P-EBT updated data, Reminder re Tues 10 AM SNAP Coalition and 3 PM FRAC webinar

This is a reminder of tomorrow’s SNAP Coalition zoom meeting (9/29) which will start promptly at 10 AM. We have a FULL agenda and will start on time.  

We also want to share some updated information on P-EBT and an important FRAC Webinar.  

P-EBT and NSLP Updates: 

P-EBT usage as of Sept 21^st. Thanks to DTA, attached is a new spreadsheet with P-EBT cards issued/pinned by city.  248,814 P-EBT cards have been pinned, which is 84% of P-EBT cards issued (now at 297,200 P-EBT cards for non-SNAP/TANF children).  Well done DTA! 

Please note, the P-EBT issued card data is from 9/21, pinned card data as of 9/17 (4 days earlier). The data includes the prorated benefits on 10K P-EBT cards recently shipped out , so families may still be waiting for their cards in the USPS mail (hopefully this week), so the numbers pinned will increase.  That is info important to flag because some families may simply have not received their P-EBT cards yet. 

MassLive news article on September P-EBT:  Check out this excellent 9/25 article in MassLive spelling out the nuts and bolts of the September P-EBT issuance (and if the U.S. Senate passes the “Continuing Resolution” to keep the US Government funded beyond 10/1, there will be even more P-EBT). Please share the MassLive article widely with your local orgs and stay tuned for P-EBT and federal updates from FRAC at tomorrow’s Coalition meeting. 

Are your school districts taking free/reduced price meal applications this fall?  

We urge Coalition members to check in with local schools that have gone 100% remote or hybrid learning, to find out if they are taking National School Lunch Program (NSLP) applications for free and reduced-price meals this fall. 

Why is that important? P-EBT benefits are only provided to children who qualify for free or reduced-price meal status or where the school district providers universal free school meals (through the Community Eligibility Option).  If school districts are not taking NSLP applications or processing them, many children not on SNAP or TAFDC will lose out on P-EBT benefits this school year. Let us know what you find out.

September SNAP emergency allotment and October 1^st SNAP COLA:

Just a reminder that TWO things are happening in SNAPland this week and another reason to join us for Coalition tomorrow:  

·         DTA will be issuing the September 2020 COVID “emergency allotment” to top off households to the maximum SNAP benefit on October 1^stor 2^nd.  

·         DTA will be implementing the SNAP cost of living adjustment for October 1^st, which means that all SNAP benefits will get a 5% boost in monthly benefit except the minimum SNAP benefit. For example, the SNAP allotment for a household of 1 will go from $194 to $204/mo, etc. More to follow tomorrow!

FRAC September 29 Webinar on Tapping SNAP Households Surveys to Help Inform Policy--Updated Results

Check out this really important FRAC webinar, TOMORROW, 3:00 PM EST. This is the second of a monthly installment to share how SNAP households have been impacted in the wake of the pandemic. We encourage all SNAP Coalition members to register. FRAC provides excellent, timely information you can use with local community members and in your SNAP advocacy.