Families with school-age kids in three states will get additional EBT in July

Families in three states will get extra food stamps in July through the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) program, also known as Summer EBT or SUN Bucks. This program gives $120 for each eligible school-aged child. It helps low- and no-income families buy groceries during the summer when school meals aren't available. In 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) expects to assist about 21 million children across the country, providing around $2.5 billion in benefits in 35 states, five U.S. territories, and four tribal nations. Most families receiving these benefits are already getting regular food aid through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which helps around 40 million people.

This year, 37 states, Washington D.C., and all U.S. territories are part of the Summer EBT program. Benefits will be provided in one of the following ways, depending on the state:

- Added to an existing SNAP EBT card

- Loaded onto a previous Summer EBT card

- Mailed on a new Summer EBT card

Many states have already started sending out the benefits, with some payments going out in June. The following states are expected to issue payments in July, according to the fintech app Propel:

- Massachusetts

- Pennsylvania

- Virginia

However, the following states will not be providing Summer EBT payments this year:

- Alaska

- Florida

- Georgia

- Idaho

- Indiana

- Iowa

- Mississippi

- Oklahoma (except for tribal nations)

- South Carolina

- South Dakota

- Tennessee

- Texas

- Wyoming

Who Qualifies for Summer EBT?

To qualify for Summer EBT, children must be in certain assistance programs or receive free or reduced-price school meals. Eligible groups include:

- Kids in households enrolled in SNAP, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, or Medicaid (if available in the state).

- Students in schools that are part of the National School Lunch or Breakfast Programs who meet income requirements.

Most families who qualify will receive the benefits automatically. Those who don’t, but think they qualify, can apply through their state’s Summer EBT website. Keep in mind that Summer EBT funds expire 122 days after they are issued, so it's important to use them quickly.

 What Can I Buy With Summer EBT?

The extra benefits work like regular SNAP benefits. You can buy fruits, vegetables, dairy, grains, meat, poultry, snacks, non-alcoholic drinks, and even seeds and plants if you want to grow your own food. However, SNAP benefits can't be used to buy items like alcohol, hot prepared meals, vitamins, tobacco, cleaning products, or other household goods.