Until now, the program has only been active during the school year.
Funding for the expanded P-EBT program has been provided through the American Rescue Plan. According to USDA, the program will give $375 to each of 30 million children to help their families buy food this summer.
Joel Berg, CEO of Hunger Free America said, “expanding the Pandemic-EBT program to the summer is a wise and compassionate decision. It will ease child hunger, reduce the financial burden on parents, and create jobs in grocery stores.”
The program was set to end on September 30th, 2021, but through the American Rescue Plan Act, the benefits will be available until the end of the pandemic.
