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On Dec. 23, 2022, Congress authorized Summer EBT as a permanent, nationwide program. FNS is quickly developing more guidance on Summer EBT, and we look forward to working with our partners in states and local communities as we implement this program. When school is out for summer, hunger doesn’t take a break. Summer EBT provides families whose children are eligible for free and reduced price school meals with grocery benefits on a debit-type card during the summer months. This model has been proven to decrease food insecurity among children through the Summer EBT demonstration projects. Permanent Summer EBT will help close the summer hunger gap for more than 29 million families across the country. |
FY 2019 Summer EBT Request for Applications
The Request for Applications (RFA) for the FY 2019 Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer for Children (Summer EBT) Demonstrations was posted on grants.gov on Oct. 31, 2018. The purpose of this solicitation is to competitively select and fund multi-year Summer EBT projects. The ultimate goal is to support projects that will demonstrate how Summer EBT can best be deployed as a complement to other federal, state, and local efforts to feed needy children in the summer, and operated in a way that makes efficient use of taxpayer dollars.
State agencies that have an agreement with FNS to administer the National School Lunch or School Breakfast Programs (NSLP or SBP), the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), including Indian Tribal Organizations (ITO) operating WIC are eligible to apply for this opportunity. USDA will accept applications from only one eligible state agency per state or ITO. Any state or ITO applying to use a WIC EBT system to distribute benefits must be operating WIC EBT statewide by Jan. 1, 2019 to be eligible for an award.
Letters of Intent from applicants are due by Nov. 15, 2018. USDA will invite all state agencies that submit an LOI to participate in a webinar or conference call on Nov. 27, 2018 to review obligations and expectations of the RFA as an aid in developing applications. Final applications must be uploaded on grants.gov no later than 11:59 pm EST on Jan. 2, 2019.
Previous Demonstrations
As part of its efforts to end child hunger, the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) created the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children (SEBTC) demonstration to study the use of SNAP and WIC electronic benefits transfer (EBT) technology in providing food assistance to low-income children during the summer by providing their families with more resources to use at food stores.
- 2011 Proof of Concept Year: Small-scale “proof-of-concept” demonstrations of the EBT-based approaches began in summer 2011 in two states for the WIC model (Michigan and Texas) and three states for the SNAP model (Connecticut, Missouri and Oregon). Each state provided benefits to 2,500 children in summer 2011.
- 2012 Expanded Operations and New Sites: All five proof-of-concept states are increasing operations in summer 2012 to serve 5,000 children in the 2011 demonstration areas. Four of these states (Connecticut, Missouri, Oregon and Michigan) are also serving an additional 5,000 children in new parts of their states.
In addition, five new states and Tribal Organizations will begin implementing SEBTC projects in 2012 each providing 5,000 children with benefits: Cherokee Nation (WIC), Chickasaw Nation (WIC), Nevada (WIC), Delaware (SNAP) and Washington (SNAP).
Documents Related to SEBTC
Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer for Children (SEBTC) Demonstration: A Summary Report
- Report Summary (52 KB)
- Report (2.08 MB)
Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children (SEBTC) Demonstration: Evaluation Findings for the Third Implementation Year: 2013 Final Report
- Report Summary (33 KB)
- Report (3.94 MB)
Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children (SEBTC) Demonstration: Evaluation Findings for the Full Implementation Year 2012 Final Report
- Report Summary (36 KB)
- Report (3.6 MB)
- Appendix (5.5 MB)
Congressional Status Report: Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children Demonstrations, 2012
- Full Report (1.0 MB)
- Appendices (2.2 MB)
Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children (SEBTC): Evaluation Findings for Proof-of-Concept Year - November 2012
- Report Summary (56 KB)
- Entire Report (4.22 MB)
Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer For Children: Early Experiences through June 2011 of the Proof-of-Concept Year
- Report Summary (321 KB)
- Full Report (3.54 MB)
Congressional Status Report: Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children Demonstrations, 2011
- Full Report (1.0 MB)
- Appendices (4.48 MB)
Send questions about the Summer Food for Children Demonstrations to CNDInternet@fns.usda.gov.