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Thousands of New York families might be leaving millions of dollars on the table when it comes to summer food benefits.
To combat hunger while schools are closed, the state’s Summer EBT program sends eligible families $120 per child in food benefits. Last year, the state issued about $237 million in benefits to families, but about $62 million — or 26% — remained unspent during the 122-day window families had to use them, according to records obtained by David Rubel, an education consultant who tracks Summer EBT rates.
That money could have fed about 518,000 children in need, the data showed.
Instead of going to struggling families, Rubel said, the money reverted back to the federal government.
More people across the country are going hungry now than at the height of the COVID pandemic, according to a May survey from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. In New York City, 1 in 4 children experiences food insecurity, food rescue group City Harvest estimates.
Advocates and educators are concerned about an increase in hunger as new federal work requirements to qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, took effect in March. Food pantry lines have lengthened this summer, Gothamist reported Wednesday.
Under federal guidelines, children are eligible for the Summer EBT program if they attend a school that offers free lunch and meet household income requirements for free or reduced-price school meals. The income limits vary by household size. A family of four qualifies with an annual income at or below $61,050, for example.
Families who receive SNAP or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families benefits, or who are enrolled in Medicaid, automatically receive the funds. Other families who qualify based on income must apply. Last year, roughly 99% of Summer EBT recipients were enrolled automatically because they qualified through SNAP, Medicaid, or information provided by the state Education Department, officials said.
Families have until Sept. 8 to apply for the food benefits.
Lost your Summer EBT card? How to claim your benefits
Nearly 1.6 million children from low-income families have received $189 million in summer food assistance through the program, said Darren O’Sullivan, spokesperson for the state’s Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, or OTDA, which oversees the program.
“At a time when vital nutrition programs like SNAP face continued attacks in Washington, Summer EBT puts money back in the pockets of New York’s working families, helping them afford to buy healthy food during the summer months when schools are out of session and many children lose access to free school meals,” O’Sullivan wrote in a statement to Chalkbeat.
The benefits for all eligible families are loaded onto a child’s Summer EBT card and can be used wherever SNAP or EBT benefits are accepted. Last year, families were supposed to use cards they were sent in 2024. Rubel said he worries that some families may not have realized that or may have lost their cards.
This year, however, the state is sending new cards to families that did not spend any of their food benefits last year.
Families can also request a replacement card either online or by phone (1-888-328-6399). Cards take about a week to arrive, state officials said.
Rubel is hopeful that less money will be left on the table this year if families understand they can get replacement cards. He praised OTDA for stepping up its outreach efforts.
Besides mailing eligibility letters to families before issuing the benefits, the agency is also texting reminders to use the benefits, sending texts and emails with other important Summer EBT updates, and scaling up a public awareness campaign at Thruway rest stops and Department of Motor Vehicles locations.
Rubel, however, felt that the city’s Education Department missed an opportunity to promote the initiative by not sending home a letter with students before the school year ended.
Education Department officials told Chalkbeat that information about the benefits would be reiterated to families through a flyer included in this week’s “Principal’s Digest” newsletter, which is emailed to all principals. The department also plans to share the information directly with students and on its social media channels.
Amy Zimmer is the bureau chief for Chalkbeat New York. Contact Amy at [email protected].
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The post How NYC Families Can Use Summer EBT Benefits To Put Food on the Table appeared first on The City Reporter.
