Nevada families automatically eligible for the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (S-EBT) program will receive a one-time payment of $120 in mid-September.
The Division of Welfare and Supportive Services (DWSS) is partnering with the Nevada Department of Education (NDE) to determine children who will be automatically eligible. Children who attend a school that participates in the National Free and Reduced Lunch (FRL) and School Breakfast Program (SBP) and were certified as eligible for FRL/SBP will be the first to receive the benefit in mid-September if they have an existing EBT card for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. Households that do not have an existing EBT card should receive their card by mid-October due to card processing and mail time.
S-EBT is part of a nationwide effort to combat childhood hunger and provides families with $40 per month per child for the summer months when children lose access to free and reduced-cost meals. It is estimated that 350,000 Nevada children will benefit from this support.
“The rules for the program are complex,” DWSS Deputy Administrator Kelly Cantrelle said. “However, families with children will benefit from these additional funds by supplementing school lunches or providing after-school snacks. Our team is here to help families navigate through the process and answer any questions they may have.”
Children must income-qualify for the S-EBT program, a change from previous pandemic benefits. S-EBT will have an online portal through Access Nevada where parents can see if their child was automatically enrolled. The portal will be available mid-September when the first round of benefits are issued.
A dedicated call center phone line is available, and an FAQ page has been added to the DWSS website to assist families with questions about the program. An application will be available online Sept. 20, 2024, for families that did not meet automatic eligibility criteria and would like to apply.
Families struggling with food insecurity are encouraged to apply for SNAP by visiting Access Nevada.
Additional food resources can be found at Nevada 211.
