Extra benefits on the way for Colorado families with students in National School Lunch Program

COLORADO (KRDO) -- Relief is on the way for thousands of families in Colorado with children who aren't getting meals at school while the COVID-19 pandemic stretches into summer.

The Colorado Department of Human Services and Department of Education announced that federal approval has been granted to administer Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer money to about 363,000 children who are eligible for free or reduced-price meals and enrolled in the National School Lunch Program.

According to a release sent Tuesday, the benefits work out to $5.70 per student for every day of school closure or a lump sum of $279. The benefits will be given out starting in mid-June through July.

Families who already receive SNAP benefits and are eligible for this program will see the extra benefits deposited onto their EBT card automatically. Eligible families that don't participate in SNAP already will get instructions on how to receive their benefits through their school district.

Eligible children who aren't already enrolled in the National School Lunch Program can get benefits for the month that they're determined eligible for the P-EBT, the state said.

More information can be found at this link.