Meng Reminds Queens Public School Parents of $420 Per Child Emergency Food Benefit
August 17, 2020
Congresswoman worked to secure the payments
QUEENS, NY – Today, U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens) reminded Queens families to be aware of a new federal government benefit that provides all New York City public school parents with $420 per child.
Entitled the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT), the one-time payment can be used to purchase groceries. The funds will arrive this month for many New York families with some already receiving the money.
The payments are made available nationally under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, a coronavirus relief bill that Meng helped to pass in March. It is money that would have been spent on school meals for students if schools had not closed due to COVID-19. New York was approved to provide the payments after Meng and local colleagues urged President Trumpto OK the state's application for the program.
Receiving the funds is automatic; there is no need to apply and the money does not need to be paid back. It will be provided to families regardless of immigration status.
The benefit also applies to private, parochial and charter school students who received free school lunches.
"No child or family should ever go hungry," said Meng. "As the coronavirus crisis continues to cause financial hardships throughout our borough, this additional benefit will help many with putting food on the table. I urge parents with school aged children to take advantage of these funds, and to look out for them in the mail if they have not yet received them. I am also pleased to have played a role in making these payments available to hardworking families throughout Queens during these challenging times."