CHARLOTTE AMALIE — In June 2020, the Virgin Islands Department of Human Services (DHS) received approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to implement an emergency Pandemic EBT program (P-EBT).
P-EBT was and is granted as a one-time issuance, not a monthly benefit, according to Human Services.
“There was no guarantee that a second round of P-EBT benefits would be issued for the 2020/2021 school year,” DHS spokeswoman Michelle Francis said. “However, because most schools started the year virtually and without school lunch programs up and running, a second issuance was granted for August and September.”
No issuance has been approved or announced for October by the federal agencies, Francis said.
“Please be aware however that the DHS Head Start program and the V.I. Department of Education have announced meal distribution schedules that are now active,” she said.