The V.I. Dept. of Human has announced the approval of the School Year 2022-2023 Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) Territorial Plan for School Children by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Services (FNS).
P-EBT is a program funded by the Family First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) as amended by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). It offers food assistance through an Electronic Benefit Card, usable in participating grocery and convenience stores. This benefit differs from regular SNAP benefits as it is a one-time issuance specific to a School Year.
This iteration of P-EBT differs from previous rounds. Parents or guardians of children enrolled in virtual school or homeschool due to Covid-19 related concerns must complete an application to confirm their child's enrollment status.
Eligible students for the 2022-2023 School Year P-EBT include:
- Students enrolled in virtual school due to COVID-19 concerns.
- Students absent for 5 consecutive days due to sickness, with data provided by the VI Department of Education.
- Students absent for 1 to 4 consecutive days due to COVID-19, requiring parental application and verification of absences.
- Home-schooled students previously enrolled in a school participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP).
DHS has proactively identified eligible virtual and homeschooled students, contacting parents for application submission. The deadline for these applications is December 1, 2023. Parents of students with shorter COVID-related absences are also encouraged to contact DHS to complete the necessary application by the same deadline.
For inquiries and application submissions, parents can reach out via the following:
- Email: [email protected]
- Telephone: PEBT hotline: (340) 772-7120
- DHS Issuance Offices in St. Croix and St. Thomas
Applications can be returned to the DHS Issuance Offices or mailed to the provided addresses in St. Thomas and St. Croix. The DHS emphasizes the importance of timely application submission to ensure eligible families receive this crucial assistance.
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