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DHSS Press Release

Molly Magarik, Secretary
Jill Fredel, Director of Communications
302-255-9047, Cell 302-357-7498
Email: Jill.Fredel@delaware.gov

DPH Media Contact:
Mary Fenimore
Email: DPHMedia@Delaware.gov

Date: August 2, 2022
DHSS-8-2022

DELAWARE'S PANDEMIC EBT PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE BENEFITS TO HELP FEED CHILDREN DURING THE SUMMER

Eligible Families Will Receive Emergency
Food Assistance Benefits in 2 Distributions

NEW CASTLE (Aug. 2, 2022) - Eligible Delaware households will receive emergency food assistance benefits under the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program to cover the summer period when children are on break and not receiving meals at school.

The following children are eligible for the Summer P-EBT benefit:

Children who were eligible for free or reduced-price school meals during the last month of the 2021-2022 school year. This includes children who graduated at the end of the 2021-2022 school year.
Children who are determined newly eligible for free or reduced-price school meals during this summer and were enrolled in a Delaware school during the 2021-2022 school year. Households that submit a meal application to their school on or before Aug. 26, 2022, and are approved will qualify for Summer P-EBT as long as the child was enrolled in the school for the 2021-2022 school year.
Children under age 6 who are part of a household that is receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food benefits during this summer.

The Department of Health and Social Services' Division of Social Services (DSS) is collaborating with the Delaware Department of Education and Delaware schools to issue the Summer P-EBT benefit beginning this month. Households will receive the U.S. Standard Summer P-EBT Benefit of $391.00 for each eligible child in their home. The Summer P-EBT benefit will be split into two separate issuances.

Issuance Amount (for each eligible child)	Date Benefits will be Available on EBT Cards
$195.00	August 5, 2022
$196.00	September 2, 2022

The date that benefits are issued to individual households depends on when P-EBT eligibility information is received from Delaware schools.

P-EBT benefits may be used to purchase food at stores that accept SNAP EBT cards. SNAP households will have P-EBT benefits loaded on their existing SNAP EBT cards. Households that do not receive SNAP will have P-EBT benefits loaded on the P-EBT card that was sent to them in a previous school year. Newly eligible non-SNAP households will receive a P-EBT card in the mail along with details on how to use the card.

"For vulnerable families across our state, the Summer Pandemic EBT program is an important way to make sure that the nutritional needs of children continue to be met when they are away from school," said DHSS Secretary Molly Magarik. "We are grateful to the federal government and Delaware's congressional delegation for providing critical funding to support eligible Delaware families."

DHSS estimates that it will issue $43.8 million in P-EBT benefits to parents or guardians of approximately 112,050 children this summer.

Eligible households will receive written notification in the mail regarding the Summer P-EBT benefit. P-EBT eligibility is based on information received from Delaware schools.

Families who would like to apply for free or reduced-price school meals may contact the School Nutrition Program for their child's school or visit their school's website to complete an application. Families must apply for free or reduced-price meals by Aug. 26, 2022, to be potentially eligible for Summer P-EBT.

Please contact the Division of Social Services at 1-866-843-7212 if you have questions about Delaware's P-EBT Program. Visit Delaware's P-EBT website for more information.

Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware's citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.

DELAWARE'S PANDEMIC EBT PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE BENEFITS TO HELP FEED CHILDREN DURING THE SUMMER

Delaware's Government