September 2, 2021 3:10 a.m. 

The State of Oregon has received approval from the federal government to expand the Pandemic EBT program and provide an additional $167 million in food assistance to approximately 430,000 children in Oregon.

An update from the Oregon Department of Human Services said Oregon was previously approved to provide approximately $424 million in food benefits to children in Oregon. Combined with the summer expansion of the program, Oregon will provide approximately $591 million in food assistance to children from July through October of this year.

P-EBT provides food benefits to families whose children were eligible for free or reduced priced meals at schools or daycare, but did not have access to these free meals due to COVID-19 closures.

ODHS said children currently receiving P-EBT benefits for 2020-2021 school year will automatically receive an additional $389 per child in food assistance that will be received as two payments in September and October.

For more information about P-EBT, go to: https://www.oregon.gov/dhs/ASSISTANCE/FOOD-BENEFITS/Pages/P-EBT.aspx