Apply before Sept. 3 Deadline
No Kid Hungry New York today encouraged families to apply for the new federal Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) program before the September 3 deadline. Summer EBT provides eligible families with a one-time installment of $120 per child on their EBT cards to replace the cost of meals they’d otherwise receive at school, helping them pay for groceries during the summer months. The program will ultimately distribute approximately $200 million in food aid to as many as 2 million children in every corner of New York State.
Summer EBT is arriving at a critical time as rising prices at the supermarket strain New Yorkers’ budgets. According to No Kid Hungry’s 2024 poll, nearly 4 in 5 New York households said it had become harder to afford groceries over the past 12 months.
“As summer winds down, we are reminding New York families about the game-changing Summer EBT program to make sure that kids can access healthy meals all year long,” said Rachel Sabella, Director of No Kid Hungry New York. “This extra support will give families the boost they need to keep food on the table and provide children with the well-balanced, nutritious meals they need to learn and grow. I thank our partners at every level of government for making this funding available, and I encourage families to check their eligibility and apply before the September 3 deadline.”
For a child to receive Summer EBT benefits automatically, they must receive SNAP, Temporary Assistance benefits (TANF), be directly certified for free meals through Medicaid, or determined eligible for free/reduced price school meals through the National School Lunch Program by their school. Children that attend schools participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) AND their household is at or below the limits for eligibility for free/reduced price school meals (185% federal poverty level), must apply online by September 3, 2024. New Yorkers looking to see if they qualify can head to New York State’s Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance for the most up-to-date information.
