ST. Paul, Minnesota (FOX 9) – Eligible as the Federal Public Health Emergency for COVID-19 ends Minnesota Families with children will soon receive what is expected to be the last food benefit.
The Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer Payment (P-EBT) is a temporary food benefit for families with eligible children for free or discounted school meals. The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) said in a news release Monday that eligible households will begin receiving food benefits for the current school year starting this month, with some households finalizing small summer benefits in July. He announced that he would receive the rounds.
However, with the COVID-19 public health emergency over, this is expected to be the final round of food benefit payments.
Many Minnesota families are facing food shortages and resent their children not being fed at school. During the pandemic, the DHS said additional aid authorized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture helped ease the burden. Families will receive $8.18 for each day their school-aged child is absent from school due to COVID-19.
“Helping families facing food insecurity is an important investment in their health, well-being and ability to thrive,” said Welfare Secretary Jody Harpstead.
Since March 2020, children in Minnesota have received over $723 million through the P-EBT program.
Starting this month, a total of $10.4 million in P-EBT benefits for the 2022-23 school year will go to more than 29,000 students and more than 49,000 families with children under the age of five. And in July, families of eligible students who attended in-person school in the last month of the 2022-23 school year will receive summer food benefits. Last year’s total summer benefits were $435, compared to $120 this year.
School year and summer benefits for school children will be available on P-EBT cards that can be used to purchase food. Rewards for children 5 and younger will arrive on the family’s Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card. Food benefits must be used within 9 months. After that, it disappears from the P-EBT and EBT cards and cannot be replaced.