Most states haven’t applied for food aid funding for 30 million vulnerable children

The vast majority of states in the country have yet to be approved for a key federal program to help feed children during the pandemic.

This is called the Pandemic-EBT program, which helped 18.5 million children get food at a time.

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Federal Welfare Act similar to food stamps, or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, with funds loaded onto low-income Americans’ electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards.

These benefits are designed to help feed children when schools are closed during the height of the pandemic.

The EBT card can be used to buy groceries in-store or online.

Last year, families received a total of $10.8 billion in benefits.

However, many states have so far not applied for aid for the school year that begins in September.

That means 30 million children may not receive benefits over the summer, Virginia Democrat Representative Robert C. “Bobby” Scott noted. washington articles.

“These decisions will have dire consequences for millions of families,” said Scott.

“I hope that every state will fulfill its responsibility to prevent child hunger as we continue to fight this pandemic.”

The following statuses either do not apply or are still in the registration process:

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Florida
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Iowa
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New shirt
• New York
• North Dakota
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Vermont
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wyoming

Meanwhile, Minnesota, Ohio New Mexico, Michigan North Carolina, Virginia, Wisconsin, Indiana are the only 8 states with Pandemic-EBT programs approved for this school year.

Some states that didn’t sign up for the program this year are still handing out last year’s money.

Georgia is one of them.

“The main issue is staffing and coordinating all parties to gather information,” said Ms. Martin.

But the state’s plan is reportedly working on an app soon.

This is because more than 5,400 schools canceled classes or switched to virtual learning by the first weekend of this month.

Under current law, students in states that are not approved for benefits this school year will not receive help in the summer, when school is not in session.

Who is eligible for the Pandemic-EBT program?

Children receive free or reduced price meals through National school lunch program generally qualify for P-EBT benefits, under Ministry of Agriculture.

This applies as long as their school has closed or is operating with reduced in-person attendance due to Covid-19 for at least five consecutive days.

To receive the free lunch under the program, students must come from households with incomes at or below 130% of the federal poverty line.

For reduced-price lunch, students must come from families that fall between 130% and 185% of the federal poverty line.

The number of children eligible to receive in P-EBT benefits depends on direct school attendance and may vary by state.

In New York, for example, children whose school hours were cut from 1 to 12 days received $82 in benefits each month.

Over 12 days this amount was increased to $132.

Along with the Pandemic-EBT program, many federal benefits have ended or are declining.

This includes $3,600 child tax credit payment, which expired at the end of 2021, as well as rental support, there are ended in four states.

When it comes to food stamps, we analyze the claimants can be purchased on Amazon.

We disclose how much per state average supply in food stamps every month.

And check three major food stamp changes this month.