Governor Roy Cooper announced April 20 that North Carolina has been approved for the new Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program, to help families purchase food for children impacted by school closings due to COVID-19. NCDHHS is working to operationalize the program and families will begin to receive this benefit in coming weeks.

“So many families are in need, especially with so many out of work right now. This approval helps people get assistance faster to feed their families,” said Governor Cooper.
The program provides a benefit on an EBT card to North Carolina families whose children are eligible for free and reduced lunch at school. Families will receive $250 in P-EBT benefits per child, provided in two installments, with the possibility of an additional benefit if North Carolina schools are closed beyond May 15. Families will be able to use the P-EBT benefit to purchase food items at EBT authorized retailers, including most major grocery stores. 

Families will not need to apply for the P-EBT program. P-EBT eligible families already receiving Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) benefits will receive an additional benefit on their existing EBT card. P-EBT eligible families not already enrolled in FNS will be mailed a new EBT card in the next few weeks. Families who receive a new EBT card will receive a letter from DHHS in the mail explaining how to activate and use their card.

North Carolina is one of the first four states to receive federal approval from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide P-EBT benefits, which are entirely federally funded. 

Visit www.LunchApplication.com to apply online. CHCCS students can print and fill out the form here. Orange County families use the online application or go here.

The Orange County Criminal Justice Resource Department (CJRD) has received a $20,000 grant from Cardinal Innovations to support local efforts that improve the health, wellness and stability of Orange County residents exiting jails and prisons during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As jails and prisons present a high risk of infection for staff and for people in detention, local and state advocates and officials have been working to safely reduce the number of vulnerable individuals in these institutions. Orange County CJRD and the Local Reentry Council (LRC) were already assisting returning individuals with case management and funding resources, however the needs at this time are greater than available funding.

“The social and economic impacts of this crisis are significant for everyone, but for individuals re-entering our county from incarceration, the barriers to stability now are even more overwhelming,” said Caitlin Fenhagen, Orange County Criminal Justice Resource Department Director. “This generous grant from Cardinal Innovations will enable the CJRD and LRC to provide emergency housing funds and supplies for these individuals, many of whom have behavioral health and medical concerns. This support and case management will provide our residents in need with help in the re-entry process and will make our community safer and more welcoming during a very difficult time.”

“Supporting people as they transition back into our communities following incarceration should be a priority for all of us—especially during these challenging times,” said Cardinal Innovations CEO Trey Sutten. “We are pleased to support the efforts of the Orange County Criminal Justice Resource Department as they help these individuals make a fresh start.”

Judicial and law enforcement officials, in collaboration with the CJRD, have reduced the pretrial population in the Orange County Detention Center by almost 50 percent through increased use of Pretrial Services supervision and other diversion measures where appropriate.

Information about eligibility and the process of referral for these funds will be distributed by the CJRD to interested stakeholders.