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GOVERNMENT OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS OF THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES Press Contact: Ryan Nugent, Director, Office of Communications Phone: (340) 725-4924 ryan.nugent@dhs.vi.gov PRESS RELEASE VI Department of Human Services, Division of Family Assistance Announces the Issuance of the Pandemic Emergency Assistance Funds PHASE 2 for Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) Recipients. For Immediate Release: July 6, 2022 U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS – The Department of Human Services (DHS) today announced that a cash allotment totaling $431,825.00, authorized by the American Rescue Plan through the Administration of Children and Families (ACF), will be issued to TANF recipients during July- September 30, 2022. On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) establishing the Pandemic Emergency Assistance Fund (PEAF) in section 403(c) of the Social Security Act. The PEAF provided funding to states and territories to assist needy families impacted by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Commissioner Kimberley Causey-Gomez stated that, “The PEAF funding will assist middle- income families with un-met needs resulting from pandemic/endemic financial hardships. This population generally does not receive benefits from traditional Federal Government funded programs due to their higher income brackets and not meeting the eligibility criteria. As this funding is made available in tandem with ACF, all applicants MUST have at least one (1) minor child residing in their household at the time of application submission.” PEAF2 will be issued to any eligible Virgin Island family household with a combined maximum income of $50,000 per annum. Each household must contain a minor (<18 years of age) child and all supporting documents must be submitted along with the application (see checklist attached). Application approval and benefit levels will be determined via the Territorial PEAF2 Review Committee on a weekly basis. Benefits will be disbursed via paper checks and issued in-person to the applicant after verification of identification and signature. Commissioner Causey-Gomez also shared that once the PEAF2 funding is exhausted in full, a request will be made of ACF by DHS to replenish the fund and PEAF disbursement will resume. Any applications not filled before fund exhaustion, will not lose the chronological approved application position. For any questions or clarification, please contact: Territorial PEAF2 Hotline (340) 772-7120 DHS Issuance of PEAF2 to TANF Recipients Press Release Page 2 For more information, please visit the Department of Human Services website, www.dhs.gov.vi or on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/usvidhs) at US Virgin Islands Department of Human Services. The Department of Human Services (VIDHS) exists to provide social services to members in our community with diverse needs. In times of national uncertainty and hardship we act as a safety-net and exist to inspire hope and empower change through non-judgmental, quality delivery of needed services and resources. Please visit the Department of Human Services website, www.dhs.gov.vi for more information. For more information on COVID-19, the new strain of coronavirus, please visit the USVI Department of Health's website, www.doh.vi.gov/coronavirus or text COVID19USVI to 888777. #COVID19USVI The Bryan-Roach Administration is investing in the Territory’s people, infrastructure, and future through transparency, stabilizing the economy, restoring trust in the government, and ensuring that recovery projects are completed as quickly as possible. Visit transparency.vi.gov. ###