This July, many families will gladly accept about $120 for each qualifying child due to the federal summer assistance program. Due to an initiative called Summer EBT or SUN Bucks, the meals of children will be covered this summer when they are on holiday and thus cannot receive the free or lower-priced meals that they usually receive when they are at school. To assist in providing nutritious food to children, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has joined forces with 38 states, five U.S. territories, and several tribal nations to offer this summer holiday benefit.
The core aim behind the Summer EBT
A once-off payment of $120 will be allocated to children from low-income families this summer. The reason for this once-off payment is to provide nutritious meals to school-going children who often benefit considerably from school meals. The initiative will ensure that children do not have stress about being hungry this holiday.
By offering about $2,5 billion in financial aid, the initiative put forth by the USDA could assist more or less 21 million children in all the states and territories that are part of the initiative. The funds get loaded on an eligible EBT card and work similarly to debit cards, but can only be used at grocery stores that accept SNAP payments.
The overall aim behind this federal incentive is to reduce childhood hunger, especially during the period when school-based nutritional lunches cannot be provided. When children are not hungry, they can enjoy their holidays and make the most of their time off school.
Qualifying criteria for the Summer EBT
Most of the families who qualify for the Summer EBT will automatically receive this benefit loaded on their EBT cards. Families who qualify are those who meet the criteria of:
- Having children who are already enrolled in SNAP, TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), or FDPIR (Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations).
- Having children who usually rely on lower-priced or free school meals offered by either the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or School Breakfast Program (SBP).
- Being enrolled in Medicaid, in states where Medicaid participation includes auto-enrollment in Summer EBT.
This benefit is offered to children between the ages of 6 to 18. For most beneficiaries, benefits will be loaded directly onto their EBT cards whilst some families will receive a new card in the mail. There is an option for families to apply to be part of the Summer EBT program if they feel they meet the qualifying criteria.
Families must use this benefit received within 122 days of receiving it else this benefit will expire, and families must use expert advice to make this benefit work for them as they make their SNAP benefit work for them too.
When should qualifying citizens expect to receive payment?
According to the USDA Food and Nutrition Service, SUN Bucks will not be issued according to a fixed payment schedule for all the states. The $120 payment will be distributed at a different time in each state. While some states have already started issuing payments from May, other states may see payments arrive this July or even in August.
The payment schedule for some states is as follows:
- California, New York, and Illinois have started loading funds on EBT cards.
- Minnesota, Virginia, and Ohio will receive payment this July.
- Some states have split the benefit into 3 payments of $40 each and will send out payments until August.
Citizens eager to find out when payment will be received can check their state’s EBT program portal. While most states have chosen to participate in this Summer EBT program, some states such as Florida, Alaska, Idaho, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Wyoming have chosen not to participate and hence citizens in these states will not be receiving SUN Bucks this holiday. The Summer EBT program offers some relief since citizens are aware that they may be saying goodbye to SNAP checks due to new changes making it difficult for millions.
Disclaimer: Our coverage of stimulus checks, tax reliefs, tax rebates, tax credits, and other payments is based on the official sources listed in the article. All payment amounts and dates, as well as eligibility requirements, are subject to change by the governing institutions. Always consult the official source we provide to stay up-to-date and obtain information for your decision-making.
