With school out for the summer, families are trying to find ways to feed their children this summer. Here's what parents can do to help with food this summer.

Under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020, families that qualify for free or reduced-price meals at school may be eligible for a new one-time Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT) of up to $302 per child to help cover the cost of meals students have eaten at home on days that schools have been closed. Students can receive P-EBT benefits even if they have received meals provided by the school district during the school closure. If your child was not previously eligible for free or reduced price meals, but you have now lost income, you may be eligible to receive P-EBT benefits.

The benefit is placed on an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card families use to buy food. If you received Food Stamp (SNAP) benefits in March, do not apply for these new/additional benefits. The full $302 will automatically be loaded to your existing EBT card. If you did not receive Food Stamp (SNAP) benefits in March, you must apply for this benefit by June 30, 2020 (see below).

You can submit an application online at EmergencyMealSurvey.com/MO. You will also likely experience a faster approval process. If you’re not able to apply online, you can file a paper application.  For questions, call the Department of Social Services at 855-373-4636 or go to mydss.mo.gov.

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