According to USDA (United States Department of Agriculture), summer EBT benefits are a program to help eligible families with school children. These families receive 40 dollars per month per child when there is no school.
Eligible families receive $40 dollars to buy groceries. In this way, the United States reduces child poverty and fights food insecurity. The best thing about summer EBT benefits is that you can also get SNAP benefits.
Not only do summer EBT benefits work together with SNAP, but they also work together with summer meal sites and WIC. While SNAP has been going on for many years, these summer benefits are becoming permanent in 2024.
WHY IS SNAP DIFFERENT FROM SUMMER EBT BENEFITS?
SNAP is available all year round as long as you qualify for monthly payments. However, summer EBT benefits are only available during the summer months, when there is no school.
Obviously, they have several things in common. For example, you can use the money from these summer benefits to buy in SNAP-eligible stores in the States.
The things you can buy using Food Stamp benefits and summer EBT benefits are exactly the same. Therefore, you can buy fruits, vegetables, dairy products, bread, cereals, metal, fish, poultry, and so on.
WHAT IF I ONLY QUALIFY FOR FOOD STAMP BENEFITS?
Families with a low income that do not have school children will not collect summer EBT benefits. As they are not eligible, they can check if they can receive Food Stamps benefits.
Bear in mind that to get SNAP benefits you must be a resident or have a legal status. Income requirements are mandatory. So, if you struggle to buy food, you may want to apply so the Food Stamp office can check your eligibility.
There are both general and specific work requirements. For example, if you are aged 18-52, you may have to work for at least 80 hours per month to get SNAP for more than 3 months. Unless you get an exemption, you will not get Food Stamps for long.
