Many Wisconsin families will soon get food benefits for children learning remotely. Here’s how to qualify.

For families with students who normally get free or reduced-price lunches at school but have been learning virtually this school year, there will soon be some belated financial assistance for groceries.

"People have been visiting the food pantry in record numbers," said Sherrie Tussler, executive director of the Hunger Task Force. "Some help is on the way."

The payments come from the national Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer program (P-EBT), which lawmakers in December voted to extend for the 2020-21 school year. 

Because Milwaukee Public Schools offer universal free lunch, all MPS families should qualify, Tussler said. 

As early as March 28, families should receive $6.82 for each day a child learned remotely from August through November. Payments, which can be spent on most groceries, will continue every two months to catch up on previous months until children are back in school buildings. 

The maximum benefit amount for the school year, if children were to learn remotely the full year, would be $1,248 per child. The amount will be lessened based on the number of days children are back in school. 

For families already receiving FoodShare benefits, also known as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the benefit amount will automatically show up on their QUEST cards. 

Families do not need to have FoodShare to receive these benefits. Based on information on file with their schools, families who qualify for free or reduced lunch and do not have FoodShare should receive white P-EBT debit cards in the mail.

Families who do not attend MPS and did not receive free or reduced lunch before the pandemic may still receive benefits if they now qualify for free or reduced lunch. They can apply by contacting their schools. 

Tussler said families with QUEST cards should expect payments to show up March 28, and P-EBT debit cards should come soon after that. She said families should check that their schools have their correct addresses, to be sure they receive the cards in the mail. 

Tussler encouraged families to check that they receive the correct amount based on the number of children and the number of days they learned remotely. The Task Force offers a payment calculator and more information about P-EBT at hungertaskforce.org/pebt. 

The state Department of Health Services plans to have a call center set up for questions in April. In the meantime, the Hunger Task Force is offering assistance. The organization has webinars about P-EBT every Friday in English and Spanish, where attendees can ask questions.  

Contact Rory Linnane at rory.linnane@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @RoryLinnane.