The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) will begin issuing approximately $39 million in Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) food benefits to approximately 325,000 students in Oregon on Aug. 31.
Starting Aug. 31 and through the month of September, $120 in food benefits per eligible child will be issued to Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) cards.
These additional food benefits are part of the P-EBT program, a temporary COVID-19 response program meant to provide additional food support for children whose access to food provided through school programs.
Since 2020, Oregon has issued $1 billion in P-EBT food benefits to help children in Oregon get enough quality and nutritious food.
“We are grateful to be able to provide these food benefits to eligible students in Oregon,” said Claire Seguin, director of the ODHS Self-Sufficiency Programs. “As communities continue to be affected by COVID-19 and the rising cost of food, we know that many families are experiencing hardship and are struggling to get enough healthy food for themselves and their children. We encourage anyone who is struggling to meet their basic needs to contact our partners at 211, the Oregon Food Bank and their local Community Action Agency for support during this difficult time.”
The P-EBT food benefits will be issued onto the P-EBT cards mailed to students in Spring 2023. Families who lost or threw away their card can contact the P-EBT call center at (844) ORE-PEBT or (844) 673-7328 to request a new card.
Newly eligible students will receive two pieces of mail addressed to them: A letter notifying them they will receive P-EBT and a separate envelope with their P-EBT card that has $120 of food benefits on it.
Source: State of Oregon
