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Eligible North Carolina children will receive additional benefits during the summer to ensure they have access to nutritious food. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services recently received approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to continue the pandemic electronic benefit transfer food assistance program through summer 2022.
The Summer P-EBT extension will provide approximately $303 million in food assistance benefits to approximately 975,000 North Carolina children.
“For some kids, 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 NCDHHS’ priority to improve the well-being of children and families.”
Students who received free or reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program in May 2022 are among the groups eligible for the P-EBT program.
“Summer P-EBT Benefits and the National School Lunch Program are very important ways we can continue our mission to support the growth and development of North Carolina students,” said Catherine Truitt, North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction. “We know that improving student achievement and outcomes students requires the mobilization of student support services, and I am delighted that we can continue to provide this assistance to children and their families.”
Families can access important P-EBT information and updates on the P-EBT website . Details about the benefit issuance schedule will be posted on the website and shared via social media, and one-time benefit amounts will be added to the website once finalized by USDA.
Eligibility and benefit amounts for summer P-EBT for students and for young children differ. Students 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 receiving Food and Nutrition Services benefits, these student benefits will 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 the student did not receive P-EBT this school year, a new card will be mailed to them.
To access Summer P-EBT benefits, a student who is not already approved for free or reduced-price meals must apply by August 31, 2022. If approved for free or reduced price meals, the student will automatically be eligible for Summer P-EBT. To apply, contact your student’s school or school district . Many have online applications.
Toddlers under the age of 6 receiving FNS benefits and child care P-EBT benefits for the 2021-2022 school year are automatically eligible for summer P-EBT and will be issued a one-time payment in late July or early July. of August. The benefits for young children will be added to your household’s FNS EBT card.
To access summer P-EBT benefits, families with children who were 5 years old or younger at the start of the 2021-2022 school year (September 1, 2021) can submit an FNS application by August 15, 2022. . If approved for FNS, these children will also be eligible for summer P-EBT and will receive those benefits in September or October.
For more information on P-EBT, visit www.ncdhhs.gov/PEBT .
North Carolinians interested in applying for FNS benefits can do so online here or through their local county department of social services.
P-EBT is a federally funded temporary food assistance program helping families during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Summer P-EBT is an extension of benefits from the 2021-22 school year. P-EBT is administered by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services in collaboration with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.
