New York launches Summer EBT grocery aid for eligible families through summer

New York families who have been struggling to pay for groceries may soon get some extra help.

Additional financial assistance is becoming available for eligible New Yorkers through the Summer EBT program, which provides families with $120 on an EBT card to use on groceries. The program is in its third year and is intended to help during the summer months, when many children who rely on school meals no longer have access to them.

“We really want to let families know about all the nutrition supports available to them,” said Cody Bloomfield of Hunger Solutions New York. “And we want to make sure that families understand that Summer EBT was meant to work in conjunction with Summer Meals as a support, as a complement for the program. So it’s not either or. Families can participate in both.”

Summer EBT cards will start going out this week. Bloomfield said families should watch for a letter, email or text letting them know whether their children are being automatically issued benefits.

“Most kids do get automatically issued Summer EBT benefits, but there are a subset of kids that need to apply,” Bloomfield said.

Families who expect to receive Summer EBT but do not get any notification within the next two weeks are urged to go to the state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) website and use the eligibility checker.

For families who received Summer EBT in past summers, benefits will automatically replenish on the existing card, so families should have held onto it. Bloomfield also urged families to change their PIN this year to avoid scams.

“Change the pin number on that card,” Bloomfield said. “Other states are reporting benefit theft of Summer EBT benefits. We just want to make sure that New York families are taking action to protect their benefits.”

The Summer EBT cards are not the same as SNAP cards. Benefits on the Summer EBT cards expire in 122 days, and OTDA will warn families when the money is getting close to expiring.

Bloomfield said families may also qualify for other nutrition programs. “Families can also participate in snap and wick those other federal nutrition programs if they’re eligible,” she said.