Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The American Samoa Nutrition Assistance Program (ASNAP) will issue S-EBT benefits, in the form of food coupons, for qualifying students who are verified by the American Samoa Department of Education (ASDOE) for the 2024-2025 school year for all public and non-public or private schools in American Samoa. Currently, there are an estimated 14,464 American Samoa school children attending public and private schools.

ASDOE has verified student data for all public early childhood education, elementary, and high schools, along with the non-public/ private schools listed below. Therefore, starting Monday, June 16, 2025, S-EBT for all public schools and the 8 non-public schools listed below can be picked up from the DHSS ASNAP Office at Utulei according to the schedule:

1. Fa'asao-Marist High School, 2. Fatuoaiga Montessori, 3. Iakina Adventist Academy, 4. Kanana Fou High School, 5. Marist Saint Francis, 6. Pacific Horizons School, 7. South Pacific International Christian Center School, 8. St. Theresa Elementary School:

At press time, the remaining 6 non-public schools listed below, are pending.

As soon as ASDOE verifies the information for these 6 schools, DHSS said in a press release on the subject, that an update will be issued to inform those parents/ legal guardians about the release of the S-EBT benefits for their children. Again, the S-EBT issuance dates for these six non-public schools will be announced as soon as ASDOE verifies their student data:

1. Kanana Fou Elementary School, 2. Manumalo Academy School, 3. Mary the Mother Montessori, 4. Peteli Academy, 5. Samoa Baptist Academy, 6. South Pacific Academy

Only the individual who is listed as the primary parent or legal guardian in the student’s school record can pick up the S-EBT food coupons for their child(ren).

The primary parent or legal guardian must bring a valid Government-issued photo identification (ID) card and the name on that ID card must match the name listed as the primary in the 2024-2025 student record ASDOE verified. If you have your S-EBT Program ID card issued in 2024, please bring it with you because you can use it to claim and redeem your S-EBT food coupons at any ASNAP-authorized retail store.

Please note that the last day to pick up S-EBT benefits is August 29, 2025. All S-EBT benefits or food coupons expire on December 29, 2025.

OTHER IMPORTANT THINGS TO NOTE

As announced by Governor Pulaali’i N. Pula on April 7, 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), approved American Samoa’s Plan of Operations and Management to implement the 2025 S-EBT Program and awarded $2.5 million to provide critical nutrition benefits for the summer of 2025 for an estimated 14,464 of American Samoa’s school children. The 2025 S-EBT Program is managed by the DHSS ASNAP Division in close partnership with the ASDOE.

All school children who are verified by the ASDOE as being enrolled at any point in time in a public or non-public school during the 2024-2025 school year automatically qualify to receive S-EBT benefits.

Moreover, USDA has once again approved an adjusted benefit level for American Samoa at $59 per month (June, July, August) for a total of $177 for each qualifying student, which is higher than what is approved for most States.

S-EBT food coupons totaling $177 will be issued one time for each qualifying student and these S-EBT food coupons will only be released to the primary parent or legal guardian named in the child’s school record, as verified by ASDOE. A parent or legal guardian who is not recognized as the primary in the student’s school record will be asked to go to the ASDOE Student Records Office or to their child’s school to update the student record and then bring an updated printout to claim the S-EBT benefits for their child(ren).

Parents and legal guardians are reminded that although ASDOE-verified students automatically qualify for 2025 S-EBT benefits, you can choose to opt-out or decline these benefits by not claiming them or you can contact the DHSS ASNAP office to have your child’s name removed from the list of qualified students.

However, for those wishing to claim their child’s 2025 S-EBT benefits, please come to the ASNAP Office on the scheduled date (see chart accompanying this story), based on the first letter of the last name of the primary parent or legal guardian as it appears on the student’s official school record for public/ non-public schools the student attended in the 2024-2025 school year.

DHSS Director Panisia Neueli reminds all parents and legal guardians to please help DHSS provide timely services by following the issuance schedule and to use your child’s S-EBT benefits to buy healthy and nutritious meal options for this summer break. We appreciate everyone’s continued support and understanding.

Please call the ASNAP Office at 633-7720, 633-7451, 633-7851, or 633-7591 for additional information.