Summer Pandemic EBT approved to provide food benefits for eligible Arkansas families

Little Rock, Arkansas – In order to provide food benefits for the summer months to eligible children, the Arkansas Department of Human Services and Arkansas Department of Education announced Thursday.

One of two requirements for children to qualify for this temporary nutrition benefit is: Receive free or reduced-price meals during the school year or if under the age of six, they must live in a household receiving SNAP benefits.

“It’s important that families are able to feed children healthy and nutritious meals all year long, even when schools are out of session,” said Director Mary Franklin from the DHS Division of County Operations. “This Summer P-EBT benefit will provide resources to ensure that eligible families are able to cover costs involved with providing these meals.”

If a student is not yet approved, a family member has until July 29 to submit a 2021-22 meal application to their children’s school district. If approved, the benefits will only apply to the Summer P-EBT program.

According to the news released, families of eligible children typically receive $391 per child for the summer. Benefits are loaded onto a debit-style card that can be used to purchase food.

According to DHS, everyone who qualifies will have a new card issued to the family in the student’s name.

The cards will be delivered by mail in a plain white envelope to the address submitted to ADE’s Division of Elementary and Secondary Education by the local school district; or, to the address DHS has on file if the younger child lives in a household receiving SNAP benefits.