New Jersey Encourages Families to Apply for Summer EBT Program

More than 550,000 children already receiving benefits as state promotes new food assistance program for low-income families.

New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Ed Wengryn today urged families who have not yet applied to take advantage of the new Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (Summer EBT) program. This initiative, now a permanent, nationwide USDA program, provides food dollars to low-income families with school-aged children during the summer months. New Jersey is among 37 states participating in the program.

Under the Summer EBT program, New Jersey families receive $120 per eligible child to buy nutritious food at grocery stores, farmers markets, and other authorized retailers, similar to SNAP benefits. The total Summer EBT distribution in New Jersey is projected to exceed $66 million in federal food security benefits. Currently, more than 550,000 children in 722 participating school food authorities are benefiting from the program as the school year concludes.

Eligibility for the program is determined by school districts participating in the National School Lunch and National School Breakfast Programs. Eligible students must meet the income threshold for federal free and reduced-price meals, including those attending schools offering free meals to all students through the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). Additionally, students enrolled in SNAP, TANF, or foster care are eligible for Summer EBT regardless of their school.

Applications for Summer EBT benefits will be accepted throughout the summer. Families can apply by contacting their local school district. The Department of Human Services’ Division of Family Development is issuing new benefit cards to eligible families, with each child receiving their own card. The $120 per child on each card can be used immediately and will cover purchases allowed under SNAP.

Recipients can check their account balance by visiting www.NJFamiliesFirst.com or calling the phone number on the back of their card. The funding is issued one time and is intended for use over the summer months.

For more information on New Jersey’s Summer EBT program, including eligibility criteria and application details, visit the State’s Summer EBT website at https://www.nj.gov/summerebt/.