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Charlotte Amalie
Friday, March 29, 2024
HomeNewsLocal governmentHuman Services Issues Summer Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfers (P-EBT)

Human Services Issues Summer Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfers (P-EBT)

The Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT) goes to children of current Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) households and non-SNAP households. (file photo)

The Virgin Islands Department of Human Services (DHS) informs the public that Summer Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (Summer P-EBT) will be issued to eligible school children on the following dates:

P-EBT Summer 2021 for School Children Release Dates by District

  • October 16 in the St. Thomas/St. John District
  • October 17 in the St. Croix District

DHS Commissioner Kimberley Causey-Gomez said, “At the Department of Human Services, it is our life’s work to serve our most vulnerable populations, especially our children. We take seriously our responsibility to tackle the COVID-19 crisis and ensuring there is no food insecurity. Thousands of Virgin Islanders are counting on us for direct services, which includes frontline work. While there’s no denying the complexity of managing through this crisis, I continue to be proud of our Division of Family Assistance team for their outstanding hard work and dedication to the people of our community.”

Who is eligible for Round 4 of Summer P-EBT, and how will it be issued?

School-Age Children

  1. All students (K- 12) that were enrolled in USVI public and private schools for the school year 2020-2021 and participated in the National School Lunch Program,
  2. Students who attended school in the following learning mode: virtual, hybrid and in person, and
  3. Students who attended school in May 2021 of School Year 2020-2021.
  4. For eligible children who currently receive SNAP, benefits will be loaded on the household’s existing EBT card.
  5. For eligible children who do not receive SNAP but were issued a card for P-EBT 1,2 and 3, the fourth round will be automatically loaded to those cards.

For new, eligible non-SNAP children:

  1. Cards will be mailed to the addresses provided by parents and guardians.
  2. The card will be issued in the student’s name. Households with more than one eligible student will receive multiple cards.
  3. Instructions will be provided on how to set-up and utilize the card to access the benefits.
  4. There is no application process. The Virgin Islands Department of Education and eligible private schools provided DHS the names of students enrolled for the 2020-2021 school year.
  5. PEBT benefits can be used to purchase food items at the stores of authorized SNAP retailers.
  6. PEBT benefits are not transferrable. Individuals must destroy the card if they do not want the benefits.

This Summer P-EBT Issuance is only for school-age children. Eligible children who were under age 6 and who are identified in the “Child Care” category will receive their Summer P-EBT Issuance by or before Oct. 31.

How much will you receive?

A standard one-time benefit of $438 per child will be issued.

What is P-EBT?

P-EBT, an abbreviation for Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer, is an additional benefit that basically provides food assistance via an Electronic Benefit Card that can be used in participating grocery stores and convenience stores for food items. Unlike SNAP, which is renewable based on eligibility, P-EBT is a one-time benefit issuance.

P-EBT was funded by the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which is now amended for the American Rescue Act. Benefits are available for all Virgin Islands SNAP and non-SNAP households with children who were enrolled in locally registered public and private schools, grades K – 12, who have temporarily lost access to free or reduced-price school meals due to pandemic-related public and private school closures and for children under 6 who receive SNAP benefits.

For more information about P-EBT, visit the DHS website at www.dhs.gov.vi, or families may call the P-EBT Customer Service Number: 772-7120 or email pebt@dhs.vi.gov with the subject: P-EBT.

For more information, visit the Department of Human Services website at www.dhs.gov.vi or on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/usvidhs) at U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Human Services.

For more information on COVID-19, the new strain of coronavirus, visit the V.I. Department of Health’s website or text COVID19USVI to 888777. #COVID19USVI

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