Montana has distributed more than $20 million in federal aid to keep school-aged children fed during pandemic. State health and education officials are urging more families to apply for nutrition assistance.
Montana families who lost access to free or reduced-price school meals due to school closures during the 2019-2020 school year have about a month left to apply for money to help repay the costs of meals.
The federal Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer, or P-EBT program, launched earlier this year in response to COVID-19. It offers a one-time-only reimbursement of $330 per school-aged child/per household.
Montana health and education department officials say over 61,000 children in the state have benefitted from the program. They say thousands more are likely eligible. To qualify, children must attend schools that participate in the National School Lunch program.
Applications must be submitted no later than September 21.
