There is still time to apply for the new federal Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) program before the Sept. 3 deadline hits, No Kid Hungry New York announced on Monday.
The program gives eligible families a one-time payment of $120 per child on their EBT cards to offset the food the meals they paid for during the summer— meals their children would otherwise receive in school.
The program is designed to help families pay for groceries they purchased during the summer.
Per New York State, Summer EBT benefits can be used to buy food at grocery stores, farmers markets and other SNAP-authorized retailers.
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, according to No Kid Hungry New York, a nonprofit that aims to end child hunger.
“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,” 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.”
Check your eligibility
Most families eligible for Summer EBT will automatically receive benefits and do not need to apply. This includes families whose children receive SNAP and Medicaid benefits.
To be eligible for Summer EBT by applying, the child must live in a household where the total household income is at or below 185% of the Federal Poverty Level and enrolled in a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program.
The benefits arrive at a time when the cost of living is putting a dent in Many 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.
Read more: Rising food prices in NYC challenge shoppers’ budgets.
