About 80,000 Delaware children are eligible to receive $120 extra in federal food benefits this summer to replace free lunches at school.
Students who will get the benefit must come from families who are already qualified for the benefits, or meet income guidelines and qualify before summer.
The state’s cost for the program will be about $1.5 million to administer, according to Tim Mastro, deputy director of communications at the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture will pay $120 for each child as part of the pilot program.
If the expected 80,000 children take advantage of the program, the total cost will be $9.6 million.
Benefits for Summer EBT are 100% federally funded,”
Mastro said. “Administrative costs for Summer EBT are covered 50% by federal funds and 50% by state funds.”
These children will automatically receive Summer EBT benefits, and families do not need to take any additional steps.
For families with children who do not meet the requirements for school meals application, SNAP, TANF, or Medicaid, it is necessary to fill out a Summer EBT application in order to assess their eligibility for the programme.