Parents of children who lost access to the summer meal programs during COVID-19 may be eligible to apply for pandemic food benefits.
Governor Abbott announced Wednesday that Texas was approved for a fifth round of Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfers (P-EBT) through the federal taxpayer-funded program.
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), which manages the program, provides benefits to families who receive free or reduced-price lunch and were impacted by the school closures during the pandemic, according to Community Impact.
“The State of Texas continues working to ensure families and children impacted by school closures have access to nutritious meals,” Governor Abbott said in a statement. “I thank HHSC and TEA [Texas Education Agency] for working with the USDA to provide these food benefits for Texas families across the state.”
The latest round of pandemic food benefits will provide more than $1.4 billion in taxpayer funds for benefits to approximately 3.5 million eligible children in Texas. It covers summer meal expenses from June 1–August 30, and families will receive $391 per eligible child.
To date, HHSC has distributed approximately $6.32 billion in P-EBT food benefits to Texas families, according to a statement from the Texas governor’s office.
The benefits can be used to buy groceries, like other EBT and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. To be eligible, students must have received free or reduced-price lunch during the 2021-22 school year or the following summer.
Eligible students who have not received SNAP or EBT benefits will be mailed a notice with instructions to claim their benefits. Households must claim all benefits within 90 days from the date listed on the notice, according to the statement.
Children born on or after August 1, 2015, who received SNAP benefits at any time between June and August 2022 will automatically receive P-EBT benefits on their Lone Star Card beginning in December.
“We’re proud to be supporting families in Texas so they can provide food to their children,” said Wayne Salter, HHS deputy executive commissioner of Access and Eligibility Services. “Being well-nourished allows children to focus on learning rather than where their next meal will come from.”
To learn more about the program, you can visit hhs.texas.gov/pebt or call the P-EBT call center at 833-442-1255.
