Summer EBT provides families with a monthly grocery benefit to feed their children for three summer months (June, July, August) when children are not receiving free or reduced-price meals at school. In summer 2024, families will receive a one-time benefit of $120 for the summer for each eligible child. Benefits are distributed on an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card and can be used at any grocery store that accepts LINK cards. 

Summer 2024 is the first-time benefits for Summer EBT will be issued to eligible children and they are currently estimated to be issued in August. Families will have 120 days from issuance to use the benefits. 

Summer EBT is similar to Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) that was offered to eligible families during the pandemic, but the eligibility and application process will be slightly different and not all students who received P-EBT will automatically receive Summer EBT. Details will continue to be updated at www.wegotyouillinois.org/summer-ebt/ but some high-level questions are listed below.

Who is eligible?

  • Income Requirement: 
    • Children must be eligible for free or reduced-priced school meals, in other words they must reside in a household that has total household income at or below 185% of the federal poverty level. There are several ways to demonstrate eligibility and get connected to Summer EBT (see next section). 
  • Citizenship Requirement: 
    • No citizenship requirement. Summer EBT will not be considered under the public charge rule.

How do I apply? 

There are a couple of different ways to sign up for Summer EBT.  Please visit www.wegotyouillinois.org/summer-ebt/to get the most up-to-date information about how to get connected to Summer EBT.

If my child is enrolled in Summer EBT, can they still participate in free summer meal programs? 

Yes. You can get Summer EBT even if your child is getting free meals at school, camp, or other places this summer. The Summer Meals Site Finder will go live in May 2024 for the 2024 summer period: https://www.fns.usda.gov/meals4kids  

I am worried about receiving Summer EBT because of my immigration status. Will getting this benefit count in a public charge test? 

No. It is important to know that Summer EBT will not count in a public charge test. All students are eligible regardless of immigration status. Visit Protecting Immigrant Families (PIF) Illinois – Public Charge/Carga Publica for information about what public benefits impact the public charge test. 

For more information about Summer EBT, please visit www.wegotyouillinois.org/summer-ebt/.