As summer approaches and school cafeterias close, thousands of Nevada families will receive assistance from The Division of Welfare and Supportive Services, through their Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (S-EBT) program.
On Friday, May 16, benefits began being distributed to children who qualify automatically under federal guidelines.
Officials say that many students depend on free or reduced-price school meals for daily nutrition.
When school is out, food insecurity increases among school-aged children.
The S-EBT program addresses this issue by providing $120 per eligible child in grocery support to assist families in purchasing food.
“Programs like Summer EBT are essential for reducing childhood hunger,” DWSS Deputy Administrator Kelly Cantrelle said. “Even a small amount of extra grocery support can ease the burden for working families during the summer months.”
DWSS says it expects up to 280,000 children to qualify automatically this year based on current enrollment data.
Children who already participate in school meal programs or public assistance will receive benefits without needing to apply.
Families uncertain about their eligibility are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.
Families who received Summer EBT benefits last year will automatically receive this year’s benefits on the same card, unless their school information has changed.
New recipients or those with updated school information will receive a card by mail within two to three weeks.
In 2024, the S-EBT program delivered $37 million in food assistance throughout Nevada. Nearly 80 percent of those benefits were used.
For anyone interested, the deadline to apply is Aug. 10. More information and application resources are available on the DWSS Summer EBT webpage.
