Yingling Highlights Child Monthly Food Aid Program Expansion

ROUND LAKE BEACH, Ill. – State Rep. Sam Yingling, D-Grayslake, is raising awareness on the recent expansion of the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program, a federal program that provides economic aid to children who receive free or reduced-price school meals from the National School Lunch Program.

“Many students in Illinois rely on having free or reduced-price lunches, but with the COVID-19 pandemic disrupting the normal school environment, these programs have had to adapt to get students the food they need,” said Yingling. “No one should go hungry, and we all need to work together so that our students are getting the proper nutrition they need to grow.”

Starting in March, approximately one million Illinois children will be receiving food benefits through the P-EBT program, which is about 200,000 more than last year due to the recent expansion of the program. The benefits will be $6.82 for each day the child did not have access to school lunch, an increase from last year’s benefit of $5.70. Eligible students will automatically receive these benefits, which will be contained on an EBT card mailed to their homes. 

“It is more important than ever that working families have access to the essential services they need to thrive,” said Yingling. “Residents are looking for help to ease the economic pain the pandemic has caused, and the expansion of the P-EBT is a great example of how we can help members of the community.”

For more information, or eligibility requirements, please visit the Illinois Department of Human Service’s website at www.dhs.state.il.us.