We finally got our special pandemic EBT cards

[conuly]

That's a good $400 per card. Anybody can use that kind of money, and if you really can't, you can always buy the food and dump it at the food bank.

Comments

[kengr]

They must do things differently where you live.

Here in Oregon, both I and a friend who have EBT cards get our normal benefit amount on the usual date (on the first for her, the 3rd for me) and them we've been getting the same amount added to our cars on the 11th. This has been going on since March or April.

[conuly]

I don't know how normal EBT runs. This is special funding for people whose children are enrolled in schools that get free lunch, to make up for the schools having been closed since March. They did it in batches, giving the funds first to people who already receive EBT, then to other families based on income.

In NYC every public school student is entitled to free breakfast and lunch, regardless of income, though they do encourage all families to fill out the form anyway.

[wpadmirer]

Cool. If I was a New Yorker, I'd use it. In fact, it'd be a help right about now.

[conuly]

Yes, although the letter with the card informed us that if we don't want to use it we should destroy it, most people I've spoken with (and seen internet-commenting) are of the view that if you don't want to use it you should either a. buy food for the food bank or b. buy food for yourself, donate the same amount of cash to the food bank or c. buy food for an impoverished friend.

[wpadmirer]

I would buy food for myself, or donate to a food bank, whichever needed it. (Oftentimes it is me.)

[calimac]

Talk to the food bank first before you buy food to donate. If it's possible to just donate money from the card directly, that's best. Food banks live on discounted bulk purchases.

[conuly]

You can't donate money from EBT directly. You *can* purchase food for yourself, then take the same amount of cash and donate it, because money is fungible.