Nearly 100,000 eligible families with children in New York City have yet to redeem pandemic food benefits, according to a report published in Chalkbeat.

More than $35 million in potential benefits remain unused and could expire early next year, the report said.

Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfers (P-EBT) have covered meal costs for families since 2020. While the benefits usually go to students who get free meals, New York City’s public schools have universal meals, making all families eligible regardless of income.

However, of the families who were issued P-EBT cards for the first time, 41,271 had not spent any of the funds. For those with existing P-EBT cards, 49,465 had not used the benefits either, the report said.

Families with children who attended K-12 in the city’s public schools during the 2021-22 school year were eligible for food benefits for that year and the summer of 2022. Those who attended school last year were also eligible for the summer 2023 benefit.

Those in charter, private, and other schools, or prekindergarten, who received free meals through the federal school lunch program were also eligible, the report went on to say.