New York is issuing over $250 million in food assistance this summer to help more than 2.2 million low-income children access healthy meals while school is out, Governor Kathy Hochul announced on June 23, 2025.
What Is the Summer EBT Program?
The Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (Summer EBT) program provides $120 per eligible child to help families afford food during the summer when students lose access to free school meals.
- Funded by the federal government
- Automatically available to most SNAP, Public Assistance, or Medicaid recipients
- Distributed on EBT cards accepted anywhere SNAP is used
- Application deadline: September 4, 2025
Who Is Eligible?
Eligible children must attend schools that participate in the National School Lunch Program and meet the income criteria for free or reduced-price meals.
- Families already enrolled in SNAP, Public Assistance, or Medicaid do not need to apply
- Other eligible families must apply before the September deadline
- Cards can be used at authorized food retailers, farmers markets, and bodegas
Timeline for Benefit Distribution
Summer EBT benefits will be issued in three main waves:
- June 18: Over 1 million children received the first round of benefits
- Later this summer: Two more rounds will cover nearly 500,000 additional children
- Benefits are valid for 122 days after issuance
Why It Matters
The Summer EBT program helps fight childhood hunger, supports nutrition, and boosts local economies. USDA studies show it can cut very low food security by one-third during summer months.
Governor Hochul emphasized her administration’s commitment to family affordability amid threats to federal nutrition funding:
“Summer EBT will help thousands of low-income families afford to buy healthy food when many children lose access to free school meals.”
Broader Impact on Families and Communities
- Summer EBT complements the expanded Child Tax Credit and universal free school meals in New York
- SNAP funding supports local farmers, grocers, and restaurants
- Cuts to SNAP proposed at the federal level could cost New York $2.1 billion annually and affect 300,000 households
Key Takeaways
- Families of more than 2 million children in New York will receive $120 each in food benefits this summer
- The government automatically issues most benefits—recipients must apply for others by September 4.
- Summer EBT can help reduce hunger and stimulate local food economies
- Visit ny.gov/SummerEBT to check eligibility or apply
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