El Programa de Pandemia-EBT de Delaware Regresa para el Año Escolar 2021-2022

Familias Elegibles Serán Reembolsadas por el Costo de Comidas Que Habrían Sido Disponibles en Escuelas

NEW CASTLE (Marzo 2, 2022) – Los hogares de Delaware con niños afectados por el cierre de escuelas o la reducción en tiempo presencial o en asistencia a causa de la COVID-19 recibirán beneficios de asistencia alimentaria de emergencia bajo el programa de Transferencia Electrónica de Beneficios por la Pandemia (P-EBT). Los hogares elegibles recibirán beneficios de P-EBT por cada día escolar en el que su hijo/a no recibió comidas en la escuela durante el año escolar actual debido a un motivo relacionado con COVID.

La División de Servicios Sociales del Estado, en colaboración con el Departamento de Educación del Estado, emitirá los beneficios de P-EBT a partir del jueves 3 de Marzo. Los beneficios estarán disponibles en las tarjetas EBT de los beneficiarios a partir del Viernes 4 de marzo. Las fechas en el que se emitirán los beneficios a los hogares individuales depende de cuándo la División de Servicios Sociales reciba los datos de elegibilidad y asistencia de cada escuela. Algunos hogares pueden experimentar un retraso en la recepción de los beneficios y los beneficios pueden estar disponibles dentro de dos o más semanas a partir de la fecha de emisión mensual.

“Aunque las escuelas de Delaware han operado en persona durante la gran mayoría del año escolar, sabemos que los aumentos repentinos de Delta y Omicron, en particular, si tuvieron impacto con el aprendizaje en persona,” dijo la Secretaria del Departamento de Salud y Servicios Sociales (DHSS), Molly Magarik. “Hoy, la transmisión de COVID-19 ha reducido significativamente en todo nuestro estado, pero aún estamos viendo casos en personas de todas las edades, incluyendo estudiantes. Cuando estudiantes vulnerables faltan a la escuela por cualquier motivo relacionado con COVID, eso afecta su acceso a comidas gratuitas o de precio reducido. Esta asistencia temporal ayudará a las familias afectadas a que continúen en brindar una dieta nutritiva, la cual es esencial para la salud de sus hijos/as y que así mismo, fortalecezca la habilidad de aprendizaje de sus hijos/as.”

La Ley de Respuesta al Coronavirus de Families First (Familias Primero) de 2020 (PL 116-127), modificada por la Ley de Asignaciones Continuas de 2021 y la Ley de Otras Extensiones (PL 116-159), la Ley de Asignaciones Consolidadas de 2021 (PL 116-260) y la Ley de Plan de Rescate Estadounidense de 2021 (PL 117-2) permite que P-EBT se extienda hasta el año escolar 2021-2022. Delaware emitirá beneficios de P-EBT desde Agosto de 2021 hasta Junio de 2022 utilizando el siguiente cronograma:

 

Mes de beneficio de P-EBT Fecha en que los beneficios estarán disponibles en las tarjetas EBT comenzando
Agosto 2021 & Septiembre 2021 Marzo 4, 2022
Octubre 2021 & Noviembre 2021 Abril 8, 2022
Deciembre 2021 & Enero 2022 Mayo 6, 2022
Febrero 2022 & Marzo 2022 Junio 3, 2022
Abril 2022 & Mayo 2022 Julio 1, 2022
Junio 2022 Julio 15, 2022

 

Los/as niños/as inscritos/as desde prekínder hasta el grado 12 en una escuela de Delaware son elegibles para los beneficios de P-EBT para el año escolar 2021-2022 si se cumplen dos condiciones:

  1. El niño/a está certificado/a ya sea directamente, a través de la elegibilidad categórica, o a través de una solicitud para recibir comidas gratuitas o a precio reducido o asiste a una escuela de Provisión de Elegibilidad Comunitaria (CEP) donde todos los estudiantes reciben comidas gratis a través del Programa Nacional de Almuerzo Escolar o Programa de Desayuno Escolar; y
  2. El/La niño/a no puede recibir comidas gratis o a precio reducido en la escuela porque la escuela estaba cerrada o el/la niño/a tuvo una ausencia justificada o asistió a la escuela virtualmente debido a un motivo relacionado con COVID.

Los hogares recibirán $7.10 por cada día escolar que su hijo/a no recibió comidas en la escuela porque la escuela estaba cerrada o el/la niño/a tuvo una ausencia justificada o asistió a la escuela virtualmente debido a un motivo relacionado con COVID. El monto del beneficio P-EBT equivale a la tasa de reembolso federal para desayuno, almuerzo y refrigerio de $7.10 por niño/a por día escolar elegible. Los hogares recibirán beneficios de P-EBT para todos los/las niños/as elegibles en su hogar en emisiones mensuales. Los hogares no recibirán P-EBT por los días en que sus hijos asistieron a la escuela en persona y recibieron comidas en la escuela o por días de ausencia que no fueron por COVID.

Los beneficios de P-EBT se pueden usar para comprar alimentos en tiendas que acepten tarjetas de SNAP EBT. Los hogares de SNAP tendrán los beneficios de P-EBT cargados en sus tarjetas de SNAP EBT existentes. Los hogares que no reciben SNAP tendrán los beneficios de P-EBT cargados en la tarjeta P-EBT que se les envió en un año escolar anterior. Los hogares recién elegibles que no son parte del programa SNAP recibirán una tarjeta P-EBT por correo junto con detalles sobre cómo usar la tarjeta.

Los hogares elegibles recibirán una notificación por escrito en el correo sobre los beneficios de P-EBT para el año escolar 2021-2022. La elegibilidad de P-EBT se basa en la información recibida por las escuelas de Delaware.

Comuníquese con la División de Servicios Sociales al 1-866-843-7212 si tiene preguntas sobre el programa P-EBT de Delaware. La información actualizada de P-EBT se puede encontrar en el sitio web P-EBT.


Delaware’s Pandemic-EBT Program Returns for School Year 2021-2022

Eligible Families Will Be Reimbursed for Cost of Meals That Would Have Been Available in Schools

NEW CASTLE (March 2, 2022) – Delaware households with children affected by school closures or reduced in-person hours or attendance caused by COVID-19 will receive emergency food assistance benefits under the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program. Eligible households will receive P-EBT benefits for each school day that their child did not receive meals at school during the current school year because of a COVID-related reason.

The State’s Division of Social Services, collaborating with the State’s Department of Education, will issue P-EBT benefits beginning Thursday, March 3. Benefits will be available on recipients’ EBT cards beginning Friday, March 4. The dates that benefits will be issued to individual households depend on when the Division of Social Services receives eligibility and attendance data from each school. Some households may experience a delay in receiving benefits, and benefits may become available within two or more weeks from the monthly issuance date.

“While Delaware schools have operated in person for the vast majority of the school year, we know that the Delta and Omicron surges, in particular, did impact in-person learning,” said Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) Secretary Molly Magarik. “Today, the transmission of COVID-19 is significantly reduced across our state, but we are still seeing cases in people of all ages, including students. When vulnerable students miss school for any COVID-related reason, that impacts their access to free or reduced-price meals. This temporary assistance will help affected families continue to provide a nutritious diet, which is essential to their children’s health and, in turn, strengthens their children’s ability to learn.”

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 (PL 116–127), as amended by the Continuing Appropriations Act 2021 and Other Extensions Act (PL 116-159), the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021 (PL 116-260), and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (PL 117-2) allows P-EBT to be extended through the 2021-2022 school year. Delaware will issue P-EBT benefits for August 2021 through June 2022 using the following schedule:

 

P-EBT benefit month  Date benefits will be available on EBT cards beginning 
August 2021 & September 2021 March 4, 2022
October 2021 & November 2021 April 8, 2022
December 2021 & January 2022 May 6, 2022
February 2022 & March 2022 June 3, 2022
April 2022 & May 2022 July 1, 2022
June 2022 July 15, 2022

 

Children enrolled in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade at a Delaware school are eligible for P-EBT benefits for the 2021-2022 school year if two conditions are met:

  1. The child is certified either directly, through categorical eligibility, or through an application to receive free or reduced-price meals or attends a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) school where all students receive free meals through the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program; and
  2. The child is not able to receive free or reduced-price meals at school because the school was closed or the child had an excused absence or attended school virtually due to a COVID-related reason.

Households will receive $7.10 for each school day that their child did not receive meals at school because the school was closed or the child had an excused absence or attended school virtually due to a COVID-related reason. The P-EBT benefit amount equals the federal reimbursement rate for breakfast, lunch, and a snack of $7.10 per child per eligible school day. Households will receive P-EBT benefits for all eligible children in their home in monthly issuances. Households will not receive P-EBT for the days that their children attended school in-person and received meals at school or for absent days that are not due to COVID.

P-EBT benefits may be used to purchase food at stores that accept SNAP EBT cards. SNAP households will have P-EBT benefits loaded to their existing SNAP EBT cards. Households that do not receive SNAP will have P-EBT benefits loaded to the P-EBT card that was sent to them in a previous school year. Newly eligible non-SNAP households will receive a P-EBT card in the mail along with details on how to use the card.

Eligible households will receive written notification in the mail regarding P-EBT benefits for the 2021-2022 school year. P-EBT eligibility is based on information received from Delaware schools.

Please contact the Division of Social Services at 1-866-843-7212 if you have questions about Delaware’s P-EBT program. Up-to-date P-EBT information can be found on Delaware’s P-EBT website.


Del. will Issue Emergency Benefits for May to All SNAP Households, Eligible TANF and General Assistance Households

NEW CASTLE (May 25, 2021) – The Delaware Division of Social Services will issue emergency benefits for May to eligible households as part of the state’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 public health crisis.

Benefits will be issued as part of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and two cash assistance programs – Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and General Assistance (GA). The SNAP emergency food benefit will be issued Wednesday, May 26, and should be available on recipients’ Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards the next day. TANF and GA households should receive an emergency cash benefit check on or after Wednesday, May 26.

All households with open SNAP cases will receive at least $95 in emergency food benefits, to be issued as follows:

1. SNAP households receiving the maximum food benefit amount for their household size will receive $95 in emergency food benefits.

2. SNAP households with a calculated emergency food benefit amount less than $95 will have their emergency benefit increased to $95.

3. SNAP households with a calculated emergency benefit amount of $95 or more will continue to receive the calculated emergency benefit amount to increase the household’s monthly benefit up to the maximum benefit amount for their household size.

The emergency assistance for TANF and GA families will increase a household’s monthly benefit for each program up to the maximum benefit amount for their household size. Households that already receive the maximum TANF or GA benefit amount or that have a prorated benefit in the month of May are not eligible for the May emergency cash funds.

The Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) has issued emergency benefits each month to eligible households as part of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020, which was signed into law in March 2020.

“While we are making significant progress against the spread of COVID-19 in Delaware, the economic impact of the pandemic continues to affect many of our more vulnerable residents,” said DHSS Secretary Molly Magarik. “These ongoing emergency benefits provide critical

support for those who struggle to afford enough food for themselves and their families or to pay for other basic life necessities.”

How the monthly emergency benefit is calculated: A household’s monthly emergency benefit equals the current maximum benefit amount for the household size minus the household’s current monthly benefit amount. For example, based on current USDA limits for SNAP benefits, if a household of one gets $100 in regular monthly benefits, that household will receive $134 in emergency benefits ($234 maximum benefit minus $100 monthly benefit).

Here are the current maximum monthly benefit amounts per household size for SNAP, TANF, and General Assistance:

Emergency SNAP Benefits

Number in SNAP Household Maximum Benefit Amount Adjusted
with the 15 percent increase effective Jan-Sept. 2021
1 $234
2 $430
3 $616
4 $782
5 $929
6 $1,114
7 $1,232
8 $1,408
Each additional person $176

An estimated 55,835 Delaware households will receive the emergency SNAP allotment in May, totaling about $10.2 million in emergency food benefits for the month.

Emergency Cash Benefits

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

Number in TANF Household Maximum Benefit Amount
1 $201
2 $270
3 $338
4 $407
5 $475
6 $544
7 $612
8 $681
9 $750
10 $819

 

General Assistance (GA)

Number in GA Household Maximum Benefit Amount
1 $79
2 $107
3 $144
4 $169
5 $209
6 $239

An estimated 165 households will be eligible to receive emergency cash assistance benefits in May, totaling about $22,000 in emergency benefits for the month.

In addition to the emergency benefits, households will receive their regular benefits for May on the usual issuance dates.

For more information about DSS’s benefit programs in response to the pandemic, go to the division’s webpage. To apply for benefits, go to DHSS’ online application portal Delaware ASSIST or call 1-866-843-7212. To reduce the potential spread of COVID-19, clients are asked to contact the Division of Social Services by phone or online.


Delaware Has Issued Emergency Benefits for March to Eligible SNAP, TANF, and General Assistance Households

NEW CASTLE (March 26, 2021) – The Delaware Division of Social Services has issued emergency benefits for March to eligible households as part of the state’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 public health crisis.

Benefits were issued as part of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and two cash assistance programs – Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and General Assistance (GA). The SNAP emergency food benefit were issued March 24, and should have been available on recipients’ Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards as of March 25. TANF and GA households should receive an emergency cash benefit check on or after March 24.

The emergency assistance will increase a household’s monthly benefit for each program up to the maximum benefit amount for their household size (see tables below). Households that already receive the maximum benefit amount or that have a prorated benefit in March are not eligible for the March emergency funds.

Under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act that was signed into law in March 2020, the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) has issued emergency benefits each month to any household not already receiving the maximum monthly benefit.

“We remain committed to helping vulnerable, low-income Delawareans support themselves and their families during the public-health emergency created by the pandemic,” said DHSS Secretary Molly Magarik. “This assistance enables families to buy food that supports a nutritious diet, provides temporary help for adults with minor children as the family works to become self-supportive, and helps other individuals meet basic living expenses.”

In addition to these emergency benefits during the pandemic, households continue to receive their regular monthly benefits on the usual issuance dates. The maximum SNAP benefit allotment amounts increased by 15 percent as a result of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, enacted in late December. The temporary increase in food benefits will continue through Sept. 30 as another measure to ensure food security during the coronavirus pandemic.

Here are the maximum monthly benefit amounts per household size:

Emergency SNAP benefits

Number in SNAP Household Maximum Benefit Amount
(Adjusted with the 15 percent increase effective Jan-Sept 2021)
1 $234
2 $430
3 $616
4 $782
5 $929
6  $1,114
7 $1,232
8 $1,408
Each additional person $176

 

An estimated 34,450 households will be eligible to receive the emergency SNAP allotment in March, totaling about $7.4 million in emergency food benefits for the month.

Emergency cash benefits

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

Number in TANF Household Maximum Benefit Amount
1 $201
2 $270
3 $338
4 $407
5 $475
6 $544
7 $612
8 $681
9 $750
10 $819

 

General Assistance (GA)

Number in GA Household Maximum Benefit Amount
1 $79
2 $107
3 $144
4 $169
5 $209
6 $239

 

An estimated 170 households will be eligible to receive emergency cash assistance benefits in March, totaling about $22,000 in emergency benefits for the month.

For more information about DSS’s benefit programs in response to the pandemic, go to https://dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dss/covid19.html. To apply for benefits, go to https://assist.dhss.delaware.gov/ or call 1-866-843-7212. To limit the spread of COVID-19, clients are asked to contact the Division of Social Services by phone or online.


Delaware emitirá beneficios de emergencia para Febrero para hogares elegibles de SNAP, TANF y de asistencia general

NEW CASTLE (22 de Febrero de 2021) – La División de Servicios Sociales de Delaware emitirá beneficios de emergencia para febrero a los hogares elegibles como parte de la respuesta continua del estado a la crisis de salud pública de COVID-19.

Los beneficios se emitirán como parte del Programa de asistencia nutricional suplementaria (SNAP) y dos programas de asistencia en efectivo: Asistencia temporal para familias necesitadas (TANF) y Asistencia general (GA). El beneficio de alimentos de emergencia de SNAP se emitirá el miércoles 24 de febrero y debería estar disponible en las tarjetas de Transferencia Electrónica de Beneficios (EBT) de los beneficiarios el próximo día 25 de Febrero Los hogares de TANF y GA deben recibir un cheque de beneficios en efectivo de emergencia a partir de Febrero 24.

Esta asistencia de emergencia aumentará el beneficio mensual de un hogar para cada programa hasta el monto máximo de beneficio para el tamaño de su hogar (consulte las tablas a continuación). Los hogares que ya reciben la cantidad máxima de beneficios o que tienen un beneficio prorrateado en el mes de febrero no son elegibles para los fondos de emergencia de febrero.

En virtud de la Ley de respuesta al coronavirus Families First de 2020, que se promulgó en marzo de 2020, el Departamento de Salud y Servicios Sociales de Delaware (DHSS) ha emitido beneficios de emergencia cada mes a cualquier hogar que aún no reciba el beneficio mensual máximo.

“La emergencia de salud pública creada por la pandemia de coronavirus continúa desafiando a los habitantes vulnerables de Delaware que luchan por mantenerse a sí mismos y a sus familias”, dijo la secretaria del DHSS, Molly Magarik. “Esta asistencia financiera adicional ayuda a brindar cierta seguridad a los necesitados durante esta crisis”.

Los hogares han recibido o recibirán sus beneficios habituales de Febrero en las fechas de emisión habituales. Tenga en cuenta que los montos de asignación de beneficios SNAP regulares aumentaron en un 15 porciento a partir de enero y el aumento continuará mensualmente hasta junio como resultado de la Ley de Asignaciones Consolidadas de 2021. Este aumento temporal en los beneficios alimentarios es otra medida para garantizar la seguridad alimentaria durante el coronavirus pandemia. Todos los hogares de SNAP recibirán el aumento temporal para febrero en su emisión normal de beneficios de Febrero.

Estos son los montos máximos de beneficios mensuales por tamaño de hogar

Beneficios de SNAP de emergencia

Numero en Hogar SNAP Monto del Beneficio Máximo Ajustado con el aumento del 15 porciento efectivo Enero-Junio 2021
1 $234
2 $430
3 $616
4 $782
5 $929
6 $1,114
7 $1,232
8 $1,408
Cada persona Adicional $176

 

Se estima que 34,015 hogares serán elegibles para recibir la asignación de SNAP de emergencia en febrero, por un total de alrededor de $ 6.9 millones en beneficios de alimentos de emergencia para el mes.

Beneficios de dinero en efectivo de emergencia

Asistencia temporal para familias necesitadas (TANF)

Numero en Hogar TANF Monto del Beneficio Máximo
1 $201
2 $270
3 $338
4 $407
5 $475
6 $544
7 $612
8 $681
9 $750
10 $819

 

Asistencia general (GA)

Numero en Hogar de Asistencia General (GA)  Monto del Beneficio Máximo
1 $79
2 $107
3 $144
4 $169
5 $209
6 $239

 

Se estima que 160 hogares serán elegibles para recibir beneficios de asistencia en efectivo de emergencia en Febrero, por un total de alrededor de $ 20,750 en beneficios de emergencia para el mes.

Para obtener más información sobre los programas de beneficios de DSS en respuesta a la pandemia, visite https://dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dss/covid19.html. Para solicitar beneficios, vaya a Delaware ASSIST o llame al 1-866-843-7212. Para limitar la propagación potencial de COVID-19, se solicita a los clientes que se comuniquen con la División de Servicios Sociales por teléfono o en línea.