USDA announced that 35 states, all five U.S. territories and four Tribes are set to be the first to initiate the new permanent summer grocery benefits program for children, known as Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT), in the summer of 2024.
Through this initiative, states will offer families $120 per eligible child for the summer, allowing them to purchase food at grocery stores, farmers markets or authorized retailers, similar to the usage of SNAP benefits. Participating tribes will provide a similar benefit for food purchases at WIC-authorized retailers.
In total, these committed states, territories and tribes are expected to serve approximately 21 million children, providing nearly $2.5 billion in grocery benefits, covering around 70% of the total eligible child population for Summer EBT. This marks the program’s inaugural year, allowing states and tribes that do not participate this summer to opt in during future opportunities. The USDA aims for nationwide availability of Summer EBT as soon as possible.
