Families across New York City are starting to see a little extra grocery money land in their mailboxes and on their cards this week, as the Summer EBT program rolls out with a one-time $120 benefit for each eligible school-age child. The idea is simple: help cover the meals kids lose when school cafeterias close for summer, at a time when food prices are still squeezing household budgets.
The New York City Council announced on X that “Summer EBT kicks off today,” underscoring that the program will provide $120 per child in grocery benefits to qualifying families; see the Council’s post on X. According to ACCESS NYC, most eligible students should start seeing Summer EBT money deposited on their cards beginning June 16, 2026, with benefits continuing to be issued through the end of the year. City and state officials are urging families to check the Eligibility Tool or call the helpline if they do not receive a notice.
Summer EBT kicks off today! Providing $120 per child in grocery benefits to eligible families across New York!
- New York City Council (@NYCCouncil) June 13, 2026
Summer EBT empieza hoy! ¡Proporcionando $120 por niño en beneficios de supermercado a las familias elegibles en todo Nueva
Who qualifies and how it works
Most children ages 6 to 16 who received SNAP, Temporary Assistance, or Medicaid during the eligibility period, or who were directly certified for free or reduced-price school meals, will be enrolled automatically and issued the $120 benefit on a Summer EBT card. Families in that group do not need to apply.
Students who are not enrolled automatically but attend a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program can still apply if their household income falls within the free or reduced-price meal limits for the current program year. The full eligibility rules and income guidelines are outlined by New York State OTDA.
When the money arrives and how to use it
ACCESS NYC notes that starting June 16, most eligible households should see funds loaded onto existing Summer EBT cards, while some families will receive a new preloaded card by mail. The money works much like SNAP: benefits can be used at grocery stores, farmers’ markets, and SNAP-authorized online retailers.
There is a catch to keep in mind. Any unused Summer EBT benefits expire 122 days after they are issued, so families are encouraged to spend the funds in a timely way. City guidance directs cardholders to the ebtEDGE portal for checking balances and to the Summer EBT helpline for help with card activation.
How to check or apply
The state’s Summer EBT application website includes an online Eligibility Tool that lets families see whether a child is already enrolled. Applications for 2026 are being accepted through September 8, 2026. The portal uses a single application for all students in a household and offers paper forms and multilingual assistance for families that need to submit income information or other documentation, according to New York State Summer EBT.
Why it matters
State officials have framed Summer EBT as a key part of New York’s anti-hunger strategy. Governor Kathy Hochul’s office reported last summer that about 1.6 million children had already received $194 million in Summer EBT funds, showing how the one-time $120 payments add up across the state. That scale helps explain why schools and city agencies are ramping up outreach now, trying to make sure eligible families not only get the benefit but actually use it. Keeping mailing addresses current is especially important for households that will receive new cards by mail.
Families who believe they qualify but have not received a letter or deposit are urged to call the Summer EBT Customer Service Helpline at 1-833-452-0096 or visit the state application site to check a child’s status. For routine EBT tasks such as replacing a lost card or checking a balance, the state also directs cardholders to ebtEDGE and the EBT customer service line listed by New York State OTDA.
