SUMMER EBT
WHAT IS SUMMER EBT?
Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Program for Children (Summer EBT) will officially launch in summer 2024. Summer EBT was established as a permanent program when P-EBT ended in 2023. Summer EBT provides grocery-buying benefits to low-income families with school-aged children when schools are closed for the summer.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
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Summer EBT cards will be mailed in relatively unmarked envelopes, so make sure not to throw them out.
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Eligible families should expect to receive cards in the mail by the end of June 2024.
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NEW CARDS will be mailed to each eligible child.
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Benefits will NOT go on SNAP EBT or old P-EBT cards.
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Eligible families will receive a one-time payment of $120 per child to be spent on food at participating SNAP EBT stores.
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Benefits must be spent within 122 days , before the benefits expire. Please use the card as soon as it’s received!
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To receive status updates, see when to expect benefits, get reminders, and learn where to view your benefit amounts, sign up for text message updates through the Parent Portal.
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You can check your Summer EBT card balance online at www.connectebt.com or by calling 888-997-9444
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See below for an image of what the cards will look like
IMPORTANT:
Make sure your home address is correct in the Parent Portal to receive your card.
YOUR FAMILY WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY ENROLLED AND YOU DO NOT NEED TO APPLY IF:
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Your child was in a household receiving SNAP, TANF (Families First), or TennCare during the 2023-24 school year, OR
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Your child received free or reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) during the 2023-24 school year because you filled out an NSLP application and were approved for the program.
YOUR FAMILY WILL NOT BE AUTOMATICALLY ENROLLED AND YOU NEED TO APPLY IF:
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Your child attends a school where all kids eat for free under the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) AND you do not receive SNAP, TANF, or TennCare.
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They attended a NSLP participating school and are not directly certified and also do not have an approved NSLP application on file.
HOW TO APPLY
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Visit the DHS Parent Portal HERE by August 15, 2024, to apply for Summer EBT if your child was not automatically enrolled.
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Complete and submit the application. Approval will be based on income guidelines.
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If you need to apply and can't access the parent portal, you can call TDHS to apply by phone at 1-833-772-TDHS (8347). There is no paper application.
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Expect two weeks for benefit issuance if approved.
MY APPLICATION WASN'T APPROVED... WHAT NOW?
If your application is denied and you believe your child qualifies, you may request reconsideration in the Parent Portal. This process is only for families who submitted an application, and the deadline is July 31st, 2024. Find information about reconsiderations HERE.
NEED HELP?
For more information visit the DHS Summer EBT website or call One DHS Customer Service at 833-772-8347.
See the official Press Release from DHS for more details.
ENSURE TN ADOPTS SUMMER EBT IN 2025 & BEYOND
Tennessee has opted into the program for 2024, which will support families struggling with hunger during the summer months. Tennessee has approximately 644,000 children who would be eligible to receive the Summer EBT benefit in summer 2024. However, the State of Tennessee has said that the program will not be adopted in 2025 and beyond.
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Join the Summer EBT Alert Group (formerly P-EBT) to learn more and stay tuned for action to bring Summer EBT to TN in 2025.
Help convince decision-makers to permanently adopt this program by sharing your story!
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How have previous rounds of P-EBT helped you feed your family?
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What benefits do you see from a program like Summer EBT?
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How are you planning to use your Summer EBT benefits this summer?
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How would not having Summer EBT negatively impact your family?
Please share your story. Let's make sure TN adopts Summer EBT permanently!