Dear Parent or Guardian:
As part of collaborative efforts between the State and the USDA to enhance summer nutrition programs, the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Program for Children (S-EBT) or Sun Bucks will officially launch this summer. S-EBT provides grocery-buying benefits to low-income families with school-aged children when schools are closed for the summer.
S-EBT benefits will come in the form of pre-loaded cards or loaded on to existing Ohio Direction cards that families can use to purchase groceries. Beginning this summer families will receive $120 for each eligible child in the household either on your Ohio Directions card if you have one or a benefit card in the mail. You can use the money to buy food during the summer at grocery stores, farmers markets, and other approved retailers. If you receive more than $120 per eligible child in your household, do not use the benefits. Contact the Summer EBT Helpline at 1-866-244-0071, option 1 as soon as possible to confirm or correct the error.
The Summer EBT benefit will be sent by the beginning of July. Benefits will be available to use for 122 days after you receive the benefit on your Ohio Direction Card or receive the benefit card in the mail. Receiving Summer EBT will not affect children’s or families’ immigration status.
NEW S-EBT cards will be sent to the address Plymouth has on file and be delivered in plain white envelopes. Cards can be reissued but funds will not be reissued if already spent. Please note old P-EBT cards will not be used. S-EBT is a permanent program and you should keep your card for next summer as a new card will not automatically be issued.
If your household already participates in SNAP, OWF, or if income eligible and receiving Medicaid benefits, your child will automatically be enrolled to receive summer benefits. Similarly, households who have been approved for free/reduced meal benefits at their school will be submitted to automatically receive the summer benefit with no further action. Students will be submitted for benefits if the student was enrolled during the 23-24 school year and was eligible to eat breakfast or lunch under the National School Lunch Program. The eligibility window for households is from July 1st 2023-August 16, 2024. If households met any of the above eligibility requirements within this time frame, they are eligible and will automatically be submitted to receive benefits, they don't need to take any action to receive these benefits.
If your address has changed this year be sure to update it with your school district or benefit issuance agency (SNAP, Medicaid, OWF) to ensure your benefit card is sent to the right address. If you do not wish to take part in Summer EBT, do not use the card. The benefits will expire after 122 days.
In addition to Summer EBT, children under 18 years of age in your household can also receive free meals during the summer at a summer meal site. You can call 1-866-3-HUNGRY or 1-877-8-HAMBRE (or text 914-342-7744 with the keyword “summer meals”) to find the location closest to you.
If you have questions, you can contact the Summer EBT helpline at 1-866-244-0071, option 1.