Pandemic Food Assistance Stipend Now Available
Pandemic EBT Notification from the Iowa Department of Education and Iowa Department of Human Services
(Dated July 13, 2020) The Families First Coronavirus Response Act allows states to issue Food Assistance benefits to households with children in Pre-K through 12th grade who lost access to Free and Reduced Price School Meals due to pandemic-related school closures in Spring 2020.
Any child who was an enrolled Pre-K through 12th grade student in either a public school or non-public school that participates in the National School Lunch Program and received Free and Reduced Price School Meals as of March 16, 2020 is eligible for a one-time P-EBT benefit of $307.80. The P-EBT card will be mailed by DHS to the address the district has on file. Families who currently receive, or have received Food Assistance/SNAP benefits since April, will get $307.80 for each eligible child. The P-EBT benefits will be put on your regular EBT card on Wednesday, July 15. As always, you can check the EBT portal for the balance of your benefits on www.connectebt.com
Children in Pre-K through 12th grade who receive Free and Reduced Price School Meals, but do not receive Food Assistance/SNAP benefits will have a special P-EBT card mailed to them to be received between Tuesday, July 14 and Tuesday, July 21 with instructions on how to use the card.
Families who have students that qualify for Free and Reduced Price School Meals priced meals are encouraged to review the Iowa Department of Human Services FAQ or call 1-877-347-5678 from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday – Friday.