EBT card

[Anonymous]

My child attends a title 1 elementary school we are new to DC and were enrolled in public school this past school year. I just got a EBT card in the mail for her. It has 120 dollars on it. Is this pandemic money? I did not
apply for this and we are not eligible. Does anyone know how this happened?

[Anonymous]

I remember this coming up on discussion boards a while back. Yes, these are pandemic related funds for which all students at Title I schools qualify. My understanding is that you “claiming” the benefit doesn’t impact the availability of money for anyone else; it’s a Federal entitlement program and funds are non-transferable. Some have suggested using the money to buy groceries and then donating the food (or an equivalent amount of money) to a food bank or other local organization so that the money is ultimately used for its intended purpose: helping provide meals for kids.

[Anonymous]

I had a child in a Title One school. Got the EBT card and disregarded it as some sort of error, knowing I didn't apply / probably don't qualify. Months later somebody called to ask why I'm not using the EBT card, whether I need help activating it etc. They insisted I did not get it in error, everybody enrolled in Title One schools gets it regardless of income, and I should just use the card rather than let benefits expire.

[Anonymous]

I got a letter in the mail stating that the benefits would be lost if I didn't use it. I checked and learned that it wasnt a matter of qualification, like the PP stated. So you have the option of just not using it (letting the benefits expire), donating it or using it to benefit your family by lowering your grocery bill.

[Anonymous]

Every kid at a title 1 schools got them mailed to them automatically even if they don’t qualify. Same thing happened to us. It just showed up. I talked to some other families and we used our cards to make purchases for gods banks- both in the neighborhood and the one at the school each month. You can call and cancel it but it’s not like the money goes back to the DC general fund. It’s all federal dollars. Although I have been told using it but for food banks is fraud.

[Anonymous]

Wow. This seems to be another example of waste of federal funds. Just wow. Mismanagement of federal relief is why nobody trusts the system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow. This seems to be another example of waste of federal funds. Just wow. Mismanagement of federal relief is why nobody trusts the system.

This 100%. What a waste of resources. They should be focused on people who really need them. Such a shame.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow. This seems to be another example of waste of federal funds. Just wow. Mismanagement of federal relief is why nobody trusts the system.

Amen. This is beyond crazy.

[Anonymous]

Your kid is presumably making the title 1 school a little better, so I would spend it without any qualms. Or you can activate it and offer it to a poor family you know. Or buy something for a class or school event with it.

[Anonymous]

My train of thought was that there are few kids at Title 1 school who wouldn't qualify and it would be more expensive to pay people to process pandemic relief EBT card applications (and a burden for those in need to have to apply) than just giving it to everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My train of thought was that there are few kids at Title 1 school who wouldn't qualify and it would be more expensive to pay people to process pandemic relief EBT card applications (and a burden for those in need to have to apply) than just giving it to everyone.

Correct. A lot of critism of federal policy reflects a lack of understanding for what it takes to implement programs like these. If your kids are at a Title I school, many of their classmates are likely to be benefiting from the support. This particular funds distribution wouldn't be possible if it had to be administerd at the student level. So, there are trade offs.

[Anonymous]

I just got this as well - my child is not at a Title 1 school. I called to try and figure out why we got it and I was given the run around.

I am putting it aside for a month and if DC does not say they sent it in error - will buy stuff and donate.

You can order from Amazon - which makes it really easy to use.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just got this as well - my child is not at a Title 1 school. I called to try and figure out why we got it and I was given the run around.

I am putting it aside for a month and if DC does not say they sent it in error - will buy stuff and donate.

You can order from Amazon - which makes it really easy to use.

No way I would risk my career for a few hundred dollars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just got this as well - my child is not at a Title 1 school. I called to try and figure out why we got it and I was given the run around.

I am putting it aside for a month and if DC does not say they sent it in error - will buy stuff and donate.

You can order from Amazon - which makes it really easy to use.

No way I would risk my career for a few hundred dollars.

The person I spoke with said everyone gets it. You and I both know this is not how it is supposed to be done.
I will be reaching out again and expecting that I will speak with a different person - and possibly get a different answer.
But if the answer is that the way DC is implementing a program is they are doing X - and as such we qualify - I am not going to let the $ just not be used. It is a way to help others out.

[Anonymous]

This is literally outrageous. Giving money to those who don't even need it and didn't ask for it. Tax payers paid for this too!