The New Jersey Department of Agriculture, in partnership with the New Jersey Department of Human Services and the New Jersey Innovation Authority, with support from the New Jersey Department of Education and the New Jersey Office of the Food Security Advocate, has announced that more than 681,000 eligible children across the state will begin receiving Summer EBT benefits in the coming days. New Jersey is participating in this permanent, nationwide USDA program, now in its third year of operation, to provide food dollars to low-income families with school-aged children over the summer months when school is not in session.
For Summer 2026, the NJ Summer EBT program will continue to provide families with a one-time Summer EBT benefit amount of $120 per eligible child to buy nutritious food at grocery stores, farmers markets, and other authorized retailers during the summer months. New Jersey’s total Summer EBT distribution is expected to amount to over $94 million in existing federal food security benefits that will be infused into New Jersey’s local economy. As the school year comes to an end, more than 681,000 eligible children across 734 participating school food authorities are receiving benefits under the NJ Summer EBT program.
“Just because the school season ends it does not mean we stop taking steps to feed students,” said Ed Wengryn, NJ Secretary of Agriculture. “Summer EBT cards provide needed financial support for families to expand food purchasing power while schools are in recess.”
Under the program, eligible students are certified through their school districts, which must participate in the National School Lunch and federal School Breakfast Programs. Eligible students must meet the income threshold for federal free and federal reduced-price school meals, including those who attend schools that provide free meals to all students through the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP).
Additionally, school-aged children (6-16) who are enrolled in SNAP, TANF, income-eligible Medicaid, or foster care will be directly eligible for Summer EBT, regardless of where they attend school. Families can check their child’s Summer EBT eligibility here. The School Meals and Summer EBT Application will be accepted throughout the summer. To apply for School Meals and Summer EBT benefits, families should contact their local school district.
The Department of Human Services’ Division of Family Development has issued eligible families new benefit cards for Summer 2026. Each eligible child will be provided with a card. Families will be able to use the $120 food benefit per eligible child on each card upon activation. Recipients can check their account balance by visiting www.NJFamiliesFirst.com, using the ConnectEBT mobile app, or by calling the phone number on the back of their card. This funding will be issued only once, and eligible families have 122 days (four months) to use their Summer EBT funds. If families do not use all of the funds within that time frame, the money will be removed from the card.
For more information about New Jersey’s Summer EBT program, including eligibility criteria, frequently asked questions, and additional contact details, please visit the State’s official Summer EBT website at: https://www.nj.gov/summerebt/.
