Automatic food stamps worth $1,504 to be issued to thousands of families this week – see if you’ll get the benefits

THOUSANDS of families will automatically be issued $1,504 in food stamps this week without having to sign up.

The Georgia Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT) began to issue the food stamps last Friday but there is still time to call and register if you haven't received the payment.

The funds are to support families with children who are enrolled in Georgia schools to give help with groceries and food, according to the program’s website.

It will provide extra help to families of more than 1.1million children who normally would receive free or reduced school meals through participation in the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Programs.

The food stamp program is part of the government’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic and works in a similar way to the federal EBT program.

Through P-EBT, eligible school children receive temporary emergency nutrition benefits loaded on EBT cards that are used to purchase food. 

It is aimed at kids who didn't have access to free or reduced-price school meals during the last school year due to pandemic closures.

"If your eligible child attended a school that participated in the National School Meals programs and were required to close or reduce operating hours or attendance for a period of at least five consecutive days during the 2020-2021 school year, you may be eligible for a P-EBT payment," the website states.

"Due to school closures or reduced attendance or hours caused by the pandemic, these households are eligible to receive benefits on an EBT card to help them buy food for their children."

For SNAP-eligible (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) children enrolled in childcare and K-12 who are also eligible for the benefit, the P-EBT payment will be preloaded on their existing EBT card.

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All children at a public or public charter school who would usually receive free or reduced-price lunch can now get P-EBT.

Children under the age of six in households that received SNAP at any time since October 1, 2020, are also eligible.

A Georgia Department of Human Services spokesperson said some students are automatically eligible for the benefit if they attend a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) school.

CEP schools generally provide free meals to all students regardless of their household income.

DHS's Division of Family and Children Services has said it wrapped up its issuance schedule and childcare benefits have been released and processed across the state.

ACTIVATE YOR CARD

"Summer P-EBT is still on target to be distributed to all eligible student families during the month of January," the announcement said.

Anyone expecting a card should wait until today, January 15, for it to arrive.

Families who receive P-EBT benefits will not have to pay back the benefits.

People who receive the card have 274 days to spend it.

It has to be activated first though which can be done by creating a PIN number before using it.

This can be set up by calling 888-421-3281.

Families need to enter 0000 when asked to enter the last four digits of their Social Security Number and then the caller will be asked to select a PIN.

Anyone not wanting to take advantage of the benefit is simply asked to destroy the card.

Any unused money will go back to Food and Nutrition Services as will any unused money not spent within the 274 days.

If you haven’t got your card by January 15 and want to enroll, you are urged to call 877-423-4746.

Not every student or family may qualify for the program and those people can call 211 for help.