Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — DHSS is reminding parents that students ages 5 through 18 years automatically qualify to receive Summer EBT benefits, providing they are verified by DOE as being enrolled at any point in time in a public or private school during School Year 2023-2024.

Director Muavaefa’atasi John E. Suisala of the Department of Human and Social Services (DHSS) reminds all parents of school age children who have not picked up their Summer EBT (S-EBT) benefits to do so as soon as possible. The last day to claim $177 in S- EBT food coupons for each student is Friday, August 30, 2024.

Parents or legal guardians are not required to apply for S-EBT benefits for their children. However, they must appear on the list from the Department of Education (DOE) of public and private schools as the primary parent/ guardian on record.

This primary parent/ legal guardian must bring a valid photo ID card to the ASNAP Office to verify the names of their children who were enrolled at any point in time during School Year 2023-2024 before they are issued a new S-EBT ID card to pick up benefits for their children. This same S-EBT ID card is required to redeem their S-EBT food coupons at any ASNAP-authorized retail store.

At the end of the work day on Monday, August 26, 2024, 883 children had yet to claim their S-EBT benefits. Out of the 12,082 public and private school children whose names were verified by the DOE, 11,199 children have received their S-EBT benefits. All S-EBT benefits expire on December 28, 2024.

Also, be reminded, that only students ages 5 and 18 years who were verified by DOE as being enrolled at any point in time in a public or private school during School Year 2023-2024 automatically qualify to receive S-EBT benefits. Moreover, although federal law that established the S-EBT Program sets a $40 per month benefit amount per child or $120 for 3 months, the U.S. Department of Agriculture adjusted the benefit level for American Samoa at $59 per month for each eligible child or $177 for 3 months of the summer break.

For more information, please call the ASNAP Assistant Director Lagia Fulu Tuala or ASNAP’s Eligibility and Certification Manager Cleopatra Sio at 633-7720 or visit the ASNAP Office in Utulei before Friday, August 30, 2024.