In this way, the island’s students can receive the monthly food aid of $ 119

Approximately 326,068 public and private school students in the country are eligible for $ 119.02 per month in food aid after the federal government allocates $ 390.7 million to the island as part of the program Pandemic EBT.

The aid covers the 2020-2021 school year, so students will receive back wages of $ 714.12, which corresponds to the last school semester and January.

“The program is aimed at assisting minors participating in the School Lunch Programs in Puerto Rico and aims to supplement the administration costs of these minors who have been in need all along without using the services of the lunch rooms . Schoolchildren “, detailed at The new day the administrator of the socio-economic family development administration (Adsef), Alberto Fradera Vázquez.

The official celebrated that Puerto Rico was the first territory and fourth jurisdiction in the United States to which the Federal Department of Agriculture approved the distribution plan for this aid, which will last until May.

Although the plan has been approved, the money has not yet been deposited with the government of Puerto Rico, so the start of distribution is dependent on the availability of the money. Asked when help would be sent to the students, Fradera Vázquez was hopeful that this will happen next week. The first deposit includes retroactive payment.

Here are some important facts to know about this help:

• The $ 119.02 monthly support is for students from kindergarten through fourth year of high school who are enrolled in a public or private school benefiting from the School Lunch Program.
• The money is deposited monthly through the Family Card of the parents of the minors who are part of the Nutritional Assistance Program (PAN). In this case, people should not do management with Adsef as they will receive the money automatically.
• In the event that the student’s family is not a beneficiary of the PAN, Adsef will enable a webpage where parents must enter their details to receive the money via a debit card sent by mail in which all deposits are made. The portal is expected to be available next week.
• The first phase of the down payment of aid will include students whose families participate in the PAN, the second phase will be aimed at students from public schools not participating in the PAN and the third phase at students from private and non-profit schools of which they taking advantage. the school lunch program.
• The last deposit of this aid will take place in May 2021 and the funds will remain in the account for six months from the time of deposit.
• The aid is intended exclusively for the purchase of raw food in the more than 3,000 stores certified by the PAN.
• Those who receive this help can continue to benefit from the lunches prepared by the school canteens as they are separate resources.
• Adsef will set up a hotline for the program to meet the needs of the participants.

“With these funds they get a break and can provide food to their children who cannot attend school in person. I thank the Department of the Family for their diligence in obtaining approval for these funds “Governor Pedro Pierluisi said in written statements.

This program was extended to Puerto Rico after the island was banned from the initial federal congressional assignment.

That’s why Fradera Vázquez thanked the community and government organizations that enabled the allocation of millionaires and approval of the distribution plan.