Who is eligible?
If your child is certified as eligible for federal free or federal reduced-price school meals and attends a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program, they will be automatically enrolled in Summer EBT.
Additionally, eligibility for Summer EBT may be established in several other ways. In NJ, your child is eligible to receive a Summer EBT card if your child’s school participates in the National School Lunch Program AND:
- Your child receives free meals at school AND your household income is at or under 185% of the 2023-2024 federal poverty level (see table below); or
- You applied for School Meals through your school district AND your household income is at or under 185% of the 2023-2024 federal poverty level (see table below); or
- Your household participates in SNAP or TANF; or
- Your child is experiencing homelessness, a migrant, or in foster care; or
- Your child attends a Head Start program administered by the school district. Summer EBT Eligibility by Family Size and Income Table (Effective: July 1, 2003 to June 30,2024)
| Family Size |
Annual |
Monthly |
Twice-Monthly |
Bi-Weekly |
Weekly |
| 1 |
$26,973 |
$2,248 |
$1,124 |
$1,038 |
$519 |
| 2 |
$36,482 |
$3,041 |
$1,521 |
$1,404 |
$702 |
| 3 |
$45,991 |
$3,833 |
$1,917 |
$1,769 |
$885 |
| 4 |
$55,500 |
$4,625 |
$2,313 |
$2,135 |
$1,068 |
| 5 |
$65,009 |
$5,418
|
$2,709 |
$2,501 |
$1,251 |
| 6 |
$74,518 |
$6,210 |
$3,105 |
$2,867 |
$1,434 |
| 7 |
$84,027 |
$7,003 |
$3,502 |
$3,232 |
$1,616 |
| 8 |
$93,536 |
$7,795 |
$3,898 |
$3,598 |
$1,799 |
| For Each Additional Family Member, Add: |
+$9,509 |
+$793 |
+$397 |
+$366 |
+$183 |
If your child’s school does not participate in the National School Lunch Program, they may still be eligible for Summer EBT if your household participates in SNAP or TANF or your child is in foster care.
Please follow up with your school district if you are unsure if your child’s school participates in the National School Lunch Program.
Your child receives free school meals:
If your child has already been certified as eligible to receive free school meals by your school district AND your household income is below 185% of the 2023-2024 federal poverty level, then your child is automatically eligible to receive the federal Summer EBT benefit, and no further action is required.