USDA Issues Initial Guidance for Summer EBT

USDA has released initial guidance on Summer EBT eligibility, certification, and verification—which will begin in Summer 2024. As a reminder, summer EBT was made permanent and nationwide by Congress in the FY23 omnibus package. The program will provide $40 a month during the summer months to students who are directly certified, qualify for free and reduced-price lunch or are categorically eligible (i.e. foster care, homeless, migrant students).

Most notable for school leaders is that students who are directly certified or already enrolled in FRPL—known as streamline certification in this program—will automatically be enrolled in the program by the state and do not have to be matched against school records. Additionally, states must create a statewide form for other students who may qualify but cannot be streamline certified. These actions from USDA are based on listening sessions they held with stakeholders and aim to minimize the administrative burden on schools.

A formal Interim Final Rule for Summer EBT will be released later this year. In the meantime, USDA has released this initial guidance to help states start to plan for implementing this program.