A pandemic relief program is available for households with eligible children to apply for government food benefits.
"Because of school closures from COVID-19, Texas received approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide more than $1 billion in pandemic food benefits to families with children that have temporarily lost access to free or reduced-price school meals," says the Texas Health and Human Services website.
The Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) will provide a one time payment to eligible families of up to $285 for purchasing food.
"P-EBT works the same way Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits do and will help families get the food they need during the current pandemic," says the Texas Health and Human Services website.
The P-EBT funds willl be approved for children 5-18 years old who received SNAP food benefits for the month of March, children up to 21 years old who are certified for free or reduced-price meals at school in Texas during the 2019-20 school year, and children that attend a school that offers free meals to all students. Community Eligibility Provision or Provision 2 are also eligible.
Applications are available online at until June 30 at yourtexasbenefits.com/Learn/PEBT.
If you need help filling out the P-EBT application, please contact is 833-613-6220.
Please visit hhs.texas.gov/PEBT or call is 833-613-6220 for more information.
Texas Health and Human Services Commission and the Texas Department of Agriculture and Texas Education Agency will be in charge of administering the program.
