New York State's Summer EBT Program Provides Lifeline to Low-Income Families

Governor Kathy Hochul recently announced that 1.6 million low-income children have already received summer food assistance totaling $194 million as part of the 2025 Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer, Summer EBT, program. The program provides $120 per child to eligible families to help pay for healthy food during the summer months when children might not have access to free school meals. "While Federal Republicans are slashing vital nutrition assistance programs like SNAP, Summer EBT helps millions of children in New York State maintain a healthy diet at a time when they don't have access to free school meals," Governor Hochul said.

Key Takeaways:

• The Summer EBT program provides $120 per child to eligible families in New York State to help pay for healthy food during the summer months.
• 1.6 million low-income children have already received summer food assistance totaling $194 million as of the announcement.
• Benefits will continue to be issued throughout the summer, and an estimated 2.2 million school-aged children are expected to receive over $250 million in food assistance by the end of the program.
• The program has shown that providing families with summer food benefits reduces childhood hunger and promotes better nutrition in research, including a demonstration project tested by the USDA during the pandemic.
• Eligible children receive Summer EBT food benefits on an EBT card that their families can use to buy food like fruits, vegetables, meat, whole grains, and dairy at authorized retail food stores, farmers markets, and anywhere else SNAP is accepted.
• Research has shown that Summer EBT decreased the number of kids with very low food security by one-third in a demonstration project tested by the USDA during the pandemic.
• The program is available to low-income families, and nearly all eligible households receive benefits automatically, with some needing to apply prior to the September 4 deadline.

Statistical Breakdown:

• $194 million: Total summer food assistance provided to 1.6 million low-income children as of the announcement.
• $120: Amount provided per child to eligible families to help pay for healthy food during the summer months.
• 2.2 million: Estimated number of school-aged children expected to receive over $250 million in food assistance by the end of the program.
• 122 days: Duration for which Summer EBT food benefits are available on Summer EBT food benefits cards.

Sources:

• Office of the Governor of New York
• New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance
• No Kid Hungry New York