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P-EBT benefits released and families are receiving benefits

P-EBT logo
Joyetter@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — At the close of business yesterday, $6.63 million in P-EBT benefits for school children has been released to families across the island from the USDA Food and Nutrition Service.

This was confirmed by the Director of Human and Social Services Muavaefaatasi John Suisala in response to Samoa News questions.

The USDA Food and Nutrition Service has approved $8.8 million to serve approximately 14,000 school children who attended school during the School Year 2021-2022. 

“We opened our P-EBT online registration portal on July 20, 2022, and started issuing P-EBT benefits on August 15, 2022.

As of the close of business on Tuesday 13 September, almost 82% or 5,332 P-EBT household registrations filed online have been approved for 11,069 school children.  

“A total of 5,148 heads of household/parents already picked up P-EBT benefits (food stamp coupons) for 10,694 school children.”

According to Muavaefaatasi the total value of P-EBT benefits (food stamps) issued to date is $6,637,302 million.

However there are 655 registrations remain pending and 534 registrations remain un-submitted.  

“The P-EBT online registration portal automatically approves all registrations that contain information for parents and students that match the official school enrollment records.  

“The ASNAP team continues to contact parents with pending and unsubmitted registrations to help them edit and submit their registrations with the correct parent/student information or advise them to go to the DOE Student Records Office to make the appropriate corrections in order for our system to automatically approve their registrations for their children to receive P-EBT benefits. 

“Unfortunately, some of these parents are not answering their telephones while others listed the wrong telephone numbers when they registered.”

The Director continues to encourage all parents who have not yet registered for P-EBT benefits in order for their children to receive P-EBT food stamp coupons. 

“Parents who are still having problems with their P-EBT registrations are encouraged to email the ASNAP Assistant Director, Lagia Tuala, at ltuala@dhss.as and copy me at jsuisala@dhss.as

“They must include the full name their registration is under and a telephone number to reach them,” Muavaefaatasi stated.