By Craig Anderson

NEW CASTLE - Delaware families receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program food benefits will get emergency food assistance through the Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer program for children under the age of 6 living in their households, a news release said.

Eligible households will receive the spring benefit for the second half of the 2021-2022 school year (January 2022 through June 2022).

The Division of Social Services will issue the spring 2022 child care benefit on Oct. 7 on behalf of children under the age of 6. A child is eligible for this benefit if three conditions were met from January through June 2022:

1. The child was under the age of 6.

2. The child was a member of a household that received SNAP food benefits.

3. The child lived in an area where one or more schools or child-care facilities were closed or operated with reduced attendance or hours because of COVID-19.

“We are grateful to be able to offer this pandemic EBT child care benefit to eligible families of Delaware’s youngest students,” said Department of Health and Social Services Secretary Molly Magarik.

“Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted vulnerable families in many significant ways, including having their children miss out on nutritious meals at their child-care centers or schools. We offer our thanks to Delaware’s congressional delegation for extending this important federal food benefit to those families.”

For questions or more information, contact the Division of Social Services at 1-866-843-7212. More information about the program can be found online at dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dss/pebt.html.