This summer, more than half of U.S. states are working together to assist low-income families through a new program called Summer EBT, a food assistance program supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The goal is to offer food aid to over 20 million children when school meals aren’t available during the summer break. The Summer EBT program will start in thirty-five states, five U.S. territories, and four tribes this June. Eligible families will receive $120 in pre-loaded cards for buying groceries.
Next, we will answer some common questions about Summer EBT, the new food assistance program:
- What is the Summer EBT Program?
- Which states are participating in the Summer EBT program in 2024?
- Which states are not participating?
- How do families qualify for the Summer EBT program?
- How much assistance will families receive through Summer EBT?
- Is this program different from Summer P-EBT?
What is the Summer EBT Program?
The Summer EBT program was designed to offer food assistance to school-aged children eligible for the National School Lunch Program (free or reduced lunch) during the summer months when school meals aren’t available. Families will be able to use their pre-loaded cards to purchase groceries.
Which states are participating in the Summer EBT program in 2024?
The Summer EBT program will launch in summer 2024 in 35 states, five U.S. territories, and four tribes. These include:
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Tennessee
- Utah
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
U.S. territories:
- American Samoa
- Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
- Guam
- Puerto Rico
- U.S. Virgin Islands
Tribes:
- Cherokee Nation
- Chickasaw Nation
- Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians
- Osage Nation
Which states are not participating?
The following states are not participating in the 2024 Summer EBT food assistance program: Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, and Wyoming.
How do families qualify for the Summer EBT program?
Families with children eligible for free or reduced-price lunches will qualify for Summer EBT. Additionally, families already receiving food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program can receive Summer EBT benefits in addition to their SNAP allocations.
How much assistance will families receive through Summer EBT?
During June, July, and August of this year, families will receive $40 per eligible child each month. These benefits will be loaded onto the family’s existing EBT card if available; otherwise, a new EBT card will be issued for newly eligible families. Families can use these cards to purchase groceries at any grocery store that accepts SNAP.
Is this program different from Summer P-EBT?
Yes, it’s important to note that the new Summer EBT program differs from P-EBT. P-EBT provided grocery benefits during COVID and the summer for the school year 2022-2023. In contrast, Summer EBT is a new permanent program starting in June 2024. Keep in mind, this program was just announced, and we’ll share more details as they become available.
