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- The Family’s First Coronavirus Response Act authorized a new benefit to help families who have children who are eligible for free or reduced-price school meals called Pandemic-EBT. The benefit will come on an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card, which is like a debit card.Pandemic EBT in Pennsylvania ***Updated May 7, 2020
- Pandemic EBT in Pennsylvania ***Updated May 22, 2020 The Family’s First Coronavirus Response Act authorized a new benefit to help families who have children who are eligible for free or reduced-price school meals called Pandemic-EBT. The benefit will come on an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card, which is like a debit card. The benefits can only be spent only on food items.
- Because Woodland Hills provides free school meals to all students, all Woodland Hills students are eligible for this benefit and are enrolled to participate. No school district meal application is necessary. If your family already receives SNAP(food stamps) or TANF cash assistance, the benefit will be deposited onto your EBT card. If you do not have an EBT card, one will be mailed to you from the state to the address that the school has on file. If you need to update your address with the school district, please contact registration and provide a change of address request.
- P-EBT BENEFITS FYI
- Effective today, June 5th, SFA's may direct parents/guardians to the following online P-EBT Inquiry Form if the parent/guardian believes they should have already received P-EBT benefits at https://www.emergencymealsurvey.com/PA.
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What is P-EBT?
- The federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 provides temporary benefits, referred to as Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT), to families of school-aged children who would receive free or reduced-priced meals if school was in session. The school must participate in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) in order for children to be eligible for free or reduced-price meals and the student must have attended the school as of March 13, 2020.
- Families that already have an EBT card for purposes of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) will not be issued a new card. The existing card will be loaded with the additional benefit. Families that qualify for free or reduced-price meals and do not have an existing EBT card will receive a P-EBT card in the mail (one per family, when possible)
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How much money will each student receive
- Households will receive $5.70 per child per day of eligibility, up to a maximum of 65 days. Students who were free or reduced-price eligible as of March 16, 2020, will receive full benefits ($370.00). The benefit for students who became eligible after March 16, 2020, will be calculated as follows
- • Students who became eligible between March 17 and March 31, 2020, will receive the benefit for March 16 through June 12 (65 days)
- • Students who became eligible between April 1 and April 30 will receive the benefit for April 1 through June 12 (53 days)
- • Students who become eligible between May 1 and May 31 will receive the benefit for May 1 through June 12 (31 days)
- • Students who become eligible between June 1 and June 12 will receive the benefit for June 1 through June 12 (10 days)
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When will benefits be issued
- Benefits will be issued in three phases beginning in mid-May. All benefits will be issued and mailed by the end of July.
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Will P-EBT cards be sent to all families who are eligible for free and reduced-price meals?
- P-EBT is for all families with school-aged children that are eligible for free and reduced-price meals. The student must have attended a school that participates in the NSLP and must have attended the participating school as of March 16, 2020.
- If a student's family already receives benefits through SNAP or TANF and currently has an EST card, they will not be issued a new card. The existing card will be loaded with the additional benefit. Families that qualify for free or reduced-price meals and do not have an existing EST card will receive a P-EST card in the mail (one per family, when possible).
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Which students/households are eligible for P-EBT?
- Any household with a student who is eligible for free or reduced-price meals and enrolled in a school that participates in the NSLP can receive P-EST. This population includes:
- Students who attend a school where all students are offered free meals, regardless of income. These schools are known as Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) schools.
- Students of migrant households: Receiving or using P-EST benefits does not impact the student's or any household member's immigration status or any current or future application for permanent residency.
- Households that recently lost income due to job loss or fewer hours and are newly eligible for free or reduced-price school meals. Families must complete the household application for free or reduced-price meals and receive approval from the school's determining official. Households can apply by contacting their students school of attendance or the COMPASS website.
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Where can families apply for SNAP, TANF, or Medical Assistance benefits?
- Families can apply for, and access, benefits at the COMPASS website. COMPASS is an online tool for Pennsylvanians to apply for many health and human service programs and manage benefit information.
- Some schools participate in the CEP, where all students are eligible for free meals.
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Are all students attending CEP schools eligible for P-EBT benefits?
- Yes, all students enrolled in a CEP school will receive P-EBT benefits. CEP participation is not necessarily district wide, so one child may attend a CEP school and qualify for the benefit while their sibling may attend a non-CEP school in that same district and would not necessarily qualify for the benefit (unless they are eligible due to income, receiving SNAP, TANF, or Medical Assistance with qualifying income).
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Are homeschooled or cyber students eligible for the P-EBT?
- No. A student must be enrolled in a school that participates in the NSLP and meet eligibility requirements for free or reduced-price school meals to receive P-EBT.
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Can schools continue to provide meals through the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and Seamless Summer Option (SSO) once P-EBT benefits are issued?
- Yes, schools can continue to operate other Federal nutrition programs while participating in P EST. The law does not prohibit children from participating in more than one nutrition program.
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Will receiving P-EBT benefits affect a family's ability to receive other benefits?
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Will receiving P-EBT affect a student's ability to receive free meals provided by the school?
- No. P-EBT is in addition to the meals being provided, not in place of those meals.
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If a family does not want to receive P-EBT, what should they do?
- Families that do not wish to take advantage of P-EBT should shred their card. This benefit is non-transferrable. It is unlawful for recipients to use this benefit to buy food for others or to give their card to someone else. However, a family can use the benefits for their own eligible food purchases and, if they are able to, donate their own cash to an organization or a needy family.
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Are schools required to share P-EBT information with families?
- No, schools are not required to communicate P-EBT information to families. OHS will be mailing information to identified P-EBT eligible families.
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Where can families be directed with questions?
Q: How can families check card balances?
A: 1-888-328-7366 or www.connectebt.com
Q: How can a family request a replacement card due to a lost or damaged card? A: Parent should complete the P-EBT Inquiry Form at
https://www.emergencymealsurvey.com/
Q: What should a family do if they believe they should have received a benefit and did not. A: All benefits will be processed and mailed by the end of July. If a parent believes they
should have received a card and has not after July 31st, have the parent complete the P- EBT Inquiry Form at https://www.emergencymealsurvey.com/
Q: Who can assist parents that are having issues with the card’s PIN? A: Parents should email RA-PWPEBTQuestions@pa.gov for assistance.
Q: Where does one obtain additional information on P-EBT (How much will the household receive, information for pinning P-EBT cards, and much more)?
A: https://www.dhs.pa.gov/providers/Providers/Pages/Coronavirus-Pandemic-EBT.aspx
- The benefits can only be spent only on food items. Click here for more information. No school district meal application is necessary.
- To learn about Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits go to SNAP FACTS .
- Click here to apply for benefits on COMPASS
Beginning Thursday, March 19 students may receive GRAB and GO Breakfast and Lunch Monday through Friday from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the following locations:
As of 3/23/2020 the PA Summer Food Service Program requires that students need to be present to receive the meal(s). Woodland Hills does not have a waiver for parent|guardian only meal pick up. The SFSP meals are made available on a first-come first-serve basis. Every effort will be made to have meals available daily for all children who want to receive a meal but there may be occasions where demand exceeds what was prepared.
These are open sites where any child up to and including 18 years old may receive meals and demand varies each day.
- District Administration Building located at 531 Jones Ave North Braddock PA 15104 MEAL SERVICE ENDS JUNE 5th
Meals will be distributed to students at the side entrance located next to the parking lot.
- East Pittsburgh Community Center|Gym located at 506 Bessemer Ave and Main St East Pittsburgh PA 15112 MEAL SERVICE ENDS JUNE 5th
Meals will be distributed in the parking lot of the Community Center at Bessemer Ave and Main Street.
- Rankin School located at 235 Fourth Ave Rankin PA 15104 MEAL SERVICE ENDS JUNE 5th
Meals will be distributed at the front entrance of the building.
- Turtle Creek Elementary Steam Academy located at 126 Monroeville Ave Turtle Creek PA 15145 MEAL SERVICE TIME CHANGE 11:00 - 1:00 PM begin JUNE 8th
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinners will be distributed to students from door #2 located at the driveway to the right of the front entrance to the school until June 30th.
- Woodland Hills Intermediate School located at 7600 Evans Street Swissvale PA 15218 MEAL SERVICE ENDS JUNE 5th
Meals will be distributed to students from door #2 located to the right of the entrance ramp to the school.
- Students may receive meals at one location that is most convenient to their home.
- Students will receive one lunch and one breakfast at the same time.
- Students will receive additional meals for the weekend on Thursday and Friday.
- The meals are intended to be GRAB and GO. The facilities will not be open to use as a place to eat the meals.
- The State of Pennsylvania stipulates that students need to be present to receive the meal(s). The district does not have a waiver for parent|guardian only pick up.
Propel Braddock Hills Elementary School is serving meals 10:00 AM to Noon Mondays and Thursdays. Breakfast and Lunch. Multiple days meals at each distribution.
| Find community resources in your area (food, transportation, health, education, work. etc) |
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Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank Our Response to COVID-19 Questions? Call 412-460-3663 pittsburghfoodbank.org
The Food Bank is committed to making sure all of our neighbors have access to enough food during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. Our events may look a little different than you’re used to, but we are still here to help. Our distributions offer individuals and families 30 to 50 pounds of foods such as fresh produce, meat and other pantry staples.
Bring bags, boxes or a rolling cart. We will not have people to help you to your car with groceries. You will get 35 to 50 pounds of food at each of our distributions. Locations of these events may change. Check our website before attending an event. Click here for list.
FOODSHARE EVENTS at the Food Bank 1 N Linden St | Duquesne, PA 15110
Phone: (412)273-3458
Service Areas
Braddock, North Braddock, East Pittsburgh and Rankin
Distribution Hours
3rd Saturday, 8 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Services Provided
Food Pantry
Phone: (412)436-2697
Service Areas
Rankin, Braddock and Swissvale and North Braddock
Distribution Hours
1st Wednesday, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
3rd Wednesday, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Services Provided
Food Pantry
RCC operates a food pantry for the Rankin community, in collaboration with the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank and Giant Eagle, Edgewood Town Center and Aldi. Anyone who meets income and residency requirements is eligible.
➤Daily- Bakery and Produce items arrive daily. Giant Eagle Edgewood Town Center and Aldi generously donates items to be distributed to those in need
➤Monthly – Qualified applicants are scheduled for monthly pickup of food
Check for eligibility
Contact the Rankin Christian Center to see if you are eligible to receive this program.
