New York State offers a food benefit program, Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT), supporting households with school-going children who don’t have access to school meals in summer. The benefit helps many families with low incomes and helps them provide good meals to their kids.
Typically, many children automatically receive this food benefit, however, some families need to send the application or apply online. The deadline to apply online for the NY Summer EBT 2025 is September 4, 2025.
This benefit was initiated first time in 2024 with the intent to support low-income households to cover the cost of meals in summer. Last year, more than 1 million children received the benefit, and this year, the State kept the application time longer to ensure more people receive this food benefit.
| Food Assistance Benefit | NY Summer EBT 2025 |
| Administered by | OTDA |
| Last date to apply | 04 September 2025 |
| Who qualifies automatically? | Children with SNAP, Temporary Assistance cash, or Medicaid benefits, aged between 6 to 16 |
| Who needs to apply? | Children enrolled in School with NSLP and meet the household income threshold |
| Income Threshold | 185% of the federal poverty line |
| Payout Amount | $120 |
| Disbursed in | Summer EBT food card |
| Used at | SNAP approved stores, farmers’ markets, or grocery stores |
| Application Link | https://summerebt.ny.gov/en-US/ |
| Official Website | https://otda.ny.gov/programs/summer-ebt/ |
Who is Eligible?
The children who are automatically enrolled for the NY Summer EBT food benefit must meet the following conditions:
- Benefits from Medicaid, Temporary Assistance Cash, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) shall be entitled to the child between July 1, 2024, and September 4, 2025.
- The child must be between the ages of 6 to 16 and must be certified for reduced-price school meals for free via the National School Lunch program offered by the schools they are enrolled in.
Now, the children going to school and need to apply for the NY summer EBT as they are not eligible for automatic enrollment, should meet the following conditions to receive the benefit:
- As a student, you must be enrolled in a school that is engaged in the National School Lunch program, and your household income should be under the limits for school meals, that is, 185% of the federal poverty level, such as:
| Family Size | Monthly income | Annual income |
| 01 | $2322 | $27861 |
| 02 | $3152 | $37814 |
| 03 | $3981 | $47767 |
| 04 | $4810 | $57720 |
| 05 | $5640 | $67673 |
| 06 | $6469 | $77,626 |
| 07 | $7299 | $87,579 |
| 08 | $8128 | $97,532 |
| Additional Person | More than $830 | More than $9953 |
Payout Amount
New York offers this food benefit for one-time in a year for each eligible child. The One-time summer EBT benefit offers support up to $120, which the recipients can use to buy food from farmers’ markets, grocery stores, or authorized SNAP retailers, the same as SNAP.
Some of the SNAP participating stores even offer online shopping facilities, and buyers can avail of the delivery options to get it delivered to their doorstep. The authority will process the Summer EBT 2025 support to the eligible families for the eligible children in June 2025.
The eligible kids or students received the benefit at different times, but they need to remember that the benefit is valid for 122 days only, so use the Summer EBT food benefit cards before they expire
How to apply?
As we mentioned earlier, some children enrolled in the SNAP program will be automatically enrolled in the NY Summer EBT, so they do not have to do anything to receive this benefit. The authority will mail a letter to the families informing the child is automatically enrolled in the Summer EBT, or send text messages or emails from OTDA with the update on the benefit.
Now, the students who are not automatically enrolled for the summer food benefits can complete their application by 04 September 2025 online in the following steps:
- The application link for the Summer EBT 2025 application is available above, click it
- Next, click on the Get Started option, and read the instructions carefully.
- Next, click the “Go to Application” button to land on the login page.
- Next, you have to log in to the NY.GOVID portal with your username and password and access the application.
- Next, complete the online Summer EBT application and make sure you review all your and your child’s details when you submit the application online.
Summer EBT food cards
The children who will receive the Summer EBT for the first time will get the Summer EBT food card via mail to access the 2025 benefits. The children who were enrolled in the last year and received the card will receive their benefit on the same card.
Once the families get approved for their application and the verification for the income is complete, the new card will be issued for each child, and until you request a replacement or lose your eligibility for the benefit, the child’s card will remain valid for future benefits.
So, if any families who received the NY Summer EBT benefit last year but lost their Summer EBT card must ask for the card replacement before the authority starts issuing the benefit, and once you receive it, you can activate the card and set the PIN.
The NY Summer EBT food card is valid for 122 days from the date it was issued, so use it wisely and timely manner before the benefits are removed from the card.