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Oregon Summer EBT

New food benefits for school-aged kids

Summer EBT is a new grocery benefits program. It helps families buy food for their school-aged children when school is out. Each summer, families will get one yearly payment of $120 for each eligible child to buy groceries.

Questions? Call us at 833-ORE-SEBT (833-673-7328). You can reach us Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific Time.

Already have SNAP, TANF or OHP?

You don't need to apply. Summer EBT was added to your EBT card. Check your balance to confirm. 

If you don’t have an EBT card, we will mail you one by mid-July. If you don't get the benefits by then, call 833-673-7328.

Ready to learn more?

Read the FAQ Download the FAQs About Summer EBT How to apply for Summer EBT

About Summer EBT

Your school-aged child is eligible for Summer EBT if:

  • Your household already receives SNAP, TANF or the Oregon Health Plan (Medicaid); or
  • Your child is in foster care; or
  • Your child attends a school with the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or School Breakfast Program (SBP), and your household income meets the requirements for free or reduced-price school meals​; ​or
  • Your child attends a school with the NSLP or SBP and your child is:
    • Enrolled in migrant programs
    • Experiencing houselessness
    • Participating in the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
    • ​Attending Head Start​

Most eligible school-aged children will automatically receive Summer EBT benefits if their household already received SNAP, TANF, the Oregon Health Plan (Medicaid) or the child ​is in foster care. This means that most eligible children do not need to apply. Starting in early July, benefits will be sent to automatically eligible ch​ildren. ​

To find out if your child is automatically eligible, you can:

  • Check the balance of your existing Oregon EBT card to see if you got the benefit at www.ebtedge.com.
  • ​Look for a letter in the mail by the end of July that says ​your child is eligible.
  • Contact the Call Center at 833-673-7328 to find out if your child is eligible and receiving benefits.​​

​If you didn’t get the Summer EBT benefit and believe your child should be automatically eligible, contact the Call Center at 833-673-7328​.

Summer EBT will be put on an Oregon EBT card (Oregon Trail Card). You can use the card to buy food at grocery stores, farmers markets and other places that accept EBT cards.​​​​

If your household already has an Oregon EBT account, the benefits will be added to your existing card. For eligible children who do not already have an Oregon EBT card, one will be mailed to the latest address on file. ​​​​

​​Benefits for children who live in the same household will be put on one Oregon EBT card whenever possible.​​​​

For children who are not automatically eligible, families can apply through the online or paper application. For a child to become eligible by applying, they must:

​​You can apply online in​ English and Spanish. Apply in another language using the paper application​. Allow up to 30 days for Summer EBT applications to be processed.

Your family can get help from other summer meal programs too. To find a free meal site near you:​​

Summer EBT does not affect you or your child’s immigration status. The public charge rule does not apply to Summer EBT benefits.

Also, the Summer EBT program does not ask for immigration status and does not use i​mmigration status to determine eligibility.

Frequently asked questions

Eligibility

​​Yes. Your child is el​igible if they are in foster care, are an Oregon Health Plan member or get more than $0 in SNAP or TANF benefits for at least one month between Sep. 1, 2023, through Sep. 2, 2024. The child must have been school-aged (6 to 18) when getting benefits.​​

Receiving free meals at school will not automatically sign your child up for Summer EBT benefits. You will need to fill out a simple application. The application will need your household income and your child’s name, school, date of birth and address.​

For a child to become eligible by applying, they must:

Not all schools that provide free meals participate in NSLP or SBP. You can apply online or by paper application​.​

School-aged children who are homeschooled or go to a virtual academy can be eligible for Summer EBT if their household already participates in SNAP, TANF, the Oregon Health Plan (Medicaid) or the student is in foster care. Children who meet these requirements are automatically be eligible for Summer EBT. Benefits will be sent to the household’s Oregon EBT card. ​

A case manager or community partner can help the student fill out the application. This is recommended when students under the age of 18 want to apply but don’t have an adult to provide the required adult signature. 

The case manager or community partner should list the student’s address as the household mailing address on Step 4 of the application. This allows benefits to be sent to the student directly if they are not receiving SNAP or TANF benefits. The person completing the application should include adult household members living with the child. ​

Getting benefits

​​Summer EBT benefits will start being sent in early July to automatically eligible children. To find out if your child is automatically eligible, you can check your Oregon EBT card balance, look for a letter in the mail by the end of July or call the Summer EBT Call Center at.

Families that apply can expect their application to be processed within 30 days after submitting. After the application is processed, families will get a letter in the mail within two to four weeks that lets them know if their child was approved or denied for benefits. Families can apply until Sep.​ 2, 2024. Benefits will be sent until Sep. 30, 2024.

​​

Households with eligible children will receive their Summer EBT benefits in one issuance. Benefits will be loaded to your Oregon EBT card if you already have one. 

If a household doesn’t already have an Oregon EBT card, a new card will be mailed to them. Expect the card two to four weeks after being found eligible. The card will be sent to the address we have on file. 

Benefits for children who live in the same household will be put on one Oregon EBT card whenever possible. More information will be included in the letter mailed to each eligible child. 

You can update your mailing address by calling the Summer EBT Call Center at 833-673-7328.

If you already have an EBT card - Summer EBT benefits will be put on your current card.

If you have SNAP, TANF or OHP but don’t have an EBT card - We’ll mail an EBT card to the address we have on file. If you need to update your address, you can log in to your ONE Online account and select “Report a change” on your dashboard.

If you don’t have SNAP, TANF or OHP - ​You will need to apply for Summer EBT. We'll mail the card to the address you provide when you apply. The new card will arrive within two to four weeks once benefits are issued. The card will be mailed to the address we have on file. You can update your mailing address by calling the Summer EBT Call Center at 833-673-7328.​

If you have lost your Oregon EBT card, you can request a replacement card by calling the Summer EBT Call Center at ​833-673-7328

If your child is experiencing houselessness and you believe that they are eligible for Summer EBT, please contact the Summer EBT Call Center at 833-673-7328​ to provide an alternate mailing address. This may include the child’s school address, preferred shelter or local USPS office.

​​Yes. A one-time payment will be issued to eligible children each summer.

Using benefits

​If your household doesn’t have an active Oregon EBT card, a new Oregon EBT card will be mailed to the household address on file. You can update your mailing address by calling the Summer EBT Call Center at 833-673-7328​.

Families are encouraged to activate their Oregon EBT card as soon as they get it. However, there is no deadline for activating the Oregon EBT card. 

Keep in mind that Summer EBT benefits expire after four months (122 calendar days). Please use your Summer EBT benefits to purchase food before the benefit expires.​

​​If you have an Oregon EBT card, you can check your balance by visiting www.ebtedge.com​. You can also call the number on the back of your Oregon EBT card or look at your last store receipt for a benefit balance.

Summer EBT benefits are generally used first when making purchases.​

You can use your Summer EBT benefits at any store or farmer’s market that accepts EBT, including online from Amazon and Walmart. Most retailers have signs saying they accept SNAP or EBT.

Summer EBT benefits can be used to buy any food that can be bought with SNAP. SNAP eligible food​ is most foods, except prepared foods and foods sold hot.

Summer EBT benefits can be used for Double Up Food Bucks. Double Up Food Bucks matches every $1 of benefits spent up to $20 on fresh fruit and vegetables at participating local farmers markets. Double Up is currently offered at over 85 farmers market locations, 35 grocery stores and more than 40 CSA farms across the state — with new locations joining the program each year. ​

​​You can use the Summer EBT benefits for four months (122 calendar days) before they expire. Please use your Summer EBT benefits to purchase food before they are removed from the card.​

Please hold on to the new Oregon EBT card. It may be used for future benefits.​


Unused Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) benefits

Pandemic EBT (P-EBT)​ is a different program that ended with the COVID-19 emergency. P-EBT benefits received in 2023 expire after nine months if you have not used your card. If you have started using your card and continue to use it, the benefits will not expire.

​​Find out how much money ​is on your P-EBT card:

If you still have a P-EBT card, you can throw it away after using the benefits.​​

The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) does not discriminate against anyone. This means that ODHS will help all who qualify and will not treat anyone differently. See the USDA nondiscrimination statement for more information.

Summer EBT is a program in partnership with the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) and the Oregon Department of Education (ODE).

Oregon Department of Human Services Oregon Department of Education