RALEIGH, N.C. - The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announces they are increasing benefits for March and April to current Food and Nutrition Services recepients.
NCDHHS received federal authority to implement the program from the U.S. Department of Agriculture in response to the closure of many businesses amid the coronavirus pandemic.
"People need to be able to feed their families while also practicing good social distancing and following the governor’s stay at home order. This will help families make fewer trips to the grocery store and help protect themselves and those in their communities from getting sick,” said NCDHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen, M.D.
All families that receive food benefits will receive the maximum amount allowed for their household in March and April based on household size.
A family of four would be eligible to receive a total of $646 for each of the two months regardless of their usual benefit amount, according to officials.
Households that already receive the maximum amount will not receive increase.
Approximately 360,000 households will begin receiving the temporary increased benefit on their EBT card on April 1 and April 22.
They will be randomly generated and staggered every other workday until all eligible households have received their temporary increase.
Recipients will continue to receive their regular benefits and should be aware they will receive two separate payments for March and two for April.
To check availability of benefits families should:
- Call 1-888-622-7328.
- Visit www.ebtedge.com [ncdhhs.us4.list-manage.com]. Click on More Information under EBT Cardholders.
