PORTLAND, Ore. — The Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) said it accidentally sent out thousands of Pandemic-Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) food cards to students who should not have been eligible for them.
DHS said it recovered about $1.32 million of the $1.46 million in funds that were mistakenly sent out.
As part of a temporary program to help children impacted by the pandemic, DHS sent out P-EBT cards to families with children, with each eligible child receiving $391 in food benefits. Those funds were supposed to make up for meals the children would have gotten through school when schools were shut down because of COVID-19.
Children were eligible for the cards if they were eligible for free or reduced lunch or if they were under six years old and received SNAP benefits.