The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)
The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will issue its first round of Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) benefits today.
Summer EBT is available to families with eligible school-age children to help them buy groceries during the summer months. A one-time payment of $120 will be issued for each eligible child, covering the summer period.
To align with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Summer EBT benefits can no longer be used to purchase soda or energy drinks, beginning this year. For more information on this change, visit https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Healthy-Choices-Waiver.aspx.
The first issuance will be sent to students receiving public assistance benefits through participation in SNAP, Aid to Dependent Children (ADC), Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), or an income-based Medicaid program.
Additional issuances will include eligible children as reported by school districts and any new eligibility determinations through public assistance benefits and Summer EBT applications.
Summer EBT cards will be mailed to eligible families using their registered address with DHHS or their child’s school. Cards may take up to 10 business days to arrive in the mail. Once families receive the Summer EBT card, it must be activated using the instructions mailed with the card.
Eligible families will have 122 days, or four months, to use Summer EBT benefits. The 122-day count begins the day after benefits are issued. If benefits are not used within 122 days, funds will be returned to the federal government and cannot be reissued.
Summer EBT benefits can be used to purchase food at any location that accepts SNAP EBT, including grocery stores, online food retailers, and farmer’s markets. To use the activated card at an approved retailer:
- Select “EBT.”
- Swipe the card.
- Enter the private PIN.
Families can check the balance of their Summer EBT card in multiple ways, including:
- Using the ebtEDGE app.
- Calling ebtEDGE at 877-247-6328 and entering the card number when prompted.
- Visiting https://www.ebtedge.com.
- Select the “Cardholder Portal” option.
- Enter details of the account to log in.
- If an account has not been created, select the blue “Register Here” link next to “First time logging in.”
Future Summer EBT issuances will be sent out weekly.
For questions regarding Summer EBT, call 800-383-4278, option 5, or email DHHS.SEBT@nebraska.gov. More information on the program and instructions on how to make an application can be found at https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Summer-EBT.aspx.
