2025 SEBT for Community-level Advocates

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1	Summer EBT Information for Community Advocates
2	Last updated:	October 2, 2025
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5	Page Navigation
6	Purpose	Data Sources	Information	Other Resources for Advocates
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9	Purpose	[back to top]
10	The purpose of this document is to share state-level Summer EBT (SEBT)/SUN Bucks information that may be helpful for community advocates who want to understand how Summer EBT/SUN Bucks will operate in their area and help families access benefits, including understanding whether or not they need to apply. This information reflects the key areas where program details differ across states/territories/tribes.
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13	Data Sources	[back to top]
14	The state-level information in this document has been collected from two sources: - USDA Plan for Operations & Management data (https://www.fns.usda.gov/sebt/implementation) - Manual data collection by the No Kid Hungry (NKH) team Please note that this information is accurate to the best of our knowledge, and that information about SEBT may change over time. To the extent possible, the NKH team will keep information up to date. If you notice any incorrect information, please use the form below to request changes:
15	https://forms.gle/tznFSG7PL9rmNM87A
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18	Information	[back to top]
19	The following data points are in the "All Places" tab of this spreadsheet.
20	Where information about a state/territory/tribe is missing, we are anticipating additional details soon.
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22	Data Point	Description
23	State Name	Name of the state/territory/tribe. "State" is used as shorthand to refer to states, territories, and tribes throughout the document.
24	Participation Status	Whether or not the state/territory/tribe is participating in SEBT in summer 2025.
25	Program Name	Name of the SEBT program. States are generally using either "Summer EBT" or "SUN Bucks" as the SEBT program name.
26	State SEBT Website	State's/territory's/tribe's SEBT website. For more state-specific information, please utilize these websites.
27	State SEBT Hotline	State's/territory's/tribe's SEBT phone number. Required for all SEBT agencies.
28	Eligibility Checker	A tool that helps families determine if their children qualify for Summer EBT benefits and if they need to submit an application.
29	Planned Benefits Issuance Date	The month that benefits should be issued for households that are streamline certified (i.e., automatically eligible) for SEBT. Note: This is an approximation based on State's websites.
30	Cards Used for SEBT Benefit Issuance	Whether new or existing electronic benefits transfer (EBT) cards will be used for SEBT benefits.
31	Last Day to Apply for Summer 2025	In most places, this is the last day of the SEBT summer operational period (i.e., the period between school years). Families that must apply for SEBT for summer 2025 must do so by the end of the summer operational period. Where known, the last day to apply is noted.
32	Planned Date for Application to Go Live	Families whose children are not automatically eligible for SEBT must apply. Some places are not making applications available immediately, so, where known, we have included the planned go-live date for applications.
33	Application Process	The availability/location of applications. Most States have electronic applications available.
34	Programs Used to Automatically Issue Benefits in Summer 2025	Federal or state programs/benefits used to confer automatic eligibility for SEBT as indicated on the State's website. All states must confer automatic eligibility to children participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP; formerly food stamps) and those who have an approved free/reduced-price school meal application on file.
35	Age Range for Compulsory Education	Relevant for children who DO NOT attend a school participating in NSLP/SBP but who may be eligible because their household receives SNAP or another benefit program that automatically qualifies children. Children in this situation only must be within this age range to receive Summer EBT/SUN Bucks benefit.
36	Benefit Amount	Benefit amount per child.
37	Expungement date	Unused benefits are automatically returned to the USDA after they remain on a participant's card for 122 days (roughly four months) from the date the benefits are initially loaded onto the card. Benefits expire on a rolling basis, which means that each benefit amount expires individually based on its own issuance date rather than an entire state's benefits expiring at once. Once benefits have been expunged from a participant's card, they are permanently removed and cannot be reissued.
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39	Other Resources for Advocates		[back to top]
40	Summer EBT 101
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