Lincoln, NE – The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will send out its first issuance of Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) benefits Wednesday.
Throughout the 2025 Summer EBT period, households with eligible school-age children can receive assistance in buying groceries with the program’s second year of operation. A one-time payment of $120 will be issued for each eligible child, intended to cover the three summer months at $40 a month.
The first issuance will be sent to students receiving public assistance benefits through participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Aid to Dependent Children (ADC), Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), an income-based Medicaid program, or an approved Summer EBT application.
Additional issuances will include eligible children as reported by school districts and any new eligibility determinations through public assistance benefits and Summer EBT applications.
Summer EBT cards will be mailed to eligible families using their registered address with DHHS or their child’s school. Once families receive the Summer EBT card, it must be activated using the instructions mailed with the card.
Eligible families will have 122 days, or four months, to use Summer EBT benefits. The 122-day count begins the day after benefits are issued. If benefits are not used within 122 days, funds will be returned to the federal government and cannot reissued.
Summer EBT benefits can be used to purchase food at grocery stores, online food retailers, and farmer’s markets that accept SNAP EBT. To use the activated card at an approved retailer:
- Select “EBT.”
- Swipe the card.
- Enter your private PIN.
Additional issuances will be announced and sent out on May 15, June 5, June 26, July 17, August 12, and September 9.
For more information on the program or to make an application, please visit here
