Family Card Benefits: All about Nutrition Assistance for Puerto Rico

El Nutrition Assistance Program (better known as PAN), is an aid granted by the federal government to residents of Puerto Rico, to help them purchase food that allows them to maintain a basic and balanced diet.

Furthermore, this program is of special importance, especially at this time if you take into account the high levels of poverty and despondency due to natural disasters, which have been very recurrent, on this Caribbean island. According to the most recent statistical data carried out by the United States Census Bureau, for year 2018 el 43 percent of all the inhabitants of Puerto Rico, as well as more than half of its child population (an 57 percent), they lived in conditions of extreme poverty.

What is the maximum income to qualify for the PAN?

Households that wish to receive the benefits of the program PAN, they must obtain net income (that is, the income that results, after some exclusions and deductions are subtracted from the total income) and be below certain amounts, depending on the membership that make up the family unit.

For example, from March 2019, a household of three people must have a total net income equal to or less than $ 1,706 dollars; This figure is much higher than what had been anticipated for the year 2019 , since the original rules of the program had been set at a much lower net income limit, barely $ 599 dollars for a family of three members.

How does the Family Card work?

Those program participants BREAD, They can use its benefits through the Family Card, in local stores. This benefits card is electronic and very similar in use to a debit card, it is popularly known as family card (Family Card).

In Puerto Rico, the acceptance of this card is around 3,000 authorized retail establishments, those who supply food to the participants of the PAN, these benefits are quickly exhausted. And according to a study by year 2015 , most participants use approximately 80 percent of your electronic benefits, in just a week after having received them, while the 91 percent he does it, after two weeks.

Look at the list of fast food that accepts the 2023 Puerto Rico Family Card

How to get help from the Family Card?

Los general requirements required to request the Family Card, are the following:

• To be eligible, the person has to live in Puerto Rico.
• Capital accounts must have less than 2,000 dollars. This includes both the savings account, checking account and others.
• If in the family there is a dependent person who is 60 years or older, your capital accounts may have up to maximum of $3,000.
• Applicant families must meet a net annual income limit, which will vary depending on the dependent members of each household. The amount is calculated by taking the Total revenues, within the home and subtracting deductions including: type of income, members within the household, certain allowed expenses, etc.

To apply for the Family Card, it is necessary to follow certain instructions.

For the prequalification application

Call Us

It is requested by calling State Office to the: (787) 991- 0101, 787-289-1199 or to the number 3-1-1. This line is specially designed, both to answer any questions about the benefits of Family Card, as well as to make the pre-qualification request, through a representative.

Via Internet

You can apply online, you can enter the following link: https://serviciosenlinea.adsef.pr.gov/adsefdigital/Security/Login.aspx.

Another good option is to watch a video with instructions on how to open an account to handle matters related to the family card, online; by entering the following link: https://servicios.adsef.pr.gov/videos/VID-20211005.mp4.

When refused at this stage, the application cannot be moved to the next stage, now if it is prequalified, a specific date for the appointment will be indicated on the Nearest ASEF office. If for some reason, The appointment cannot be arranged at that time., a referral will be made to coordinate the data and finally schedule the appointment.

How do I know if I qualify for PAN?

The agency has 30 working days (a month), to determine a person's eligibility. In emergency cases, the days are reduced to 7 or a week.

At appointment at ADSEF (approve or deny the request), the applicant is informed after verification of the required personal documents, if the person is indeed eligible to receive said funds, if not, they are also provided with an explanation of why the application was denied.

Those who are admitted are notified the amount of funds what will you receive (same that vary by circumstances and number of members of the family group) and in the same way they are informed when will receive this card, although the same It usually arrives within a week.

What are all the benefits of the family card?

They can be purchased with the family card exclusively basic and essential products for food, hygiene and personal hygiene.

The incorrect use of the family card in the purchase of other unauthorized products will result in the definitive withdrawal of the aid, in this case the obligation to refund the amount paid is indicated.

Fonts

https://www.cbpp.org/research/food-assistance/introduccion-al-programa-de-asistencia-nutricional-de-puerto-rico.

https://ayudalegalpr.org/en/resource/solicitud-de-tarjeta-de-la-familia.

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