Many parents throughout the state that do not qualify and did not apply for Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) cards have been receiving them in the mail.
Parents are posting on social media saying they did not apply or qualify for the cards but are receiving them in the mail.
The State Department of Education says it is not a case of fraud, and any parent who wrongfully received a card should destroy it.
Parents were surprised to open their mailbox to see a P-EBT card that they do not qualify for, and have never applied for.
Some school districts including Ponca City, and Asher Public Schools posted on Facebook about the issue, saying the school has no control over it.
"In Oklahoma, the Department of Human Services (OKDHS) administers the program through funding provided by a federal grant," Ponca City Public Schools said on their Facebook. "This is NOT through PCPS."
Fox 25 did reach out to DHS for more information on how this happened, but they referred us to The State Department of Education which sent this statement:
We are closely monitoring the P-EBT inconsistencies that originated last Friday. While our initial investigation appears to have the unauthorized cards limited to a small number of families, we will be able to provide a more thorough response by the end of this week. When it comes to supplemental funding for our children, this administration takes seriously any and all discrepancies.
The Oklahoma State Department of Education's Child Nutrition program sent this statement out on Monday regarding the issue:
We are aware that parents that did not qualify for P-EBT may have received a card over the weekend or even today. The majority of those cards have no funds loaded onto them. Some could have a small amount loaded on them. When we discovered that this happened late Friday, we had DHS stop all payments. We are in the process of working through the issue to restart payments for those that are eligible for benefits. This is not a case of fraud. Any parent that received a card and their child has a paid lunch status should destroy the card.
They say if your household did not qualify for free and reduced-price student meals during the 2021-2022 school year, do not activate or use the card, destroy it.
In the State Department of Education's statement, they say if you have any questions to contact DHS directly at (405) 522-5050.
For more local news delivered straight to your inbox sign up for our daily newsletter by clicking here.