08/27/2024
Summary
- This manual release introduces the Summer EBT program, also known as SUN Bucks, as outlined in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (PL 117-328) and approved by Food and Nutrition Service (FNS).
- Summer EBT is a food assistance program and is intended to reduce hunger and food insecurities for children who lose access to free and reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and the National Breakfast Program (NBP) during the summer when school is not in session.
- Most children are streamlined eligible for Summer EBT. Streamlined means the child is eligible for Summer EBT without completing a Summer EBT application. Eligibility for the Summer EBT program includes the following children:
- (Streamlined) within the legally required school age range (6-17) from July 2nd preceding the school year through the end of the Summer Operational Period that have received Food Assistance, Cash Assistance, or Medicaid with income at or below 185% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) any time between July 1st preceding the school year through the end of the Summer Operational Period. Note: Birthdate ranges along with the Summer Operational Period will change each year along with the associated school years; or
- (Streamlined) who attended a school that participated in the NSLP during the school year ending at the start of the Summer Operational Period and was deemed income-eligible to receive a free or reduced-price lunch through streamlined certification or an application at the school; or
- (Require Summer EBT Application) who attended a school that participated in the NSLP during the school year ending at the start of the Summer Operational Period and filed a Summer EBT application through the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) by the end of the Summer Operational Period and were deemed eligible.
- Summer EBT for 2024 includes the following children:
- Ages 6-17 with a date of birth between 07/02/2005 and 08/31/2018 that have received Food Assistance, Cash Assistance, or Medicaid with income at or below 185% of the FPL any time between 07/01/2023 and 08/31/2024; or
- Who attended a school that participated in the NSLP during the 2023-2024 school year and was deemed income-eligible to receive a free or reduced-price lunch through streamlined certification or an application at the school; or
- Who attended a school that participated in the NSLP during the 2023-2024 school year and filed a Summer EBT application through ISBE by 08/31/2024 and were deemed eligible.
- A link to the Summer EBT only application is available in the Results Page of the Summer EBT Screener when a child is not found streamlined eligible. The screener can be accessed through abe.illinois.gov by clicking on Check if I should Apply for Summer EBT. Note: Summer EBT only applications must be filed by 08/31/2024 to be considered for Summer EBT benefits.
- Summer EBT benefit eligibility will be determined for the Summer Operational Period beginning 05/21/2024 through 08/31/2024. A Summer Operational Period is set each school year and is the period of time that Summer EBT benefits are intended to cover. For Summer EBT 2024, the Summer Operational Period is 05/21/2024 through 08/31/2024.
- Households will receive a one-time benefit of $120.00 for each eligible child for Summer EBT 2024 and the benefits will be created during 08/2024. If the household currently receives Food Assistance and/or Cash benefits, the Summer EBT benefits will be loaded onto the existing Illinois Link card. If the household does not have an active card, a new Link card will be issued and mailed to the address on file with IDHS. For children that are streamlined eligible through their school, but there is no current address found for the child by the time of issuance, the Link card will be mailed to the school they attended at the end of the 2023-2024 school year.
- Eligible households that do not want to participate in the Summer EBT program have the opportunity to opt out through the IDHS Website: Summer EBT and clicking on Summer EBT General Inquiry Request.
- All Summer EBT benefits will have a 122 day expungement cycle and any remaining balance will not be available on the Link card after 122 days following the date of availability. If the household receives additional food benefits, the Summer EBT benefit will be deducted from the Illinois Link card first.
- Appeals for Summer EBT must be filed 90 days following the end of the Summer Operational Period. For Summer EBT 2024, the deadline to file an appeal is 11/29/2024.
- Summer EBT Notice of Decision IL444-5269 will be sent to households with eligible children along with the IL444-9304 Welcome to the Illinois Summer EBT program brochure with information on how households can use their Link card to access their Summer EBT benefits.
Summer EBT Program
The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) and the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) have been approved by Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to begin the Summer EBT program. Summer EBT is a food assistance program and is intended to reduce hunger and food insecurities for children who lose access to free and reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and the National Breakfast Program (NBP) during the summer when school is not in session. This manual release introduces the Summer EBT program as outlined in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (PL 117-328) and approved by FNS.
Summer EBT Eligibility
Most children are streamline eligible for Summer EBT and will not be required to complete the Summer EBT application.
Streamlined Certification
Streamlined certification is an automatic enrollment process utilizing ISBE's Student Information System (SIS) and the Integrated Eligibility System (IES) data matching for children that meet the following eligibility requirements:
- Ages 6-17 years old with a date of birth between 07/02/2005 and 08/31/2018 that have received Food, Cash, or Medicaid (with income at or below 185% FPL) any time between 07/01/2023 and 08/31/2024; or
- Attended a school that participated in the NSLP during the 2023-2024 school year and was deemed income-eligible to receive a free or reduced-price lunch through streamlined certification or an application at the school.
|
Benefit Period
Year
|
Summer Operational
Period
|
Date of Birth Range for
Streamlined Eligibility Through
Qualifying Benefit Program(s)
|
Summer EBT
Benefit
Amount
|
| Summer 2024 |
05/21/2024 - 08/31/2024 |
07/02/2005-08/31/2018 |
$120 |
NOTE: These children will not need to apply in order to receive Summer EBT benefits. Children that do not meet the streamlined certification eligibility criteria can apply for Summer EBT benefits if they attended a school in Illinois that participated in the NSLP.
Non-Streamlined Certification
Households with children that do not meet the streamlined certification process for Summer EBT eligibility will be required to complete a Summer EBT application. Children must have attended an NSLP school during the 2023-2024 school year and meet monthly income guidelines; the total household income must be at or below 185% FPL. The household will be required to verify their income.
NOTE: IDHS cannot accept or process the Summer EBT applications. These applications will be handled through the ISBE. Households that would like their child(ren) to receive Summer EBT benefits can also apply for Food, Cash and/or Medical benefits with IDHS through 08/31/2024 and, if eligible, will be automatically enrolled in Summer EBT for 2024.
Summer Operational Period
A Summer Operational Period is set each school year and is the period of time that Summer EBT benefits are intended to cover. For Summer 2024, the Summer Operational Period is 05/21/2024 through 08/31/2024.
Summer EBT Applications
Summer EBT only applications are available through abe.illinois.gov by clicking on Check if I Should Apply for Summer EBT. After entering child(ren) information, the Results Page will show if the child(ren) are streamlined eligible, if additional information is needed, or if a Summer EBT application is needed. The Results Page will include a link to the Summer EBT application.
The following information should be entered after clicking on Check If I Should Apply for Summer EBT:
- Name;
- Date of Birth (DOB);
- Social Security Number (SSN);
- School District; and
- School Attended in 2023-2024.
For best screen match results, households are encouraged to enter the first name, last name and date of birth or enter the social security number and at least one of the following:
- First Name;
- Last Name; or
- Date of Birth.
If the child does not have a social security number, but the child received free or reduced-price lunch at their school during the 2023-2024 school year, the child's first name, last name, and date of birth along with school and district information should be entered.
NOTE: Accessing the Results Page through Check if I Should Apply for Summer EBT does not provide eligibility results. It only indicates if the child(ren) are streamlined eligible, if additional information is needed, or if a Summer EBT application is needed.
Summer EBT and IES
Summer EBT will be systematically issued onto the household's Illinois Link cards. Benefit and child information will be viewable under the Summer EBT module in the left hand navigation in IES. The Summer EBT module will provide information for children that are identified as eligible for Summer EBT. Staff will only be able to view this information in IES.
For Summer EBT cases associated to an active IES case, updates/changes made to the IES case will be synced to the Summer EBT case. Central office staff will be able to make changes to Summer EBT only cases.
A weekly batch job will continue to run through 08/31/2024 to identify school-aged children newly approved for Food, Cash, or Medicaid. The names and birthdates of children will be reviewed for Summer EBT eligibility and prior issuances. If eligible, Summer EBT benefits will be automatically issued.
Benefit Issuance and Availability
Eligible households will receive a one-time benefit of $120 per eligible child to make food purchases. Summer EBT benefits will be created during 08/2024. Eligible households that actively receive Food Assistance and/or Cash Assistance, will be issued Summer EBT benefits onto their Illinois Link card. Households with eligible children that do not have active Food Assistance and/or Cash cases will receive a new Link card that will be mailed to their household address on file with IDHS. For children that are streamlined eligible through their school, but there is no current address found for the child at time of issuance, the Link card will be mailed to the school they attended at the end of the 2023-2024 school year.
Opting Out of Summer EBT
Households that do not want to participate in the Summer EBT program may choose to opt out. The household can request to opt out through the IDHS Website:Summer EBT and clicking on Summer EBT General Inquiry Request or by calling the Summer EBT Hotline at 1-833-621-0737.
Overissuances
Households that knowingly receive more than the $120 per child or duplicate benefits must report the error to their local office or contact the Summer EBT Hotline at 1-833-621-0737. Customers that fail to report receiving more Summer EBT benefits than the household is entitled to could incur overpayments, penalties and/or fines.
Replacements
Summer EBT benefits are not eligible for replacement due to electronic (EBT) theft, see PM 22-03-02. Food purchased with Summer EBT benefits can be replaced if destroyed due to a disaster, see PM 22-03-01.
Expungement
All Summer EBT benefits have a 122-day expungement cycle from the date the benefits are available. Any remaining balance after 122 days will not be available on the card.
Example: Ms. A received her child's Summer EBT benefit 08/31/2024 for $120. Ms. A also receives $535 in Food Assistance for her household. Since her Summer EBT benefits expire in 122 days, the benefits must be used by 12/31/2024. Ms. A makes a food purchase on 09/02/2024 of $150. The purchase will use all $120 of her Summer EBT benefit and $30 of her SNAP, even though the SNAP has been available longer. If Ms. A has a Summer EBT balance after 12/31/2024, it will be expunged.
Appeals
Appeals for Summer EBT must be filed within 90 days following the end of the Summer Operational Period. For Summer 2024, the deadline to file an appeal is 11/29/2024, see PM 01-07-03 . Customers can call the Summer EBT hotline at 1-833-621-0737 for more information on the Summer EBT appeals process.
Correspondence, Website, and Hotline
Summer EBT Notice of Decision IL444-5269 will be sent to households with eligible children. Customers will also receive Form IL444-9304 Welcome to the Illinois Summer EBT program brochure with information on how to use their Illinois Link card for Summer EBT. For more information on the Summer EBT program or general request inquiries, FCRC's can refer customers to the IDHS Website Summer EBT:
- Summer EBT FAQ's for more information regarding the program
- Summer EBT Hotline at 1-833-621-0737
- Summer EBT General Inquiry Request to:
- report a change of address
- contact an IDHS Summer EBT agent about benefit status, amounts or eligibility,
- submit general inquires for up to three children (households with more than three children can submit a separate inquiry),
- opt out of Summer EBT, or
- report a voluntary return of Summer EBT benefits.
The mailing address for Summer EBT is:
Statewide Program Initiatives
P.O. Box 34020
Chicago, Illinois 60634-0019.
Manual Revisions
[signed copy on file]
Dulce Quintero
Secretary-Designate, Illinois Department of Human Services
Form Revisions
IL444-5269 Summer EBT Notice of Decision
IL444-9304 Welcome to the Summer EBT Program
