NYS to Participate in Federal "Summer EBT" Program for Eligible Students

BoroPark24 Staff

Last Thursday, December 28, New York State announced that more than $200 million will be made available for summer meals for approximately 2 million low-income school-aged children in New York. 

The funding is a result of New York choosing to opt in to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer Program for Children (Summer EBT), bringing an allocation of more than $200 million in federal funding to New York.

The program aims to reduce hunger and food insecurity among children who cannot access free and reduced-price school meals during the summertime. Eligible families with school-age children will receive $120 per child during the summer months. Approximately 2 million New York children are expected to qualify. More information on eligibility and benefit issuance will be available in the coming months.

New York State has committed to covering 50 percent of the program's administrative costs, as required by the federal government. USDA will cover the other half.

Research has shown that providing families with summer food benefits reduces childhood hunger while promoting better nutrition. A demonstration project tested by the U.S. Department of Agriculture during the pandemic found that Summer EBT decreased the number of kids with very low food security by one-third.