P-EBT Child Care Food Program;- The Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) is pleased to announce Colorado is among the first in the nation to gain federal approval for a 2021-22 Child Care Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) Program. This approval will allow Colorado to issue retroactive food benefits to approximately 69,000 additional children who had reduced access to child care meals due to COVID-19 during the 2021-22 school year. These funds allow families to increase their food budgets and safeguard the well-being of children in low-income households.
To be eligible for the child care P-EBT benefit, a child must be under age 6 as of August 1, 2021 and have participated in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) between September 2021 and May 2022.
P-EBT was created under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 (H.R. 6201) as an important opportunity to provide nutritional resources to families that are losing or lost access to free or reduced-price school meals as schools across Colorado closed in response to COVID-19.
“P-EBT has been an important resource for families with kids in child care who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the increasing cost of groceries. Having regular access to nutritious and healthy food is essential to supporting the growth and development of children,” said Karla Maraccini, director of CDHS’s Food and Energy Assistance Division. “P-EBT benefits help families purchase groceries that meet their dietary and cultural preferences.”
Eligible children will receive a $31 monthly benefit for the months of September 2021 through December 2021 that they were on SNAP. These benefits will be available on the household’s SNAP EBT card beginning in August 2022. The benefit amount for January through May 2022 is still being determined based on COVID-19 impacts this spring. P-EBT benefits are redeemable for food items at authorized retailers.
Families do not need to take action to receive child care P-EBT benefits, but are encouraged to ensure their SNAP case mailing address is up to date with their county human services office as soon as possible to receive eligibility notices.
If you would like to enroll in SNAP, you may apply online here and your local county office will contact you regarding your SNAP application. Gaining SNAP approval will only result in possible P-EBT eligibility from that month forward.
Further updates will be shared on the P-EBT website, on CDHS social media channels, and through community partners.
Madlynn Ruble is Deputy Director of Communications, Colorado Department of Human Services.
