Beginning in summer 2024, New York State is implementing Summer EBT, a new federal program to help low-income households with children purchase food over the summer when school is out of session and children can no longer rely on access to free/reduced-price school meals.
The Summer EBT benefit of $120 per eligible child will be issued on an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card that the family can use just like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to purchase eligible food items at SNAP participating grocery stores, farmers markets, and other retailers. The new program is in addition to free meals that children ages 18 and younger can get at summer meal sites in their communities.
Most children will be automatically eligible for Summer EBT and do not need to do anything to enroll. To be automatically eligible:
•A child must receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and/or Temporary Assistance (cash) benefits, or be directly certified for free meals through Medicaid, or
•A child must be determined eligible for free/reduced-price school meals by their school during the 2023-24 school year.
An online application will be available in July for children who are not automatically eligible and who live in a household that meets the income requirements for free/reduced-price school meals and attend a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program.
To learn more about Summer EBT, including when and how food benefits will be issued, visit http://OTDA.NY.gov/SummerEBT. The Summer EBT Customer Service Helpline is 1-833-452-0096. Families should seek answers to specific questions using the website before calling the helpline. The helpline will be able to answer questions about a specific child’s eligibility beginning July 1, 2024. Information is also available at http://hungersolutionsny.org/federal-nutrition-programs/summer-ebt/.
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