The Continuing Appropriations Act of 2021 and Other Extensions Act reauthorized the payment of P-EBT food benefits to households with children who would have received free school lunches under the National School Lunch Act, if not for a reduction in in-person learning due to the pandemic. These temporary food benefits are being provided to help cover the cost of meals children would have otherwise received at school during the 2020-21 academic year.
Because New York City is a universal school lunch district, all public school families regardless of income will receive the benefits! Families will soon receive up to $1,320 in food benefits to help cover the cost of missed school meals while students learned remotely during the COVID pandemic. You do not (and cannot) apply for Pandemic EBT food benefits. P-EBT food benefits will automatically be issued to eligible children. Read more about it on the NY State announcement and Chalkbeat.
