CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved a request from the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources regarding benefits for families with young children.
The state agency submitted the request related to Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer benefits for children younger than 6 who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. Eligible children must reside in counties where the coronavirus pandemic impacted school operations.
Bill Crouch, the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Resources, said families of around 40,000 children will receive a letter about the benefits.
“There is not an application process for these benefits,” Crouch noted during Wednesday’s coronavirus briefing.
According to the agency, a qualified child will receive $22.44 for each qualifying month. The benefits will be dispersed for August through December 2021 and January through May 2022.
The payments will be issued in July and September.