The Pandemic – Electronic Benefits Transfer Program is accepting applications, but they must be received by the state before September 30. This followed a deadline extension that was originally set for the end of August.
The program’s aim is to provide additional money for families to buy food, making up for food expenditures due to COVID-19 related school closures during March, April, and May of the 2019-2020 school year.
Families who receive SNAP benefits should have received Pandemic – Electronic Benefits Transfer benefits by the end of last month. These benefits were automatically added to those households’ Quest EBT cards. Families can check their balance to ensure they have received these benefits by visiting freshebt.org, or by calling the AK Quest Card Hotline at (888) 997-8111.
Families who do not receive SNAP, but otherwise qualify for the pandemic benefits, should receive a form to fill out in the mail. These forms were mailed out August 20, and will need to be received back by the Division of Public Assistance by August 31. If eligible families do not receive the form, or are concerned about their ability to get the form in by the August 31 deadline, they can contact Food Bank of Alaska for assistance.
Text PEBT to (907) 891-8913, or call (907) 222-3119. The Alaska Food Bank will also be accepting applications online through Friday, September 25 at 5:00 p.m. If approved, families will receive $458 per eligible child in EBT benefits for buying food.