Summer EBT: Food Benefits for Eligible Children During the Summer Months

If your child got free or reduced price meals through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) at their school this year, they automatically qualify for Summer EBT.

Your child will also qualify for Summer EBT if they are school-aged (born between July 1, 2005, and August 29, 2018) and part of a household that participated in one of these programs during the school year:

• FoodShare
• Wisconsin Works (W-2)
• The Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)
• An income-based Medicaid program (See Medicaid in Wisconsin: A-Z, P-02383)

Wisconsin will send out Summer EBT benefits automatically to as many families as possible.

We will use data from schools, the Department of Public Instruction, and the Department of Children and Families to find children who qualify. If we find that your child is eligible for Summer EBT, we will send benefits automatically and notify you by mail.

If you want to make sure we have the correct address for your family, you can use our Benefit Management Tool. If your address has changed, try to update your information by before benefits are sent out.

If your child qualifies for Summer EBT, we will send you a letter. This letter will tell you that they are qualified and, if you have more than one eligible child, you will see the total benefit amount you will be sent.

Talk to your school first. Find out if your school is part of the National School Lunch Program. If it is, you can apply for Free or Reduced Price Lunch (FRPL). If your child is approved for FRPL, you will be able to get Summer EBT for them.

If your school provides free lunches to every student and families don’t need to apply for FRPL, then your child has to have an alternate household income form on file with the school. This will show if your family meets the income limits for Summer EBT. You can submit one and see if you qualify. Your school can give you a form.

If your school doesn’t participate in the National School Lunch Program or you homeschool, you can apply for one of the qualifying assistance programs.

• FoodShare
• Wisconsin Works (W-2)
• The Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)
• An income-based Medicaid program (See Medicaid in Wisconsin: A-Z, P-02383)

If your family is approved for one or more of these programs by August 29, 2024, you will get Summer EBT. You can learn more about other state benefit programs by calling 211, visiting the ACCESS website, or by contacting your local or tribal agency.

If you do not get benefits when they are first sent out in late June and you think you should have, you can email us at dhssebtsupport@wi.gov. If we do not have the information we need to know if your child is eligible, you may need to apply for Summer EBT.

Yes. We will send benefits to as many families as possible in June. If we get your information after that, we will still send your benefits. Over the summer we will be sending benefits to families as we get their information.

It depends. If your child goes to a NSLP school and they get free or reduced meals (breakfast, lunch, or both) they qualify for Summer EBT.

If they met one of the other requirements and were born on or after July 1, 2005, your child qualifies. If they were born before then, they will not get benefits.

The income limits for Summer EBT are the same as the limits for reduced price meals. The table below shows the income limits. To meet the income limits, you must make the same or less than the amount shown in the row for your household size.

If you think your child qualifies for Summer EBT benefits but you don’t want them, you can opt out through our Benefit Management Tool. Opting out means we will not send you Summer EBT benefits this summer.

Your Summer EBT benefits will be put onto a card. If you already have a QUEST card or a P-EBT card from the COVID-19 pandemic, we will put the benefits on that card. If you do not already have a card, we will mail you a new QUEST card.

To check the balance on your card, go to the ebtEDGE website or use the ebtEDGE mobile app. If you lose your card, call QUEST Card Service at 877-415-5164.

Yes. If your household already has a QUEST card, we will be automatically adding the benefits to that card. The Summer EBT benefits will show up differently on your account if you go into ACCESS.

Your Summer EBT benefits can be used wherever FoodShare benefits are accepted. This includes grocery stores, convenience stores, some farmers markets, and some online retailers. You can use the benefits to buy certain food items, including:

• Bread and cereals
• Fruits and vegetables
• Meat, fish, and poultry
• Dairy products
• Snack foods

See a detailed list of items you can and cannot buy with your benefits.

Once you are issued the $120 in benefits for each child, you have 122 days (about 4 months) to use them. Any benefits that you have not used after that time will be removed from your card. You will get reminders in the mail before we remove any benefits from your card.

Please remember that you cannot give your card to someone else. It is illegal to sell, trade, or give your Summer EBT benefits to another person.

Yes. If your child gets Summer EBT benefits, they can still participate in other summer meal programs. Two programs like this are the Summer Food Service Program and the Seamless Summer Option. To learn more about meal sites near you, visit wisummerfood.org or call 211. You can also text ‘food’ to 304-304.

You have the right to request a fair hearing. A fair hearing allows you to tell why you think there has been a wrong decision about your application or benefits. At the hearing, a hearing officer will hear from you and the agency. They will then determine if the decision was right or wrong. You may bring a friend or family member with you to the hearing.

To request a fair hearing, you will need to send either a fair hearing request form or a letter asking for a hearing to the Division of Hearings & Appeals, PO Box 7875, Madison, WI 53707. You can also fax it to 608-264-9885.

You may be able to get free legal help for the hearing. To learn more about legal help, call 888-278-0633.