P-EBT application deadline extended to July 31

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced Monday, June 29, that the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) extended the deadline to apply for the federal Pandemic-Electronic Benefit Transfer program (P-EBT).

The deadline to apply for P-EBT is extended to July 31.

The P-EBT program is a one-time benefit for families who lost access to free or reduced school meals because schools were closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The benefit of $285 per eligible child can be used in same way as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to pay for groceries.

"The extension of the P-EBT deadline helps ensure that Texans have time to apply for this program and provide nutritious food to their families as the state continues to combat COVID-19," said Abbott. "Ensuring access to healthy food in our communities is an important part of our response to this pandemic."

"We remain committed to ensuring access to healthy and nutritious foods for eligible Texans, and P-EBT provides that to those who need it most," said HHS Access and Eligibility Deputy Executive Commissioner Wayne Salter. "This extension provides more time for families to apply for this emergency assistance."

Families who currently receive SNAP benefits automatically had the P-EBT benefit added to their accounts.

There were more than three million Texas children in the 2019-2020 school year who qualified for free or reduced meals.

Families who qualified for the P-EBT payment were notified by their school districts in May or June.

After completing an online application, qualified families will receive the P-EBT benefit on a card in the mail.

HHSC partnered with the Texas Department of Agriculture and the Texas Education Agency to launch the $1 billion federal program on June 1 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

To date, nearly $700 million in P-EBT has been issued to families, benefiting more than 2.5 million children.

Visit hhs.texas.gov/pebt to learn more about P-EBT.

For questions regarding eligibility or to learn more, people may also contact the P-EBT Call Center at 833-613-6220, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Claire Kowalick, a senior journalist for the Times Record News, covers local government, military and MSU Texas. If you have a news tip, contact Claire at ckowalick@gannett.com.

Twitter: @KowalickNews