Pandemic School Meal Benefits, Aug. 14

SALEM, OR – Six weeks ago, Oregon received approval to implement Pandemic-EBT (P-EBT) benefits, which provides food benefits for students who lost access to free meals through a school participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) when they suddenly closed due to COVID-19. Families may receive up to $384 per eligible child and the actual food benefit amount is based on the date the child became eligible for free or reduced meals at school. In order to receive the benefits, Oregon school districts must provide the eligibility information to the Department of Education – most have done this. Now, additional data collection efforts are underway for families who applied for free or reduced lunch after schools closed, moved or were not included on initial lists. This work is expected to continue through August and into September. Will my child receive these additional food benefits? Yes, if your child attended an NSLP participating school and was eligible for free, reduced price, or no-charge meals in April, May and/or June 2020. To find out if your school participates in NSLP, visit https://www.oregon.gov/ode/students-and-family/childnutrition/Documents/List%20of%20NSLP%20Participating%20Schools.xlsx
Where is my school in the process? View which schools have reported eligibility information to the Department of Education at https://bit.ly/2BtVhD5 Check to see if benefits have been issued for your district by visiting https://oralert.gov/benefits How will my family get these benefits? If families currently receive SNAP benefits, they will see the P-EBT benefits on their Oregon Trail Card. Families with an active Oregon Trail Card, including families who previously received Summer EBT benefits, will have the benefits loaded onto this card. Families can find out if a card is still active by visiting https://tinyurl.com/y5e3vy4v Families with no active Oregon Trail card on file will receive one in the mail. Eligible households will receive a letter once benefits are deposited onto the Oregon Trail Card. What if I haven’t received my benefits or Oregon Trail Card? Benefits will continue to be deposited or mailed through mid-September. If you do not receive your benefits or cards by September 15, reach out to the P-EBT team at ebt.schoolmeals@dhsoha.state.or.us or (503) 945-6481. “We are asking families to please wait until September 15 to contact us if they haven’t received their benefits or Oregon Trail Card,” requested Dan Haun. “After September 15, we will be able to review individual cases and help any families still waiting. We are working around the clock to make sure families get the assistance they need to help put food on the table.” Pandemic-EBT is a partnership between the Department of Human Services and the Oregon Department of Education, Child Nutrition Program. Bringing these additional food benefits to families struggling during this pandemic would not be possible without the dedicated work being done in school districts throughout the state to provide eligibility information. This local and statewide collaboration is crucial to making these benefits available.