Kids should have the food they need to be healthy and grow, no matter who they are or where they grow up. Nebraska’s Summer EBT program, now in its second year, is one puzzle piece to making sure no one gets left out.
Summer EBT is simple: between April and September of 2025, children who participate in free or reduced price meals at school will receive an EBT card loaded with $120 ($40 per summer month) that families can use to purchase food at local retailers. The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services’ (DHHS) Summer EBT webpage is a great place to learn more about eligibility, updating your address, card activation, and more.
The first Nebraska Summer EBT distribution is April 23, 2025. The last will likely be in September. If you want to help get the word out in your community, use templates and info in this Nebraska Appleseed English/Spanish Outreach Toolkit. DHHS outreach materials are here.
Look out for mail in a white window envelope with a return address for Sioux Falls, SD. IT IS NOT JUNK MAIL! See below for a screenshot:
NEW FOR 2025
- Students who receive free breakfast and lunch because they attend a CEP school – and who do not participate in a means-tested public benefits program (including SNAP, TANF, FDPIR, some Medicaid, etc) – will need to fill out an easy online application this year.
- Distribution to kids within a family may happen at different times. A letter will come through the mail letting folks know when a distribution happens.
REMINDERS
- A LOT of DHHS Frequently Asked Questions are available in English and Spanish.
- Summer EBT benefits are time limited! They are only available 122 days from their issuance date.
Almost $24M in Summer EBT benefits went to 200,000 Nebraska kids last year. Thank you to Governor Pillen, DHHS, NDE and all the people working to make this program run smoothly for 2025!
Will we get new cards this yr or will it be loaded on 2024 card?