New Program Offers Extra Food Benefits

Federal legislation passed in response to COVID-19 includes a new program that allows children who are eligible for free or reduced-price meals at school to receive extra food benefits.

Under the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program, families of children who receive free or reduced-price meals at school or attend a Community Eligibility Provision school may receive financial assistance to replace school meals that were missed in March, April and May due to COVID-19 school closures. The program will provide parents with EBT benefits valued at $5.70 per child for each day that child qualifies for the program.

P-EBT benefits do not replace any child nutrition program meals being offered. Children may continue to receive grab-and-go meals or emergency food at COVID-19 emergency feeding sites offered by schools or community organizations, even if they receive P-EBT benefits.

Parents who already receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits do not need to apply. Funds for these families began arriving on the EBT card they already use beginning Friday, June 12.

Parents who do not receive SNAP benefits are still eligible if:

• Their children attend a Community Eligibility Provision school (see full list below*), or
• Their children qualify for free or reduced-price school meals.

These parents need to apply for P-EBT at this link. The application period will end on August 14, 2020, at 5:30 p.m. Eastern time.

 

For more information, please see our FAQ document. 

 

*The following are Community Eligibility Provision schools:

Adrian Burnett Elementary School

Austin-East Magnet High School

Beaumont Magnet Academy

Belle Morris Elementary School

Carter Elementary School

Carter High School

Carter Middle School

Central High School

Chilhowee Intermediate School

Christenberry Elementary School

Dogwood Elementary School

Dr. Paul L. Kelley Volunteer Academy

East Knox County Elementary School

Emerald Academy

Fair Garden Family Center

Fountain City Elementary School

Ft. Sanders Ed. Dev Center

Fulton High School

Green Magnet Academy

Gresham Middle School

Holston Middle School

Inskip Elementary School

K.A.E.C.

Lonsdale Elementary School

Maynard Elementary School

Mooreland Heights Elementary School

Mount Olive Elementary School

New Hopewell Elementary School

Northwest Middle School

Norwood Elementary School

Pleasant Ridge Elementary School

Pond Gap Elementary School

Richard Yoakley Transition

Ridgedale Alternative

Ritta Elementary School

Sam E. Hill Primary School

Sarah Moore Green Magnet Academy

South Knoxville Elementary School

South-Doyle High School

South-Doyle Middle School

Spring Hill Elementary School

Sunny View Primary Elementary School

Vine Middle Magnet School

West Haven Elementary School

West Hills Elementary School

West View Elementary School

Whittle Springs Middle School