Every school day, millions of low-income children across America receive free or reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program. But what happens when school lets out for summer? For families already struggling to put food on the table, the summer break can mean two or three months without that critical nutritional safety net.
Summer EBT — officially called the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer program — was created specifically to fill that gap. It is one of the newest permanent federal food assistance programs in the United States, and millions of families may be eligible without even realizing it.
This guide explains exactly what Summer EBT is, how it works, who qualifies, how much families receive, and how it differs from programs like SNAP and the Free and Reduced Lunch Program.
What Is Summer EBT?
Summer EBT is a federal nutrition program that provides grocery benefits to school-age children from low-income families during the summer months, when school meals are no longer available. Benefits are loaded onto an EBT card — or added to an existing EBT card — and can be used to purchase eligible food items at authorized grocery stores and retailers.
The program was established as a permanent nationwide program through the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, transitioning from earlier pilot programs that had been tested in select states for over a decade. Before becoming permanent, it operated under names like P-EBT (Pandemic EBT) during the COVID-19 pandemic, which introduced many families to the concept of receiving grocery benefits during school closures.
Summer EBT is administered jointly by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and participating state agencies. Unlike some programs, states must opt in to operate Summer EBT — meaning not every state automatically participates each year.
Why Summer EBT Exists: The Summer Hunger Problem
For children who rely on free or reduced-price school meals, summer represents a real food security crisis. During the school year, these meals can account for a significant portion of a child’s daily caloric intake. When school ends, that reliable source of nutrition disappears — often for households that have no financial cushion to compensate.
Research consistently shows that food insecurity spikes among low-income children during summer months. Many families already receiving SNAP see their budgets stretched further as children are home all day. Summer EBT was designed as a targeted, direct response to this seasonal nutritional gap — delivering supplemental grocery benefits precisely when children are most at risk of going hungry.
This is also why the program is tied directly to school meal eligibility rather than income thresholds alone — the school system is already tracking which children face food insecurity, making it an efficient delivery mechanism.
How Does Summer EBT Work?
Benefit Delivery
Summer EBT benefits are delivered as a lump-sum grocery credit loaded onto an EBT card. In most states, families receive a flat benefit of $120 per eligible child per summer season. This amount is set at the federal level, though individual states may supplement it.
The benefit is loaded either onto the family’s existing SNAP EBT card (if they have one) or onto a new EBT card issued specifically for Summer EBT. Either way, the card functions like any other EBT card at checkout — the cardholder selects EBT, enters their PIN, and the amount is deducted from the Summer EBT balance.
What You Can Buy With Summer EBT
Summer EBT benefits follow the same purchase rules as SNAP. You can use them to buy:
- Fresh fruits and vegetables
- Bread, cereals, and grains
- Meat, poultry, and fish
- Dairy products (milk, cheese, yogurt, eggs)
- Canned and frozen foods
- Seeds and plants that produce food for the household to eat
Summer EBT benefits cannot be used to purchase:
- Hot prepared foods or restaurant meals
- Alcohol or tobacco
- Non-food household items
- Vitamins and supplements
For a complete breakdown of what is and isn’t covered, see our full guide: SNAP Eligible Foods — A Complete List.
Where You Can Use Summer EBT
Summer EBT benefits can be used at any retailer authorized to accept SNAP/EBT payments — including major grocery chains, supercenters, discount stores, and many farmers markets. You can find SNAP-authorized stores near you using our SNAP Retailer Locator.
Major retailers that accept EBT include Walmart, Kroger, Aldi, Target, and many others. See our store-specific guides:
- Grocery Stores That Take EBT
- Does Costco Accept EBT?
- Does Whole Foods Accept EBT?
- Does Sam’s Club Take EBT?
Benefit Expiration
Summer EBT benefits are not permanent. They expire if unused, typically within a set number of months after issuance (usually around 122 days or roughly 4 months, though this can vary by state). Families should use their Summer EBT balance before the expiration date stamped on their card or listed in their award notice.
Who Is Eligible for Summer EBT?
Summer EBT eligibility is tied to school meal eligibility, not directly to SNAP enrollment or a separate income application in most cases. Here is who qualifies:
Children Who Automatically Qualify
A child is generally eligible for Summer EBT if they are:
1. Enrolled in a participating school and approved for free or reduced-price meals Children who received free or reduced-price school meals through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or School Breakfast Program (SBP) during the prior school year are typically automatically eligible — no additional application needed.
2. Already enrolled in SNAP, Medicaid, or TANF (in most states) In many states, children who are enrolled in SNAP, Medicaid, or TANF are automatically certified as eligible for free school meals — and therefore eligible for Summer EBT without a separate application. This is known as direct certification.
3. Enrolled in Head Start or Even Start Children in these federally funded early education programs are often automatically eligible.
4. Experiencing homelessness, in foster care, or in a migrant family These children are eligible regardless of income under federal categorical eligibility rules.
Income Eligibility Guidelines
For families not automatically enrolled through one of the above pathways, Summer EBT eligibility generally follows the free and reduced-price meal income thresholds:
- Free meals: Household income at or below 130% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL)
- Reduced-price meals: Household income between 130% and 185% of the FPL
Both free and reduced-price meal recipients qualify for Summer EBT benefits.
Use our FPL Calculator to see where your household income falls relative to the Federal Poverty Level.
Age Requirements
Summer EBT is for school-age children — generally ages 6 through 18 who are enrolled in a participating school. Some states may also cover children aged 0–5 in certain childcare settings. Children aged 18 and under who are not yet in school typically do not qualify through this program, though they may be covered under WIC (see below).
How Much Do Families Receive?
The standard federal Summer EBT benefit is $120 per eligible child for the entire summer season. This is paid as a single lump sum, not in monthly installments like SNAP.
For a family with three eligible school-age children, that means $360 in grocery benefits loaded to their EBT card for the summer — a meaningful supplement for households already stretched thin during the months when kids are home all day.
Some states choose to offer additional state-funded supplements on top of the federal $120. Always check your state’s specific Summer EBT program for the exact benefit amount.
Summer EBT vs. SNAP: How Are They Different?
Many families already receive SNAP and wonder how Summer EBT fits in alongside their existing benefits. Here’s the key distinction:
| Feature | Summer EBT | SNAP |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Replace summer school meals for children | General food assistance for low-income households |
| Who it serves | School-age children from low-income families | Any eligible low-income household |
| Benefit amount | Flat $120 per child per summer | Variable, based on household size and income |
| Delivery timing | One lump sum at the start of summer | Monthly recurring deposits |
| Duration | Seasonal (summer only) | Year-round (with periodic recertification) |
| Application | Usually automatic for SNAP/Medicaid households | Separate application required |
| Can be combined | Yes — received on the same EBT card | Yes — SNAP balance is separate but on the same card |
The bottom line: Summer EBT does not count against or reduce your SNAP benefits. The two programs are entirely separate. If your family already receives SNAP, the Summer EBT amount will simply be added to your card as an additional balance for the summer.
If you’re not yet enrolled in SNAP, find out if you qualify with our SNAP Eligibility Calculator and see How to Apply for SNAP Benefits.
Summer EBT vs. P-EBT: What’s the Difference?
Many parents first heard about EBT grocery benefits for children through P-EBT (Pandemic EBT), which was created during the COVID-19 pandemic to replace school meals when schools closed. Summer EBT is essentially the permanent successor to P-EBT for summer periods.
Key differences:
- P-EBT was a temporary emergency program tied to school closures during the pandemic. It has since ended.
- Summer EBT is a permanent, annual program available every summer — not linked to any emergency or school closure.
- Summer EBT only covers the summer break, while P-EBT could cover school-year closures as well.
- The benefit amount and eligibility criteria for Summer EBT are standardized federally at $120 per child, whereas P-EBT amounts varied by state and circumstance.
Summer EBT vs. Free and Reduced School Lunch Program
Summer EBT is directly connected to the Free and Reduced-Price School Lunch Program — in fact, eligibility for one is closely tied to eligibility for the other. But the two serve very different moments in the calendar.
The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides free or reduced-price meals at school during the academic year. Summer EBT picks up where the school program leaves off, providing grocery benefits to use at home once school is no longer in session.
To learn more about the school meal program your child may be enrolled in, see: What Is the Free and Reduced School Lunch Program?
How to Apply for Summer EBT
Step 1: Check If Your State Is Participating
Since Summer EBT is an opt-in program, your state must choose to participate each year. Check your state’s Department of Education or Department of Social Services website to confirm participation and find your state’s specific program name and process.
Step 2: See If Your Child Is Automatically Enrolled
In most participating states, children who are already approved for free or reduced-price school meals will be enrolled automatically — no action needed. Similarly, households receiving SNAP, Medicaid, or TANF often have their children auto-enrolled through direct certification.
Your state will typically notify you by mail if your child has been automatically enrolled and when benefits will be loaded.
Step 3: Apply If You Are Not Automatically Enrolled
If your child is not auto-enrolled but you believe they qualify, you may need to:
- Submit a Free/Reduced-Price Meal application through your child’s school (the same form used for the school lunch program)
- Or apply directly through your state’s Summer EBT portal if your state has a separate application process
Contact your child’s school district or your state’s Summer EBT agency for specific instructions.
Step 4: Check Your EBT Card
Once benefits are issued, they will appear on your EBT card. If you already receive SNAP, the Summer EBT amount will be added to your existing card. If your household does not receive SNAP, you will receive a separate EBT card by mail.
To check your balance after benefits are loaded, see our guide: How to Check Your SNAP Balance — the same methods apply to your Summer EBT balance.
Step 5: Activate and Use Your Card
If you receive a new EBT card for Summer EBT, activate it and set your PIN before trying to use it. If you have questions about your card or it isn’t working, see Why Is My EBT Card Not Working Today? or call the number on the back of your card. For contact numbers by state, see our EBT Phone Numbers for All States guide.
Which States Participate in Summer EBT?
Since Summer EBT is opt-in, participation varies by year. As of the 2024 summer rollout — the first full year of the permanent program — the majority of states and U.S. territories chose to participate, reaching tens of millions of children nationwide.
States that did not participate in a given year generally offered alternative summer nutrition programs such as Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) sites, where children can eat free meals at community locations. However, Summer EBT’s direct-to-household grocery benefit is widely seen as more accessible for many families.
To check your state’s current participation and program details, visit your state’s SNAP or Department of Education page. Our state-by-state resource hub can help you get started:
Can You Use Summer EBT and SNAP Together?
Absolutely — and in fact, doing both is strongly encouraged. Summer EBT and SNAP work in parallel to provide more complete food coverage for your household:
- SNAP covers your entire household’s food needs throughout the year, with monthly benefits adjusted for household size and income
- Summer EBT provides an additional targeted benefit specifically for school-age children during the summer months
Neither benefit reduces the other. If your household does not currently receive SNAP but your children qualify for Summer EBT, consider also applying for SNAP to maximize your family’s food assistance year-round. Use our SNAP Eligibility Calculator to check your household’s eligibility, and see our SNAP Income Limits page to understand the thresholds.
Other Summer Food Resources for Families
If your child does not qualify for Summer EBT, or if your state is not participating this year, there are other summer nutrition resources to explore:
- Summer Food Service Program (SFSP): Free meal sites at schools, parks, libraries, and community centers. Open to all children under 18, no income verification required.
- WIC: Covers infants and young children (under age 5), pregnant women, and new mothers with grocery and formula benefits year-round. See our WIC Eligibility Calculator and WIC Income Guidelines.
- Free Internet With SNAP: Many summer learning programs require internet access — if your family qualifies for SNAP or other assistance, you may be eligible for subsidized internet. See Free Internet With SNAP.
- Free Tablet With Food Stamps: Free Tablet With Food Stamps — technology assistance programs available to SNAP recipients.
Frequently Asked Questions About Summer EBT
Do I have to apply for Summer EBT every year? In most states, if your child is already enrolled in free or reduced-price meals at school, they are automatically re-enrolled for Summer EBT each year you participate. However, if your situation changes or you move to a new state, you may need to reapply or re-establish school meal eligibility.
Does Summer EBT affect my SNAP benefits? No. Summer EBT is a completely separate program and does not count as income or reduce your SNAP benefit amount.
Can I use Summer EBT at a farmers market? Yes, in many states. SNAP-authorized farmers markets accept EBT, and Summer EBT follows the same authorization rules. Some markets also offer Double Up Food Bucks programs that match your EBT spending on fresh produce.
What if my child attends a private school? Eligibility depends on whether the private school participates in the National School Lunch Program. Many private schools do not, meaning children enrolled there may not be automatically eligible through the school pathway. Check with your school directly.
My child ages out during the summer — are they still eligible? A child who turns 19 during the summer is generally not eligible for Summer EBT, as the program covers children ages 18 and under. State rules may vary slightly.
What happens to unused Summer EBT benefits? Unused Summer EBT benefits expire after a set period (typically around 4 months from issuance). Check the expiration date in your benefit notice and try to use benefits before they expire.
Can undocumented children receive Summer EBT? Eligibility rules mirror those of the National School Lunch Program. Undocumented children can participate in the school meal program and Summer EBT in most states without immigration status being a factor, as these are child nutrition programs. Rules vary by state.
Summary
Summer EBT is a permanent, annual federal program that provides $120 per eligible school-age child in grocery benefits each summer — directly addressing the food security gap that opens when school meals stop. Benefits are delivered to an EBT card, follow the same purchase rules as SNAP, and stack on top of any existing SNAP benefits your household already receives.
Most families whose children qualify for free or reduced-price school meals will be automatically enrolled with no extra paperwork required. If you are not yet enrolled in SNAP, Summer EBT may be the entry point that connects your family to a wider network of year-round food assistance.
To explore all the benefits your family may qualify for, use our SNAP Eligibility Calculator, browse your State Benefits Page, or visit our FAQ page for more answers.