Updated July 1, 2020
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Texas Department of Agriculture, and the Texas Education Agency have created a new program to help parents of school-age children.
WHAT IS IT?
COVID P-EBT BENEFITS – A ONE TIME BENEFIT of $285 per child (like disaster food stamps), for people with school-age children on FREE OR REDUCED PRICE SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM or SNAP when schools closed in March. To be paid by Electronic Benefits Transfer.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
A household with one or more children under 21 in school in March 2020, AND
- Was on SNAP in March 2020, OR
- Had children on free or reduced-price school lunches for 2019-20 school year
HOW DO I GET MY ONE TIME BENEFIT?
SNAP RECIPIENTS = AUTOMATIC RECEIPT no action required*
- If you received SNAP benefits in March 2020 and had children AGES 5 – 18 as of May 17, 2020
- You will receive $285 PER CHILD added to your SNAP Lone Star card by May 22
- (SNAP recipients with children under 5, or age 19 -20, on free lunch program must apply)
CHILDREN ON FREE OR REDUCED PRICE SCHOOL LUNCHES = MUST APPLY !!!
- If your children up to age 21 were on free or reduced school lunches for 2019-20 school year
- You are eligible for $285 PER CHILD in COVID FOOD BENEFITS, called P-EBT
- YOU MUST FILE AN APPLICATION online (if you were not on SNAP in March)
- (SNAP recipients with children under 5, or age 19 -20, on free lunch program must apply)
APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED FROM JUNE 1 TO JULY 31, 2020
- You will receive a notice from your school district on how to apply online.
- Benefits will be paid by a P-EBT card, which will be sent out by mail.
- P-EBT cards can be used to purchase groceries in the same way as SNAP food stamps are used.
SOURCE OF LAW: federal Statute Families First CoronaVirus Response Act
State agency: HHSC https://hhs.texas.gov/services/health/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-covid-19-information-texans/pandemic-ebt-p-ebt-due-covid-19
Lone Star Legal Aid is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit law firm focused on advocacy on behalf of low-income and underserved populations. Lone Star Legal Aid serves millions of people at 125% of federal poverty guidelines that reside in 72 counties in the eastern and Gulf Coast regions of Texas, and 4 counties of southwest Arkansas. Lone Star Legal Aid focuses its resources on maintaining, enhancing, and protecting income and economic stability; preserving housing; improving outcomes for children; establishing and sustaining family safety and stability, health and well‐being; and assisting populations with special vulnerabilities, like those who have disabilities, or who are elderly, homeless, or have limited English language skills. To learn more about Lone Star Legal Aid, visit our website at http://www.lonestarlegal.org.
Media contact: Clarissa Ayala, cayala@lonestarlegal.org.
This information is accurate as of 5/12/20. Due to changing circumstances, this information may be superseded by current events, new laws and regulations, disaster declarations and extensions, court orders, and administrative agency decisions. While we will make every effort to update this information when possible, the user should always check for updates and be guided accordingly.
