GOVERNOR Ralph DLG Torres encourages eligible applicants to avail themselves of the Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer, or P-EBT, program.
“This is putting funds and resources back to our community, especially our kids. Any time that we have [a] special, specific funding for our children, we need to maximize that across the board,” he said.
“Any time that we have funds specifically for our youth, we should, as parents, prioritize that and avail themselves of those programs.”
The Nutrition Assistance Program office is not accepting P-EBT applications from June 1 to 7, 2021 due to the NAP drive-thru benefit distribution, but it will resume accepting applications on June 8, 2021.
Meantime, P-EBT applications will have to be submitted to the Public School System Child Nutrition Program, or PSS-CNP, on Capital Hill, Building 1251, at Tinian Jr./Sr. High School or at Dr. Rita H. Inos Jr./Sr. High School.
The last day to submit a completed P-EBT application will be on June 11, 2021, no later than 4:30 p.m. at the PSS-CNP office or no later than 5 p.m. at the NAP office.
The P-EBT program provides food benefits to school-age children who lost access to school meals because their school was closed or operating with reduced in-person attendance due to Covid-19.
It is funded by the Continuing Appropriations Act of 2021 or U.S. Public Law 116-159.
All school-age children — from pre-school to 12th grade — on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota are eligible for P-EBT benefits.
A child must be enrolled in school to be considered for P-EBT benefits.
The P-EBT program is separate from the grab-and-go meals program, but a school-age child may continue to receive both.
Young children under the age of 6 and children in childcare centers may be eligible for P-EBT benefits if they are members of households that received Nutrition Assistance Program or NAP benefits anytime from Oct. 1, 2020 up to June 11, 2021.
P-EBT benefits are in the form of NAP coupons that will be distributed to eligible households and will be used in the same manner as NAP coupons — they can only be redeemed for food and eligible items at NAP-authorized retailers and vendors.
For more information about the P-EBT program, visit the PSS and NAP websites at cnmipss.org or cnminap.gov.mp or call the P-EBT contact center at 287-3603 to 287-3605.
