June is here and it’s National Hunger Awareness Month. With child hunger soaring to new levels amidst the COVID-19 crisis, the Colorado Department of Human Services and Department of Education have teamed up to secure USDA approval to issue Pandemic-EBT (P-EBT) benefits. These benefits will be issued to school-age children who would have received free or reduced-price lunches during the time that schools have been closed. Each household with a child receiving free or reduced-price lunches is eligible to receive an amount of $5.70 per child per school day on a Colorado EBT card that will support the family in creating healthy, wholesome meal options for kids who are now home during the school day.
For Colorado families that currently receive SNAP benefits, no action will be needed from the family and benefits will be automatically issued in approximately mid or late-June. Families that currently do not participate in the SNAP program, and whose children attend a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program, will receive instructions and key information through the family’s school or school district on how to receive those benefits in June. P-EBT benefits will be issued to households as a one-time payment reflecting the days that children would have been in school but were not in March, April, and May due to COVID-19.
Please note that customers should not contact Jefferson County directly as it could delay this benefit. For more information and frequently asked questions visit the Colorado Department of Human Services website.
Among these times of hardship, it’s important we listen to those who don’t have a voice and ensure children stay well-fed with nutritious meals. To learn more about National Hunger Awareness month and find more resources visit Feeding America.