Pandemic EBT: Emergency School Meals Program

rsd

June 10, 2020

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Because COVID-19 closed our schools, your children may be eligible for food assistance through a program called Pandemic EBT (P-EBT):  Emergency School Meals Program.  It is a benefit for Washington children in Grades K-12 who receive free or reduced-price school meals.  P-EBT is intended to replace meals missed while schools closed due to COVID-19.\r\n

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P-EBT benefits are accessed via an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card which is used like a debit card to buy groceries, providing families with funds to make up for the cost of meals while school was closed.\r\n

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If your family has lost income since schools closed, your children may now be eligible for free or reduced-price school meals.  Find out if you are eligible by calling 360-619-1309, and you can apply through Skyward Family Access.  Or you can complete the application on the district’s Food Service page at this link:  https://www.ridgefieldsd.org/o/district/page/food-services--27 .  Once your children qualify for free or reduced-price school meals, you can apply for P-EBT benefits.\r\n

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Important:  The application window for P-EBT will open soon and will remain open until the start of the 2020-21 school year.  However, in order to apply for P-EBT, eligibility for free and reduced price meals must be determined no later than June 30th.  Also, if your family does not receive Basic Food benefits, you must apply for P-EBT if you want to receive the funds.   There are two ways to apply:\r\n

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Every eligible child may receive up to a maximum of $399 of P-EBT.  Immigration status does not matter for P-EBT—it is not Basic Food and will not count in a public charge test.   Also, children can get free meals from school and community sites and get P-EBT at the same time – they are separate programs.\r\n

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To learn more about P-EBT in detail, visit www.k12.wa.us/PEBT to view a list of Frequently Asked Questions about the program.\r\n

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We want to make sure all of our students stay healthy and grow strong.  If you know of a family who could benefit from P-EBT, we encourage you to share this information with them.\r\n

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