The Pandemic – Electronic Benefits Transfer Program has been accepting applications with an original plan to stop new applications at the end of August, but the new plan is to continue accepting applications through the end of September.
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 likely already received Pandemic – Electronic Benefits Transfer benefits at the end of August. These benefits should have 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 – meaning families with children who were eligible for free or reduced school lunches during the school year, 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 the end of September. If eligible families do not receive the form, or are concerned about their ability to get the form in by the end of September, they can contact Food Bank of Alaska for assistance.
The Alaska Food Bank advises that texting is the quickest way to receive assistance regarding applications, due to high call volume. Text PEBT to (907) 891-8913, or call (907) 222-3119. If approved, families will receive $458 per eligible child in EBT benefits for buying food.
