DELAWARE SUMMER EBT

The new Summer EBT program helps families with school-age children buy food during the summer. Families will receive a $120 benefit for each eligible school-aged child. Benefits are loaded on an EBT card that can be used to buy groceries.

Most families will get Summer EBT benefits automatically, but some families will need to apply. Families must meet the income and program rules to be eligible.

Delaware's Summer EBT program is under development.

Important Dates:

Households can begin applying for Summer EBT in mid-July 2024 on Delaware ASSIST.
Eligible households will receive Summer EBT benefits starting in September 2024.

Who is eligible?

Your school-aged child is eligible for Summer EBT if:

Your child gets SNAP (food benefits), TANF (cash assistance), or some types of Medicaid. You may qualify through Medicaid if your household income is within the income limits for free or reduced-price school meals. OR
Your child is enrolled in a school participating in the National School Lunch Program and your household income is within the income limits for free or reduced-price school meals. OR
Your child is enrolled in a school participating in the National School Lunch Program and has the status of being in foster care, homeless, a migrant, or a runaway or is enrolled in Head Start.

You don't need to be a U.S. citizen to qualify for Summer EBT. Applying for or receiving Summer EBT does NOT affect the immigration status of your children or family.

What is the income limit?

**Summer EBT Income Limit**

**185% of the Federal Poverty Level**

**Effective July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025**
Household Size	Annual	Monthly	Twice Per Month	Every Two Weeks	Weekly
1	$27,861	$2,322	$1,161	$1,072	$536
2	$37,814	$3,152	$1,576	$1,455	$728
3	$47,767	$3,981	$1,991	$1,838	$919
4	$57,720	$4,810	$2,405	$2,220	$1,110
5	$67,673	$5,640	$2,820	$2,603	$1,302
6	$77,626	$6,469	$3,235	$2,986	$1,493
7	$87,579	$7,299	$3,650	$3,369	$1,685
8	$97,532	$8,128	$4,064	$3,752	$1,876
For each additional person, add:	$9,953	$830	$415	$383	$192

Will I get benefits automatically?

Most families eligible for Summer EBT don't need to apply. They will get benefits automatically.

You DON'T need to apply if:

Your child gets SNAP (food benefits), TANF (cash assistance), or some types of Medicaid.
Your child gets free or reduced-price meals because you completed a school meal application.
Your child is enrolled in a school participating in the National School Lunch Program and has the status of being in foster care, homeless, a migrant, or a runaway or is enrolled in Head Start.

These groups of children will get benefits automatically. You DON'T need to fill out a Summer EBT application. We will send you a letter in the mail if your child is automatically eligible.

How do I apply?

If your child does not get benefits automatically, you can fill out a Summer EBT application. The Summer EBT application will be available in mid-July 2024. You may apply online or complete a paper application and return it to the Division of Social Services.

You must meet the income and program rules to be eligible. Only children enrolled in school participating in the National School Lunch Program can qualify through an application.

How much will I get in benefits?

You will receive $120 in Summer EBT for each eligible school-aged child in your household.

When will I get my benefits?

Most eligible households will receive Summer EBT benefits starting in September 2024.

How will my benefits be sent to me?

Benefits will be loaded automatically onto SNAP EBT cards and new Summer EBT cards starting September 2024.

Households receiving SNAP (food benefits):If you have a SNAP EBT card, you will get Summer EBT benefits on your existing EBT card. You will receive the benefits for all eligible children in your household in one payment.

All other households:You will get a new Summer EBT card in the mail. You will receive the benefits for all eligible children in your household in one payment. The summer EBT card will come with information on how to activate the card and create a Personal Identification Number (PIN). We will mail new Summer EBT cards to the parent's/guardian's address on file with the school, or the address on the Summer EBT application.

How do I use my benefits?

You can use your Summer EBT benefits to buy eligible food items at stores, online retailers, and farmer's markets that accept EBT. Use the SNAP Retailer Locator to find stores near you.

Your EBT card works like a debit card. Only the people in your household can use your Summer EBT card.

You must use your Summer EBT benefits within 122 days after we load them on your card. Any unused benefits on your card will expire after 122 days.

You CAN Buy:	You CANNOT Buy:
Fruits and vegetables Meat, poultry, and fish Dairy products Breads and cereals Other foods such as snack foods and non-alcoholic beverages Seeds and plants, which produce food for your household to eat	Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes, or tobacco Vitamins, medicines, and supplements Live animals (with some exceptions) Foods that are hot at the point of sale Any nonfood items such as pet foods, cleaning supplies, paper products, household supplies, and hygiene items

What about P-EBT

Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) was a temporary program that provided food assistance to families with eligible children during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Delaware's P-EBT program ended on March 31, 2024. Summer EBT benefits will NOT be added to P-EBT cards.

You can use your P-EBT benefits until they are gone. Your P-EBT benefits will not expire if you keep using your EBT card. You can cut up and throw away your P-EBT card after using the benefits.

@DelawareDHSS on Facebook or @DelDHSS on Instagram for Summer EBT news.

Visit the USDA's SUN Bucks (Summer EBT) website to learn more about the program.

Contact Information

Summer EBT Call Center: 1-866-843-7212

Summer EBT Email: DHSS_DSS_SummerEBT@delaware.gov

Other Food Resources

You can find more food assistance resources by visiting these partners:

Nondiscrimination Statement

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Person with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA's TARGET Center at (202)720-2600 (voice or TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800)877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www/usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866)632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant's name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

Mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
Fax:
(833)256-1665 or (202)690-7442; or
Email:
Program.Intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Please do not send applications or other program documents to the address, fax or email listed above. This contact information is for civil rights complaints only.

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