Update: change your S-EBT card PIN now! Many families in other states have had their S-EBT benefits stolen this year. Protect your family’s benefits by changing your PIN and freezing your card when you are not using it. Stolen benefits cannot be replaced!
When School is Out, Summer Nutrition is In!
Summer EBT (S-EBT) helps families with school-age kids buy groceries over the summer. Eligible kids get a $120 benefit on an S-EBT card. S-EBT cards can be used like debit cards to buy food at grocery stores, farmers markets, and places that accept EBT.
Getting S-EBT Benefits
- Many eligible kids automatically get S-EBT.
- Look for S-EBT benefit info from NYSOTDA starting in June!
- New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (NYSOTDA) will send letters, emails, and text messages to families with the date their benefits will be available. Text messages will come from OTDA’s short code number 696832 and email notifications from nyotda@public.govdelivery.com
- If you think your child is eligible but you have not gotten any information from NYSOTDA by mid-June, apply for benefits at NYSOTDA. The deadline to apply is September 8, 2026.
Using S-EBT Benefits
- Protect your benefits: change your card PIN and freeze your card when you are not using it!
- Benefits come on S-EBT cards, not SNAP cards.
- Benefits expire 122 days after you get them, so use them up! NYSOTDA will text and email reminders before benefits are removed.
- Keep your S-EBT card for next year!
For more information, visit NYSOTDA:
- Summer EBT page
- For questions about your child and S-EBT, call their S-EBT helpline at 1-833-452-0096
- For questions about your S-EBT card, call 1-888-328-6399
