[SchoolFinance] Priority Notice: P-EBT Benefit Information

[Gravelle, Paula B]

All, this priority notice was just posted by the Maine DOE, I wanted to share it here as well in case any of you did not see it.
Priority Notice from the Maine Department of Education
View this message in your browser<https://mailchi.mp/maine/cu5lemq6y0-1326700?e=d89fcd9d0f>.

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P-EBT Benefit Information

Dear Champions of Education,

Many Maine families received a card in the mail recently containing federally funded benefits through the Pandemic-EBT (P-EBT) program. We understand that these cards came with no advance notice and have created confusion and questions from families in your school communities. While the Maine Department of Education (DOE) does not administer the program, we are providing further information to help you address the questions you may be receiving.

P-EBT is a federal program administered in Maine by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). It began in May of 2020 as part of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 and ended in May of 2023. These cards contained the final payment to families.

This FAQ document,<https://maine.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=a582edd6473e477ef6307c769&id=7aa20bafab&e=d89fcd9d0f> created by DHHS, contains additional information on the program and the multiple ways that families qualify. This includes families who have school-aged children eligible for free or reduced school lunch and children who attend a school that uses the federal Community Eligibility Provision or Special Provision II<https://maine.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=a582edd6473e477ef6307c769&id=f3e35e9d4c&e=d89fcd9d0f>, which support schools in offering free school meals to all students through the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs. Students at these schools are eligible for P-EBT regardless of their financial circumstances. No personal financial information was shared.

If families do not wish to use the cards, they can simply discard them. Unused benefits will be returned to the U.S. Department of Agriculture in nine months.

Families who have additional questions can be referred to DHHS at 207-287-3707 and their FAQ<https://maine.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=a582edd6473e477ef6307c769&id=78403fc75d&e=d89fcd9d0f>.

We apologize for any confusion this has caused.

Sent October 3, 2023
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23 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0023

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This email was sent to paula.b.gravelle at maine.gov<mailto:paula.b.gravelle at maine.gov>
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Maine Department of Education · 23 State House Station · Augusta, ME 04333-0023 · USA

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