Parents of schoolchildren in New York will receive food allowances for children
'11.05.2023'
Lyudmila Balabay
All New York State families with public school students will receive a food allowance of at least $391 per child.
Payments are made based on federal program Coronavirus Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT). In other states, these benefits are given to families whose children receive free school meals. But New York public schools have universal free meals, so all students in the state are eligible for the money.
The amount of the payment is calculated based on the number of days a student missed due to COVID-19, including distance learning days, in the 2021-2022 school year. The maximum payment per child can reach $1. The money will go to parents between May and September 671.
Who will receive P-EBT benefits
All families with children who attended New York State public schools in the last school year will receive the money. Students in charter, private, and other schools or preschools who received free meals through the federal program will also receive benefits.
If a family received federal SNAP food assistance and has a child under 2021 years of age as of September 6, they are also eligible for P-EBT.
The immigration status of the child and his parents does not matter.
On the subject: Bilingual education in New York schools: what is it and how to enroll
How is the benefit amount calculated?
Everyone who qualifies for the benefit will receive a base $391. This amount will increase for school absences due to the COVID-19 pandemic:
- 21 dollar - for each month of the 2021-2022 school year, if the child missed from one to five days at school due to COVID-19 (he fell ill, his class or himself was quarantined or transferred to distance learning);
- 78 dollars - for each month of the 2021-2022 school year, if the child missed from six to 15 days;
- 128 dollars - for each month if the child missed 16 or more days.
How to receive the money
Most families do not need to take any action. The state will automatically send the money.
If parents wish to report that their child's absence was due to COVID-19, although school records indicate otherwise, they must apply via online application. It can be filled from May 15 to August 15.
Families who received P-EBT in the 2019-2020 or 2020-2021 school years will receive the money on the same card. Those who do not yet have a card will receive it by mail with the money already credited to it. If you have lost your P-EBT card, call 1-888-328-6399 and ask for a replacement.
For those families who receive SNAP or Medicaid benefits, P-EBT payments will go to these accounts.
Money can only be spent on food.
