The designated secretary of the Department of the Family, Dr. Carmen Ana González Magaz and the administrator of the Administration of Socioeconomic Development (ADSEF) of the Family, Alberto Fradera Vázquez announced today that after obtaining the approval of the student food assistance program plan, known as Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) will allocate $ 390.7 million to Puerto Rico for the 2020-2021 school year for the food maintenance of thousands of students, while they are educated virtually or during reduced hours.
Approximately 326,680 students participating in the Puerto Rico Department of Education’s (DE) School Canteen Program from public education, private, and nonprofit schools are eligible for the monthly benefit that will be distributed to through the Family Card.
The Governor of Puerto Rico, Pedro Pierluisi Urrutia, has indicated that his administration must ensure that the people of the island receive the federal assistance they need to overcome the challenges they face because of the pandemic. “COVID-19, in addition to presenting a serious risk to the health of our citizens, has also had a serious impact on the ability of our people to bring support to their homes, in particular to families with children “.
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“These funds give them a break and help them provide food for their children who are unable to attend school in person. I thank the Department of the Family for their diligence in securing the approval of these funds. “, added the first president.
The P-EBT was extended to Puerto Rico this school year, after the island was excluded in the first allocation approved by the United States Congress. Multiple community, nonprofit organizations, professional organizations, Congressmen, state agencies, federal agencies, and allies in the fight to eradicate hunger strongly advocated in the United States Congress and the White House to achieve this allocation.
“The Government of Puerto Rico remains firm and active in its goal of ensuring the health and well-being of every Puerto Rican in the face of the health emergency caused by COVID-19. Our children and youth deserve access to food. healthy and healthy on equal terms.This program allows families to meet this basic need and helps students have better food and nutrition, “said the designated Family Secretary.
González Magaz explained that when the plan is approved, the next step is for the federal government to transfer the funds to the state accounts to begin disbursements. “Once the transfer is reflected, we are ready to make the first disbursements, most likely before the end of January.”
Puerto Rico is the fourth jurisdiction to obtain approval of the plan by the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) and the first territory to receive endorsement from the USDA program. . The ADSEF is the agency that will manage the disbursement of funds at the local level.
“Every eligible student will receive $ 119.02 in attendance for each month of the 2020-2021 school year that began in August of 2020 and ends in May of the current year. From August 2020 to January 2021, students will receive a retroactive payment of $ 714.12. Each subsequent month, benefits will be received monthly by electronic transfer to the Family Benefits Card, “the on the other hand the administrator of the ADSEF.
It was reported that the broadcasts will take place in three groups that have been previously coordinated with the certified shops of the PA, the schools and the Department of Education. The first phase includes students whose families participate in the PA program and the information is in the system. The second phase allows public school students, families are not participants in the PA to enter their information in a portal that will be enabled for the P-EBT and the third phase is separate for private school students and non-profit, active in the school canteen program.
“Each issue will be widely announced once the allocation is received so that each family is informed about the day on which assistance will be deposited. In the case of families participating in the PA will not have to make any arrangements on the portal. participants will be able to enter their information on the new platform and will receive the card in the mail with their benefits, “said Fradera Vázquez.
P-EBT assistance can be used to purchase unprepared food at the more than 3,000 Nutrition Assistance Program (PA) certified businesses around the island. It was also reported that a direct helpline will be enabled for the P-EBT with the aim of meeting the needs of new participants and seeking direct communication with those who do not have access to the Internet.