Many Oklahoma parents across the state who did not qualify or apply for Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT) cards have received them in the mail.
Parents are complaining on social media that they did not apply for or qualify for the cards, but they have received them in the mail.
P-EBT Cards are being distributed to Oklahoma parents
The State Department of Education stated, this is not a case of fraud, and any parent who received a card in error should destroy it.
Parents were shocked to discover a P-EBT card in their mailbox after never having applied for it and not being eligible for it.
Some school districts, including Ponca City and Asher Public Schools, posted about the issue on Facebook, claiming that the school has no control over it.
“This is NOT through PCPS”, Putnam City Public Schools said on Facebook. In Oklahoma, the Department of Human Services (OKDHS) administers the program with funding provided by a federal grant.
Read more: Social Security benefits: Maybe your missing out your $182,370; Check now!
The State Department of Education made the following declaration
“We are keeping a close eye on the P-EBT inconsistencies that began last Friday. The unauthorized cards appear to be restricted to a small number of families”, according to our preliminary investigation, but by the end of this week, we will be able to offer a more thorough response. This administration takes any and all discrepancies with regard to additional funding for our kids very seriously.
On Monday, the Oklahoma State Department of Education’s Child Nutrition program issued the following statement regarding the issue:
“We are aware that some parents who were not eligible for P-EBT may have received a card over the weekend or even today”. The majority of those cards have no money on them. Some may have a small amount of money loaded on them.
When we discovered this late Friday, we had DHS suspend all payments. We are currently working through the issue in order to resume payments to those who are eligible. This is not a case of deception. Any parent who received a card and whose child is a paid lunch recipient should shred the card.
They advise not activating or using the card if your household did not qualify for free and reduced-price student meals during the 2021-2022 school year.
Read more: Don’t forget to claim your $4,555 Social Security benefits this coming April 12
