Pritzker Administration Extends
Deadline to Apply for Nutrition Benefits Amidst Ongoing COVID-19
Pandemic
Households Can Receive $342 in SNAP Funds
per Eligible Student
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[September 15, 2020]
Governor Pritzker announced that the Illinois
Department of Human Services (IDHS) has extended the deadline for
Illinoisans to apply for nutrition benefits to August 31. Eligible
Illinois residents can receive food benefits totaling $342 per
eligible student. Approximately 390,000 eligible students across the
State of Illinois have not yet applied for Illinois Pandemic
Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) benefits for the 2020-2021
school year.
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The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) authorized
and will fund the P-EBT program, which will bring food benefits to
all school-aged children who are eligible for free or reduced meals
at schools through the National School Lunch Program. The benefit is
issued to all SNAP households with school-aged children.
We are pleased to see the deadline extended so that every eligible
Illinois family can take advantage of this additional support," said
IDHS Secretary Grace B. Hou. "IDHS has and will continue to apply
for waivers that provide additional food assistance for children and
families in our state. This extension is a benefit for families who
need support."
The P-EBT program has already provided more than 730,000 children in
Illinois with more than $246 million in additional nutrition
benefits. Benefits are calculated using a $5.70 per day and per
student calculation.
Eligible Benefit Amounts are as follows:
$182.40= March & April 2020
$119.70= May 2020
$39.90= June 2020
These benefits apply to households with school-aged children who
were eligible for free or reduced meals from March 2020 through June
2020 when Illinois schools were operating remotely due to COVID-19.
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Those who did not receive SNAP benefits last spring
are able to submit a simplified application for P-EBT benefits using
the ABE.Illinois.gov online portal or by completing a paper
application which is available at the IDHS website at
dhs.state.il.us.
We know the pandemic has impacted many families financially, said
State Superintendent of Education Dr. Carmen I. Ayala. The Pandemic
EBT ensures that students eligible for free and reduced-price meals
at school have access to the food they need at home as well. ISBE
encourages every eligible family to apply and we are taking every
opportunity to communicate about this program to schools and
encourage schools to share this information with families.
For more information, go to https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=124142.
[Illinois Office of Communication and
Information]
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