Hey Parents! Get ready for new food aid for your kids!
As so many of our community’s children struggle to make ends meet during this pandemic, new food assistance will be provided in the coming months.
Pandemic EBT — P-EBT for short — provides funds to help families with school-age children buy groceries when students are learning remotely because of COVID. These funds will be available through Sept. 2021 for some students learning from home. Get prepared now!
Only students approved to receive free/low-cost school meals through the National School Lunch Program may qualify for P-EBT.
To make sure children receive this important assistance, parents and other caregivers should:
- Fill out a school meals application, if they have not already. Families that have lost a job or have less income should also apply again in case they are now eligible.
- If your child is already approved to receive free or low-cost school meals, check with your school district to make sure child’s address and birthdate are correct. Some parents missed out on the first round because of wrong addresses or other incorrect information. This will help get your benefits without any problems.
No other application or action is necessary. Also, it is important to note that accepting this help will NOT hurt a family’s immigration status. Families can also qualify even if they are receiving free meals from their school district during the pandemic.
The P-EBT card works like a debit card to buy groceries anywhere SNAP benefits (also known as food stamps) are accepted. This assistance can help fill the food gap when during the pandemic.
This is much-needed assistance for families who are struggling due to the ongoing COVID health emergency. For more information, visit njsnap.gov.
Visit our Find Food page for additional assistance.