Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (Summer EBT)

Summer EBT — officially called the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer Program and marketed to families as SUN Bucks — is a federal child nutrition program that provides $120 per eligible child in grocery benefits each summer to families whose children qualify for free or reduced-price school meals. Authorized by Section 12 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. § 1762), the program was created in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 as a permanent successor to the Pandemic EBT program that served families during school closures. Benefits are delivered via EBT cards (in states using the SNAP infrastructure) or WIC-type food vouchers (in tribal programs), and can be used to purchase groceries at authorized retailers during the summer months when school meal programs are not operating. Implementing regulations are at 7 CFR Part 292.

Current Rule (2026)

What This Rule Does

Summer EBT addresses a nutritional cliff that families with school-age children face every June: when school ends, so does access to federally funded free and reduced-price breakfasts and lunches that millions of low-income children depend on. Summer feeding programs (the Summer Food Service Program and the Seamless Summer Option) partially fill the gap, but reaching children who aren't near a participating site has always been a challenge. The Pandemic EBT program, created during COVID-19 school closures, demonstrated that direct EBT benefits to households were an effective way to ensure children had food regardless of geography — Summer EBT makes that approach permanent.

USDA provides $120 per eligible child in EBT benefits — the equivalent of roughly $40/month for three summer months — that families can use at authorized grocery stores and retailers to purchase foods of their choice. This is a household benefit, not a site-based benefit, which distinguishes it from summer meal programs that require children to travel to a physical site. The $120 is calculated as approximately two-thirds of the value of three months of school meals (reflecting that the benefit supplements, rather than replaces, other food sources).

The program is administered through a two-tier structure: FNS funds and oversees; state and tribal agencies ("Summer EBT agencies") administer on the ground. In states that use the SNAP EBT infrastructure, benefits flow through the same card system as SNAP; in Indian Tribal Organizations (ITOs) that choose to participate, benefits are delivered through WIC-approved retailers using WIC supplemental food categories. This flexibility accommodates both large state EBT infrastructures and smaller tribal food distribution networks.

Participation became mandatory for all states starting FY 2025. States must designate one or more Summer EBT agencies and submit an operational plan to FNS. FNS pays 100% of eligible benefit costs, plus an administrative contribution of up to 8% of benefits for system costs, technical assistance, and outreach.

Key Provisions

• § 292.1 — Purpose and scope: FNS administers Summer EBT; states and Indian Tribal Organizations participate by designating Summer EBT agencies and submitting approved plans; FNS provides benefit cost payments and administrative support
• § 292.2 — Definitions: "Summer EBT agency" is the state or ITO entity designated to operate the program; "summer operational period" is the summer period designated in the agency's plan; "Indian Tribal Organization" includes tribal governments and tribal organizations
• § 292.3 — Administration: FNS sets program rules and provides funding; the Governor or appropriate tribal authority designates Summer EBT agencies; agencies submit plans to FNS for approval before operating
• § 292.12 — Enrolling eligible children: agencies must inform families of their rights and available benefits in accessible language, including the USDA nondiscrimination statement; automatic enrollment (rather than requiring families to apply) is encouraged where technically feasible
• § 292.13 — Application requirements: beginning in 2025, Summer EBT agencies must provide applications to every household with children attending NSLP or SBP participating schools, for any children not already automatically enrolled; applications must be available in languages reflecting the community served
• § 292.14 — Verification: agencies must conduct "for-cause" verification when information appears conflicting or suspicious; verification must be completed within 30 days; routine mass re-verification of all participants is not permitted
• § 292.15 — General standards: agencies must issue benefits to eligible children during the summer operational period; year-round schools require USDA approval for adjusted timing; agencies must meet FNS performance standards
• § 292.16 — SNAP-administered states: states operating SNAP must deliver Summer EBT through SNAP EBT infrastructure with secure issuance systems; benefits must be issued on time, in the right amount, and tracked accurately; benefits may be delivered at the start of the operational period (rather than incrementally)
• § 292.17 — Retailer integrity for SNAP states: retailers accepting Summer EBT must meet the same standards as SNAP-authorized retailers; FNS may deny or revoke retailer authorization for violations; trafficking in Summer EBT benefits is treated the same as SNAP trafficking
• § 292.18 — Territories (Nutrition Assistance Program): territories running NAP instead of SNAP may issue Summer EBT benefits redeemable only by the eligible household at NAP-approved retailers
• § 292.19 — ITO Summer EBT agencies: Indian tribal organizations deliver benefits through WIC-approved retailers using WIC supplemental food categories; agencies must use benefit delivery infrastructure compatible with their WIC system
• § 292.20 — Federal payments: USDA pays 100% of eligible benefit dollars as grants under 2 CFR Part 200; administrative funds are up to 8% of the value of benefits issued for systems, technical assistance, and outreach; smaller agencies (those operating in states with under 100,000 eligible children) may qualify for additional administrative support
• § 292.22 — Performance criteria: agencies must track and report four metrics: (1) percent of eligible children who redeemed benefits at least once, (2) percent who redeemed at least 50% of their benefits, (3) benefit redemption rate, and (4) accuracy of benefit issuance
• § 292.23 — Records: agencies and local education agencies (LEAs) must maintain records for 3 years after the end of the federal fiscal year in which benefits were issued; records may be paper or electronic
• § 292.26 — Hearings: families may appeal adverse decisions within 90 days after the end of the summer operational period; agencies must maintain a fair hearing process meeting FNS standards
• § 292.27 — Claims: agencies must ensure benefits go only to eligible children in correct amounts; errors include benefits to ineligible children, incorrect amounts, or duplicates; agencies must conduct error rate monitoring and recovery

How It Affects You

If you have school-age children who receive free or reduced-price school meals: Your family should automatically receive Summer EBT benefits (marketed as "SUN Bucks") each summer without needing to apply — the program is designed to enroll children who are already in the free and reduced-price meal system automatically. Watch for a notice from your school district or state Summer EBT agency in late spring explaining how and when benefits will be issued. Benefits are $120 per eligible child, added to an EBT card that works at most grocery stores and many retailers that accept SNAP. If you believe your child is eligible but did not receive benefits, contact your state's Summer EBT agency or your child's school directly — agencies are required to have a hearing and complaint process. Benefits can be used to purchase most foods (same categories as SNAP), not just specific items.

If you live in a state that participates in SNAP: Summer EBT benefits may be added to your existing SNAP EBT card, or you may receive a separate SUN Bucks EBT card for Summer EBT. Check your state's Summer EBT agency website — most states began operating in Summer 2024, and all states are required to participate beginning Summer 2025. Benefit timing varies: some states load the full $120 per child at the start of summer; others issue monthly installments. Benefits expire at the end of the summer season and do not carry over.

If you work at a school, school district, or community organization: Schools play a central role in Summer EBT because eligibility is tied to free and reduced-price meal certification. Schools should expect Summer EBT agencies (typically the state education department's nutrition office or a state social services agency) to request enrollment data for eligible children. Schools in states with high opt-out rates from school meal programs may want to actively promote Summer EBT enrollment to ensure families who would otherwise qualify are aware and enrolled. Partnering with your state's Summer EBT agency on outreach — especially to families of children in rural areas or areas with limited SNAP retail coverage — can improve the program's impact.

If you're a state agency administrator: Summer EBT became mandatory starting FY 2025. If your state did not participate in FY 2024, you are required to establish a program for summer 2025. FNS covers 100% of benefit costs and up to 8% administrative reimbursement. States already operating SNAP EBT infrastructure have the lowest implementation burden; the primary challenge is accurate enrollment matching (identifying eligible children from school meal records and getting benefits to their households). FNS offers technical assistance and model materials through the Child Nutrition Programs portal.

Statutory Authority

This rule implements:

• 42 U.S.C. § 1762 — Section 12 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act: establishes the Summer EBT Program; directs USDA to administer the program; authorizes $120 per eligible child per summer (indexed); defines eligibility (free/reduced-price meal qualification); sets state participation as mandatory after FY 2024; authorizes federal payment of 100% of benefit costs and administrative contributions; directs FNS to establish performance standards and reporting requirements

Recent Rulemakings

88 FR 90355 (December 27, 2023) — Final rule establishing 7 CFR Part 292, implementing the Summer EBT program for the first time. Set eligibility standards, delivery options (SNAP EBT vs. WIC-type vouchers for ITOs), federal payment structure, verification requirements, and performance criteria. Applicable beginning FY 2024 for participating states; mandatory beginning FY 2025.

90 FR 24508 (2025) — Subsequent amendment updating program requirements based on the first year of implementation, including clarifications on application procedures, retailer integrity standards, and administrative reporting timelines.

Recent Developments

• First year of implementation (FY2024): Summer EBT launched operationally in summer 2024, with the majority of states choosing to participate. Early participation data showed high benefit redemption rates, consistent with research on the pilot Pandemic-EBT program that preceded Summer EBT. States that opted for the direct route (distributing benefits through existing SNAP EBT infrastructure) achieved faster implementation than states requiring new administrative systems.
• State opt-out decisions: Summer EBT is a state option (not a state mandate) until FY2026, when participation becomes required for states with SNAP programs. A small number of states opted out for FY2024 and FY2025, citing administrative cost and complexity concerns. The political dynamics of opt-out decisions in conservative-leaning states mirrored similar debates over Medicaid expansion — federal benefit expansion with significant state administrative burden.
• ITO and territory participation: Indian Tribal Organizations and U.S. territories face distinct administrative pathways for Summer EBT, as many do not use the same SNAP EBT systems as states. The FY2023 final rule included WIC-type voucher delivery as an alternative for ITOs that administer FDPIR rather than SNAP. Several large ITOs began implementing Summer EBT programs for reservation children in FY2024.
• Benefit amount and inflation: The $120 per eligible child Summer EBT benefit (set at the 2023 statutory amount) covers approximately 30 days of nutritional needs at current USDA food plan cost estimates. As food prices have increased, the benefit's purchasing power has been debated. Future Farm Bill or appropriations legislation could adjust the benefit level; the current amount is set by statute and requires Congressional action to change.

Pending Action

Summer EBT becomes mandatory for all states with SNAP programs beginning FY2026, the key near-term deadline. States that opted out of FY2024 and FY2025 must establish the administrative infrastructure to distribute Summer EBT by summer 2026. FNS will conduct state plan reviews and approvals in late 2025 and early 2026; states that have not yet begun implementation planning should contact their FNS regional office immediately. Congressional proposals to increase the $120 per-child benefit amount would require statutory change — watch appropriations and Farm Bill negotiations for proposed adjustments. The benefit level's purchasing power will erode with food price inflation unless Congress acts.