Summer Pandemic EBT Benefits to Roll Out in July
The Hawaii Department of Human Services and the Hawaii State Department of Education have announced the roll-out of the Summer Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer Program (P-EBT) benefits earlier this month.
The benefits are allocated to children who qualify for free or reduced-price school meals, or attend a Community Eligibility Provision school during the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, children under the age of 6 are eligible for benefits under the Keiki Under 6 Food Support Program as long as they receive SNAP benefits at any time between June 1, 2021 and August 2, 2021.
P-EBT is a food assistance program approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Nutrition Service and authorize by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. The benefit amount is around $400.
There is no application needed to receive the Summer P-EBT benefits. Eligible children are automatically enrolled for the benefits program through verification depending on their age.
However, if a child enrolled in a DOE school is in need of P-EBT benefits but not enrolled in a free or reduced-price lunch program, the family can apply through the EZMealApp.com by August 2, 2021. For children attending a NSLP-participation Charter or Private school, please contact your school.
Eligible students will have their benefits issued to their own Hawaii P-EBT cart of a Kokua EBT card. For newly eligible students, they will be mailed a Hawaii P-EBT card that has the name of the eligible student.
To check your child’s eligibility status, please visit the humanservices.hawaii.gov and click the P-EBT status banner.
