In a significant step to combat childhood hunger, nearly 21 million children across the United States and its territories will receive grocery benefits this summer under a historic new federal program, part of the SNAP benefits program.
The Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (Summer EBT), made permanent by Congress in December 2022, aims to bridge the gap in food access during school breaks when free and reduced-price lunches are unavailable, with the help of this kind of food stamps initiative.
Summer Food Stamps Initiative for Children in Need: Where Is It Available?
“No child in this country should go hungry,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in an interview. “They certainly shouldn’t go hungry because they lose access to nutritious school meals during the summer months.”
While this summer marks a momentous launch for Summer EBT, a few states opted out, citing insufficient time for implementation. The USDA reassured them that the program’s door remains open, with another opportunity to join the initiative for summer 2025.
So far, 21 million children are intended to be positively impacted by this program to run in 35 states, all U.S. territories and 4 tribal nations. Families at or below 185% of the federal poverty line will receive $120 per child total during the summer months.
The program will be available in the 35 states: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee. Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Also, will be implemented in the next U.S. territories: American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Guam, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands.
Finally, the next tribes will also distribute the benefits: Cherokee Nation, Chickasaw Nation, Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, and Osage Nation.
Why Aren’t All States Participating in the Summer EBT?
Several states, including Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, and Wyoming, have chosen not to participate in the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) program this year.
The decision is attributed to various reasons, such as existing programs in Nebraska, Iowa, and Oklahoma that already address summer child nutrition. Texas cites the infeasibility of implementing the program due to late USDA guidance, significant effort required for a new initiative, and the need for legislative approval and funding.
Oklahoma’s Governor, Kevin Stitt, expresses concerns about large, duplicative federal programs and emphasizes the ongoing commitment to ensuring no child in Oklahoma goes hungry, despite opting out of this specific initiative. Despite the current non-participation, it’s anticipated that some of these states may join the program in 2025.
If you consider you and your family qualify for the Summer EBT program, go to the official USDA’s website for more information.