In early January, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it would be expanding food benefits programs this summer in an effort to provide children nutritious meals even when school is out. Nearly 21 million children in the U.S. and its territories are expected to receive such benefits through the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer program, or Summer EBT.
Families with children who are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches will be eligible for Summer EBT. The benefits will come in the form of pre-loaded cards that families can use to purchase groceries. Beginning in summer 2024, families will receive $40 per eligible child. Summer EBT benefits will work in tandem with other federal nutrition assistance programs — including summer meal sites, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) — to boost children’s access to healthy foods year round.
