Additional Food Assistance Will Help 972,000 North Carolina Children

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Some North Carolina Children will receive additional benefits over the summer.Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer food assistance program through Summer 2022.Human Services recently received approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to continue the Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer food assistance program through Summer 2022.

The extension of Summer P-EBT will provide approximately $303 million in food assistance benefits to approximately 975,000 North Carolina children.

“For many North Carolina Children, summer vacation means wondering where their next meal will come from,” said NCDHHS Secretary Kody H. Kinsley. “Children need healthy food to grow and learn, and we will continue to do everything we can to support this effort as part of the NCDHHS priority to improve child and family well-being.”

Students who received free or reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program are among the groups eligible for the P-EBT program.

Families can access important P-EBT information and updates on the P-EBT website. Details on the benefit issuance schedule will be posted on the website and shared via social media, and the one-time benefit amounts will be added to the website once they are finalized by the USDA.

How much will each child receive in benefits?

The eligibility and benefit amount for Summer P-EBT for students and young children varies. Children who received free or reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program in May 2022 are automatically eligible for Summer P-EBT and will be issued a one-time payment in late July or early August. For families who receive Food and Nutrition Services benefits, these benefits will automatically be added to your existing FNS EBT card. If a student received P-EBT benefits during the 2021-2022 school year, the benefits will be added to their existing P-EBT card. If your child did not receive P-EBT this school year, a new card will automatically be mailed to you.

What if my child is not already approved for free or reduced meals?

To access Summer P-EBT benefits, a student who is not already approved for free or reduced-price meals needs to apply by Aug. 31, 2022. If you are approved for free or reduced-price meals, the student will be automatically eligible for Summer P-EBT. To apply, please contact your student’s school or school district. Some of the school districts have online applications