Albany, NY 12243
otda.ny.gov/SummerEBT
Customer Service Helpline
833-452-0096
Primary Services
Summer Food Service Programs
Description
Helps low-income families with school-age children buy groceries during the summer when their children may not have access to school meals. Families will get $120 in food benefits for each eligible child. Families will receive Summer EBT food benefits for their eligible children on an EBT card, which can be used to buy food like fruits, vegetables, meat, whole grains, and dairy at authorized retail food stores, farmers' markets, and anywhere else SNAP is accepted.
Unused Summer EBT benefits expire and are removed from the EBT card 122 days from the date they are issued; families should use their benefits soon after they are received.
Unused Summer EBT benefits expire and are removed from the EBT card 122 days from the date they are issued; families should use their benefits soon after they are received.
Hours
Helpline agent support available Monday-Friday, 8:30am-5pm; starting June 2nd, 2025, Monday-Friday, 8:30am-8pm & Saturday, 9am-3pm.
Helpline provides automated information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Helpline provides automated information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Eligibility
To receive Summer EBT food benefits automatically for summer 2025:
- A child must be age 6-16 and receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance (cash) benefits, or Medicaid during the period of eligibility (July 1st, 2024 - September 4th, 2025)
OR
- A child of any age must be directly certified for free/reduced-price school meals through the National School Lunch Program by their school.
To be eligible through an application:
- A student must attend a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
AND
- The household's income must be at or below the limits for eligibility for free/reduced-price school meals (185% of federal poverty level).
Service Area: New York State.
- A child must be age 6-16 and receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance (cash) benefits, or Medicaid during the period of eligibility (July 1st, 2024 - September 4th, 2025)
OR
- A child of any age must be directly certified for free/reduced-price school meals through the National School Lunch Program by their school.
To be eligible through an application:
- A student must attend a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
AND
- The household's income must be at or below the limits for eligibility for free/reduced-price school meals (185% of federal poverty level).
Service Area: New York State.
Intake Process
Most children will be automatically eligible for Summer EBT and do not need to do anything to enroll. However, some children may need to apply.
Automatically enrolled children do not need to apply. Automatic enrollment will occur in the following situations:
- The child is age 6-16 and received SNAP, Temporary Assistance, or Medicaid at any time during the period of eligibility, which is July 1st, 2024 - September 4th, 2025.
OR
- The child has been directly certified by their school for free or reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program during the 2024-25 school year.
Starting June 2nd, 2025, eligibility letters for Summer EBT 2025 will begin to be mailed and will continue throughout the summer. If you receive an eligibility letter, you will receive a benefit. Benefits will become available on June 18th, 2025, and will continue throughout the summer. If you do not receive an eligibility letter for your child's Summer EBT benefit by August 1st, 2025, please call the Summer EBT Helpline at 1-833-452-0096.
Families must apply in the following situations:
- Their child is not automatically enrolled (see details above to determine whether child is enrolled automatically).
AND
- The household meets the income requirements for free or reduced-price school meals.
AND
- The child attends a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program.
Apply online by September 4th, 2025, for 2025 benefits. The online application is available at SummerEBT.ny.gov
Automatically enrolled children do not need to apply. Automatic enrollment will occur in the following situations:
- The child is age 6-16 and received SNAP, Temporary Assistance, or Medicaid at any time during the period of eligibility, which is July 1st, 2024 - September 4th, 2025.
OR
- The child has been directly certified by their school for free or reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program during the 2024-25 school year.
Starting June 2nd, 2025, eligibility letters for Summer EBT 2025 will begin to be mailed and will continue throughout the summer. If you receive an eligibility letter, you will receive a benefit. Benefits will become available on June 18th, 2025, and will continue throughout the summer. If you do not receive an eligibility letter for your child's Summer EBT benefit by August 1st, 2025, please call the Summer EBT Helpline at 1-833-452-0096.
Families must apply in the following situations:
- Their child is not automatically enrolled (see details above to determine whether child is enrolled automatically).
AND
- The household meets the income requirements for free or reduced-price school meals.
AND
- The child attends a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program.
Apply online by September 4th, 2025, for 2025 benefits. The online application is available at SummerEBT.ny.gov
Program Fees
None.
Date of Official Change
Jun 10, 2025