DES MOINES, Iowa – The Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) announced today the distribution plan for Summer Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) food assistance benefits for eligible Iowa children.
The federal Summer P-EBT program allows states to issue emergency food assistance benefits this summer to all children who were eligible to receive free or reduced-price meals during the 2020-2021 school year.
This includes school children who were eligible for National School Lunch Program (NSLP) free or reduced-price school meals but did not receive P-EBT benefits because they attended school in person and had access to a meal service at school. It also includes children who are newly determined eligible for free or reduced-price meals during the covered summer period. Students may become newly eligible for NSLP free and reduced-price meals during the summer by completing an Iowa Free and Reduced Price Meal Application between the last day of the 2020-21 school year and August 13, 2021, and determined to be eligible; or, receiving a DHS Free Lunch Notice Letter and providing it to their school; or, being directly certified during this timeframe.
The Summer P-EBT program also includes benefits for children under 6 who were enrolled in SNAP during the summer.
The Summer P-EBT benefit amount is $375.00 for each eligible child. Most children will receive the payment in two deposits – one deposit for $187.50 between Aug. 13-20 and the other deposit of $187.50 between Sept.11-20. Children who are determined newly eligible will receive the full $375.00 deposited between September 11-20.
A comprehensive FAQ document, including eligibility information, is available on the DHS website. Families are encouraged to visit the website to find answers to the most common P-EBT questions.
