New eligibility guidelines for Pandemic-EBT

Apr 19, 2022, 2:38 PM | Updated: Aug 30, 2022, 3:38 pm

New eligibility rules for pandemic-EBT program...

Students are dismissed at Turie T. Small Elementary School in Daytona Beach on Jan. 4, 2022. Turie MAIN PHOTO

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SALT LAKE CITY — With fewer COVID-related school closures and absences, Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT) will be changing its eligibility rules.

By May 6, all Utah households will need to apply for free or reduced-price meal benefits with their local school. Utahns need to apply in order to be potentially eligible for Pandemic-EBT.

How to know if you are eligible and apply

According to the Department of Workforce Services, eligibility is determined by the child’s school’s participation in the National School lunch program. Also, it is dependent on the status of students’ free or reduced-price school meal status. Lastly, a school’s closure for COVID-related reasons or a student’s absence due to COVID are also factors.

The Department of Workforce Services website encouraged everyone to contact their local school to apply for free or reduced-price meals. Applications for the 2021-2022 school year need to be submitted online through an individuals’ school or postmarked by May 6, 2022. Utahns Against Hunger offers a tool to contact your school.

Importance of Pandemic-EBT

The Utah State Board of Education said P-EBT can help individuals buy food if their children have lost access to the free or reduced-price meals program.

Individuals will need to sign up for free or reduced-price school meals in order to receive these benefits.

Furthermore, all students can receive one free breakfast and one free lunch each day they attend school. This does not qualify students for P-EBT, nor does it give students free-reduced status.