State funds food assistance programs

The New Mexico Human Services Department has announced families of 91,460 New Mexico children through age 5 will receive additional food benefits this fall for the 2021-22 childcare and summer P-EBT programs on a gradual schedule.

The $52.8 million in Pandemic Electronic Beneft Transfer benefits will be issued to children under age 6 in families who were participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program between August 2021 and June 2022, according to a news release. For each month of P-EBT benefits available, the child also had to be enrolled in SNAP.

“The goal of this program is to provide good nutrition to New Mexican families when they are facing financial hardship,” said Angela Medrano, deputy secretary for the New Mexico Human Services Department. “We are working tirelessly to improve food security for New Mexico’s children.”

For questions regarding P-EBT cards, call the P-EBT hotline at 1-833-415-0569. If a replacement P-EBT card is needed, call FIS customer service at 1-800-843-8303. Answers to frequently asked questions can also be found online at hsd.state.nm.us/lookingforassistance/p-ebt/.