Summer EBT in New Jersey: Who Qualifies and How to Apply
Summer EBT in New Jersey: Who Qualifies and How to Apply
When school closes for summer, many children lose regular access to school breakfast and lunch. New Jersey Summer EBT helps eligible families purchase groceries during this period.
For summer 2026, each eligible child receives a one-time benefit of $120 on a separate Summer EBT card. The card can be used for eligible groceries at stores, farmers markets, and online retailers that accept SNAP.
Many children receive the benefit automatically. However, some families must submit a School Meals and Summer EBT Application through their local school district.
Who Automatically Qualifies for Summer EBT?
A child may automatically qualify without a separate Summer EBT application if the child or household already participates in an eligible assistance program.
For summer 2026, automatic eligibility may include children whose households received:
- NJ SNAP
- Work First New Jersey/TANF
- Income-eligible Medicaid
- Foster-care assistance
Children attending a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program may also qualify automatically if they were approved for federal free or reduced-price school meals. Children identified through their school as homeless, migrant, runaway, in foster care, or enrolled in a district-operated Head Start program may also qualify.
Families who qualify automatically do not need to submit another application. However, they should make sure the school district or benefit agency has their correct mailing address.
Good to Know
Summer EBT is not loaded onto a household’s regular Families First card. New Jersey sends a separate card for each eligible child.
Which Families Need to Apply?
A family may need to apply when the child attends a school that participates in the federal school-meal programs but the child has not already been individually approved for federal free or reduced-price meals.
This commonly applies when:
- The household does not receive SNAP, TANF, income-eligible Medicaid, or foster-care assistance.
- The family did not previously submit a school-meals application.
- The child receives free meals because the entire school provides them, but the child has not been individually determined eligible.
- The family’s income recently decreased and may now fall within the federal limit.
Families should request the School Meals and Summer EBT Application from their child’s school district. Applications may be available through the district website or as a paper form from the school. New Jersey announced that applications for summer 2026 will continue to be accepted throughout the summer.
What If the School Gives Every Student Free Meals?
Some schools participate in the Community Eligibility Provision, commonly called CEP. These schools provide free meals to every student without requiring each family to submit an income application.
However, attending a CEP school does not automatically make every child eligible for Summer EBT.
A family at a CEP school should submit the School Meals and Summer EBT Application if the child is not already directly eligible through SNAP, TANF, qualifying Medicaid, foster care, or another approved status. The school district will use the application to determine whether the household meets the federal income guidelines.
Common Mistake
Free meals for every student at a CEP school and individual Summer EBT eligibility are not the same thing. Families may still need to apply.
What Are the Income Rules?
Summer EBT uses the federal income standard for free and reduced-price school meals. A household generally must have income at or below 185% of the federal poverty level unless the child qualifies automatically through another program or eligible status.
New Jersey provides school meals at no cost to some students whose household income is above the federal Summer EBT limit. These students may receive free meals under New Jersey’s expanded school-meal rules but still be ineligible for Summer EBT.
Therefore, receiving free meals at school does not always mean the child will automatically receive a Summer EBT card.
What About Homeschooled Children or Children in Nonparticipating Schools?
Children who are homeschooled or attend a school that does not participate in the National School Lunch or School Breakfast Program cannot generally qualify by submitting a school-meals application.
However, they may qualify automatically if:
- They are between ages 6 and 16; and
- Their household participated in SNAP, TANF, income-eligible Medicaid, or foster care during the applicable school-year eligibility period.
Families in this situation should make sure their county social-service agency or other benefit agency has the correct address.
Children who only attend daycare do not qualify for Summer EBT based on daycare participation.
How to Apply for NJ Summer EBT
Step 1: Contact the school district
Ask the district for its School Meals and Summer EBT Application. Look under food services, school nutrition, or parent resources on the district website.
Step 2: Complete the household information
The application may ask for:
- The names of children in the household
- Other household members
- Household income and how often it is received
- SNAP or TANF information, when applicable
- An adult household member’s signature
Follow the district’s instructions and answer every required question.
Step 3: Return the application to the district
Submit the form online or return the paper application to the school. The school district will determine whether the child meets the federal eligibility rules.
If the application is approved, the family does not need to complete a separate state Summer EBT application.
How Do Families Receive the Benefit?
New Jersey mails a new Summer EBT card for each eligible child. For children attending participating schools, the card is sent to the address provided by the school. For eligible children in nonparticipating schools or homeschool settings, it is generally sent using the address held by the qualifying benefit agency.
Cards for summer 2026 were scheduled to be mailed by the end of June, although delivery may take several weeks. Families must activate the card before using it.
What Can the Card Buy?
Summer EBT follows the same basic food-purchase rules as SNAP. Families may buy items such as:
- Fruits and vegetables
- Meat, poultry, and fish
- Beans
- Milk and cheese
- Bread, rice, tortillas, and cereal
- Seeds and plants that produce food
The card may be used in person or online at participating SNAP-authorized retailers. It cannot be used for delivery charges, household products, hot prepared food, alcohol, tobacco, or other items that SNAP does not cover.
When Do Summer EBT Benefits Expire?
Summer EBT funds must be used within 122 days, or approximately four months, from the date the benefits are loaded.
The countdown begins when the money is issued—not when the family receives or activates the card. Any unused balance is removed after 122 days and cannot be reissued.
Quick Tip
Check the card balance soon after it arrives and begin using the benefit promptly. Do not rely on the expiration year printed on the physical card.
What If Your Address Changed or the Card Did Not Arrive?
If the child attends a participating school, contact the school district to confirm:
- The child’s eligibility status
- The address used for mailing
- The date of birth listed for the child
If the child is homeschooled or does not attend a participating school, contact the appropriate county agency or the state Summer EBT program.
For card activation, balances, PIN changes, lost cards, or replacement requests, call EBT Card Customer Service at 1-800-997-3333. The general NJ Summer EBT Hotline is 1-833-670-7328.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Summer EBT reduce SNAP or other benefits?
No. Summer EBT is separate and does not reduce SNAP, WIC, school meals, or other benefits.
Does every child receive $120?
Each eligible child receives a one-time $120 benefit. A household with two eligible children may receive two separate cards totaling $240.
Do families need to apply every year?
Eligibility is reviewed each year, and eligible students receive a new card each summer. Families who are not automatically eligible should complete the school-meals application each school year.
Can a child receive benefits from two states?
No. A child cannot receive Summer EBT from more than one state during the same summer. Families moving between states should contact the Summer EBT program before using duplicate benefits.