08/11/2025
This Manual Release supplements MR# 24.17: New Program - Summer EBT (2024), dated 08/27/2024.
Summary:
- This Manual Release introduces changes to the Summer EBT Program.
- Summer EBT for 2025 includes the following children:
- Ages 6-17 with a date of birth between 07/02/2006 and 08/13/2019 that have received SNAP, TANF/AABD Cash, or federally funded Medicaid with income at or below 185% of the FPL any time between 07/01/2024 and 08/13/2025; or
- Who attended a school that participated in the NSLP during the 2024-2025 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 2024-2025 school year and filed a Summer EBT application through Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) by 08/13/2025 and were deemed eligible.
- The Summer Operational Period (SOP) for 2025 begins 06/02/2025 through 08/13/2025.
- A self-service Summer EBT Portal has been developed for households to check their streamlined eligibility for Summer EBT, apply for Summer EBT, and to check the status of their application.
- Summer EBT Applications are now issued by IDHS and processed by the IDHS Statewide Program Initiatives Office. A new application for Summer EBT benefits, Application for Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) (IL444-5436), has been created.
- The Summer EBT Income Verification Checklist (IL444-0267SEBT) has been created to request verifications of Summer EBT households.
- Starting with Summer 2025, three percent of Summer EBT applications approved via auto processing will be selected for verification of income. Summer EBT applications may also be selected to verify income For Cause when income information provided on the application conflicts with income information found during the Data Collection process.
- Returned income verifications must include: The source, amount and frequency of all household income. Income verifications need only indicate eligibility at any single point in time during the Period of Eligibility. In place of income verifications, eligibility of a child in a Food, Cash or federally funded Medicaid (with income at or below 185% FPL) program is sufficient.
- The budgeting of income for Non-Streamlined Eligible households will depend on the number of sources of income and the frequency in which they are received
- Households with one source of income, or more than once source which are received in the same frequency, shall be added together, including cents, and compared to the Income Eligibility Guidelines for the household size and frequency. No rounding should take place in any calculation
- Households with more than one source of income received in varying frequencies must have each source of income converted to an annualized amount. Include all cents in each calculation and do not round in any of the calculations. Use the following formulas to annualize the incomes before adding them together:
- Monthly income is multiplied by 12
- Twice monthly income is multiplied by 24
- Income received every two weeks is multiplied by 26; and
- Weekly income is multiplied by 52.
- The following income/benefit types are excluded income for Summer EBT:
- Value of SNAP or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR);
- Payments received from a foster care agency or court for the care of foster children;
- Student financial assistance provided for the costs of attendance at an educational institution, such as grants and scholarships awarded to meet educational expenses and not available to pay for meals;
- Loans, such as bank loans, since these funds are only temporarily available and must be repaid; and
- Infrequent earnings received on an irregular basis, such as payment for occasional baby-sitting or yard work.
- Summer EBT Income Eligibility Guidelines for Non-Streamlined Eligible households are re-evaluated yearly by FNS and may change yearly on July 1st. The Income Eligibility Guidelines, including historical ones, can be found in WAG 06-39-02-b. The guidelines that are in place when the Summer EBT application is received must be used to determine income eligibility.
- The Initial Notice of Eligibility for Summer EBT Benefits (IL444-5269) were sent to streamlined eligible children in April 2025 prior to the first issuances of Summer EBT benefits which started in May 19-26, 2025.
- Streamlined eligible households who are missing a current address on file with IDHS will not receive a Link card or have benefits issued until an address is received for the household. The Initial Notice of Eligibility for Summer EBT Benefits will be mailed to the school they attended and instructs the household to provide an updated address.
- Households now have the option to opt back in to Summer EBT after they have opted out.
- New Summer EBT forms have been created: Summer EBT Application Notice of Eligibility (IL444-5432) will be sent to households who file an application for Summer EBT benefits. This notice will inform the customer of their eligibility for Summer EBT. The Summer EBT Notice of Change (IL444-5433) will be sent to households who experience any change to their Summer EBT case after their initial notice of eligibility but prior to benefits being issued.
- Functionality has been added to the Summer EBT Screener. Customers can now change their address, update their contact information, and opt out via the screener.
- "Manage My Summer EBT Benefits" has been added to the Manage My Case (MMC) portal. Households will be able to:
- View the Summer EBT individual status of all members in their household; and
- View benefit details and notices; and
- Opt in or out of Summer EBT benefits. Note: The Integrated Eligiblity System (IES) will attempt to auto-process these type of requests.
Summer EBT Program
Summer EBT is a food assistance program that 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 changes to the Summer EBT program effective Summer 2025.
Streamlined Certification
The table below outlines the Summer EBT Summer Operational Period (SOP), Summer EBT Period of Eligibility and Date of Birth ranges for Streamlined Eligibility for Summer EBT. For Summer 2025, the Summer EBT benefit amount will remain $120 per eligible child.
|
Benefit
Period
Year
|
Summer Operational
Period
|
Period of
Eligibility
|
Date of Birth Range for
Streamlined Eligibility
Through
Qualifying Benefit Program(s)
|
Summer
EBT
Benefit
Amount
|
| Summer 2024 |
05/21/2024 - 08/31/2024 |
07/01/2024 - 08/31/2024 |
07/02/2005 - 08/31/2018 |
$120 |
| Summer 2025 |
06/02/2025 - 08/13/2025 |
07/01/2024 - 08/13/2025 |
07/02/2006 - 08/13/2019 |
$120 |
The streamlined batch job will run daily through the end of the SOP to identify school-aged children newly approved for SNAP, TANF/AABD Cash, or federally funded Medicaid. Participation in State Food and/or VTTC Cash will not concede streamlined eligibility starting with Summer EBT 2025. 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.
Note: Streamlined certified children will not need to apply to receive Summer EBT benefits.
Non-Streamlined Certification
Children that do not meet the streamlined certification eligibility criteria will be required to complete a Summer EBT application in order to receive benefits.
- Children must have attended a NSLP school during the 2024-2025 school year; and
- Meet monthly income guidelines; the total household income must be at or below 185% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).
Summer EBT Portal - New Summer 2025
The Summer EBT Portal is a self-service portal where customers can:
- Check to see if they need to apply for Summer EBT (via the Summer EBT Screener);
- Apply for Summer EBT;
- Check the status of their Summer EBT application; and
- Check their mailing address.
Summer EBT Applications - New Summer 2025
The Summer EBT Portal Application is an electronic application available to all customers who wish to apply for Summer EBT only. If customers wish to apply for SNAP, Cash or Medicaid, they must follow those program's application procedures, see PM 02-04-00.
A new form, the Application for Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) (IL444-5436), has been created for customers that need to apply for Summer EBT benefits. Summer EBT applications will be provided and processed by IDHS starting with Summer 2025. This is a change in procedure as in 2024 those applications were processed by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). Applications can be submitted at any time however applications must be received by the end of the SOP to be considered for Summer EBT benefits for that year. Applications received after the end of the SOP will be considered for the next summer's benefits. Customers may apply in the following ways:
- Via the Summer EBT Portal; and
- By submitting an Application for Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) to IDHS.
Eligible Summer EBT households must have Summer EBT benefits available by the end of the 15th calendar day after the application is received.
If customers find via the Summer EBT Screener that they must apply for benefits it is highly recommended that they apply via the Summer EBT Portal.
Applications for Summer EBT received in the local Family Community Resource Centers (FCRCs) should be scanned through Datacap. The Datacap process will create an application task titled: "SEBT - 5436 Application for Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT)" in the Statewide Program Initiatives Office. Summer EBT applications will only be processed by the Statewide Program Initiatives Office.
Note: The Summer EBT Screener will run for each student entered into the application as a part of the Summer EBT Portal Application process and prevent the customer from applying for a child if that child is found to be streamlined eligible.
Summer EBT Income Verification Checklist (IL444-0267SEBT) - New Summer 2025
The Summer EBT Income Verification Checklist (IL444-0267SEBT) has been created to request verifications of Summer EBT households. For Summer 2025, this form will only be systematically generated out of IES.
Applications Selected for Verification of Income
Customer statement is acceptable to verify total household income on the Application for Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) and for applications received via the new Summer EBT Portal.
Certain applications will be selected for sampling. A monthly IES sampling batch will select 3% of Summer EBT applications that have been approved via auto processing. These applications will be reviewed by Summer EBT unit staff and, if applicable, verification of income will be requested via Summer EBT Income Verification Checklist.
Summer EBT applications can also be selected to verify income For Cause. For Cause selection means that income information provided on the application conflicts with income information found during the data collection process and further income information is needed. Verification of income will be requested via Summer EBT Income Verification Checklist.
Note: Verifications are not required if all children in the household are determined eligible for SNAP, TANF/AABD Cash or federally funded Medicaid (with income at or below 185% FPL) any time during the Period of Eligibility.
Returned Income Verifications Must Indicate:
- The source;
- Amount; and
- Frequency of all household income.
If wage stubs are being returned, only one wage stub which includes the required information and indicates eligibility at any single point in time during the Period of Eligibility is acceptable.
Note: Other agency records serving categorically eligible children, including foster, homeless, migrant, Head Start or runaway children may also be used to verify eligibility.
Budgeting Income
- If a household has only one source of income, or if all sources are received in the same frequency, the sum of all income sources is calculated, including cents, and compared to the Income Eligibility Guidelines for the household size and frequency. No rounding should take place in any calculation.
- If a household has multiple income sources and they are received with varying frequency, each source of income must be converted to an annualized amount. Include all cents in each calculation and do not round in any of the calculations. Use the following formulas to annualize the incomes before adding them together:
- Monthly income is multiplied by 12;
- Twice monthly income is multiplied by 24;
- Income received every two weeks is multiplied by 26; and
- Weekly income is multiplied by 52.
The total annualized income is then compared to the Annual Income Limit for the household size.
Example 1: Melissa and Jay file a Summer EBT application for their son Mike. Melissa receives monthly child support and Jay receives monthly RSDI. The child support and RSDI are added together, including any cents, and their sum is compared to the "Monthly frequency" column of the Income Eligibility Guidelines table to determine their eligibility.
Example 2: Marcy works two jobs. She applies for Summer EBT for her daughter. She is paid weekly at one job and twice per month from the other job. She has provided one paystub for each job. The first shows a weekly pay of $125.25 and the other a bi-monthly pay of $500.75. The worker annualizes the pay from each job and comes up with $6,513 for the weekly job and $12,018 for the twice per month job. The sum of $18,531 is her total annual income and her daughter is determined eligible for Summer EBT.
Excluded Income
The following income/benefit types are excluded income for Summer EBT:
- Value of SNAP or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR);
- Payments received from a foster care agency or court for the care of foster children;
- Student financial assistance provided for the costs of attendance at an educational institution, such as grants and scholarships awarded to meet educational expenses and not available to pay for meals;
- Loans, such as bank loans, since these funds are only temporarily available and must be repaid; and
- Infrequent earnings received on an irregular basis, such as payment for occasional baby-sitting or yard work
Summer EBT Income Eligibility Guidelines
Summer EBT Income Eligibility Guidelines are only applicable to Non-Streamlined Eligible households. The guidelines are re-evaluated yearly by FNS and may change yearly on July 1st.
The Income Eligibility Guidelines, including historical ones, can be found in WAG 06-39-02-b. The guidelines that are in place when the Summer EBT application is received must be used to determine income eligibility.
Benefit Issuance and Availability
Initial Notice of Eligibility for Summer EBT Benefits (IL444-5269) started being mailed in April 2025 for streamlined eligible households to inform households of their eligibility. The first issuances of Summer EBT benefits were created starting May 19-26, 2025.
The streamlined batch job will continue to run daily through the end of the SOP to identify school-aged children found newly eligible for streamlined certification. If eligible, Summer EBT benefits will be issued automatically.
For customers that submit a Summer EBT Application and are determined eligible, benefits will be available within 15 business days of the application date.
Households with no Address Found - New Summer 2025
Children that are streamlined eligible through their school but are missing a current address on file with IDHS will not receive a Link card and will not have benefits issued until an address is received for the household. The Initial Notice of Eligibility for Summer EBT Benefits will be mailed to the school they attended at the end of the 2024-2025 school year and will instruct the household to provide an updated address. The notice will also inform them that benefits will not be issued until an address is received and the 122-day expungement period will not start until the benefits are issued. This is a change in procedure as in 2024 households with no address found on file with IDHS were issued benefits and their Link cards were sent to the school they attended at the end of the school year.
Illinois Link Card Access
Households with only a Summer EBT case will access the Link card using the head of household's (HoH), Social Security Number (SSN), and Date of Birth (DOB).
If the HoH does not have an SSN they will use the SSN and DOB of the oldest person receiving benefits.
If that individual does not have an SSN on file they will use the DOB of the HoH and will use all 9's in place of the SSN.
Overissuances
Households that receive more than the $120 per child or receive duplicate benefits must report the error to the Summer EBT Hotline at 1-833-621-0737 or their local office. Customers that fail to report receiving more Summer EBT benefits than the household is entitled to could incur overpayments, penalties, and/or fines.
Opting In or Out of Summer EBT
Households that do not want to participate in the Summer EBT program may choose to opt out and not receive Summer EBT benefits. Households may opt out some or all of the children in the household. Once a customer has opted out of Summer EBT benefits, they have the option to opt back in anytime before the end of the SOP as long as other Summer EBT benefits have not expunged on the case.
Households can request to opt out or opt in by calling the Summer EBT Hotline at 1-833-621-0737 or households who have linked their ABE account with Manage My Case (MMC) may also opt out via the MMC portal by clicking the "Manage My SEBT Benefits" button. Households can no longer opt out through the Summer EBT page of the IDHS website.
Correspondence, Website and Hotline
The first time a streamlined eligible household is in pending approval status an Initial Notice of Eligibility for Summer EBT Benefits will be sent to the household. This will be sent prior to benefit issuance to allow customers time to review their eligibility and opt out if they so choose.
Summer EBT Application Notice of Eligibility (IL444-5432) will be sent to households who file an application for Summer EBT benefits. This notice will inform the customer of their eligibility for Summer EBT.
Summer EBT Notice of Change (IL444-5433) will be sent to customers who experience any change to their Summer EBT case after their initial notice of eligibility but prior to benefits being issued.
Summer EBT Income Verification Checklist (IL444-0267SEBT) will be sent to households who need to submit income verifications. It will provide the customer examples of the requested verifications, the due date, instructions on how to submit the requested verifications, and the consequences of not returning the requested verifications.
For more information on the Summer EBT program FCRC's can refer customers to the:
Instead of customers completing the Summer EBT General Inquiry Request form on the IDHS homepage for the following requests, they should now be referred to the Summer EBT Screener in the Summer EBT Portal:
- Report a change of address;
- Contact an IDHS 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 Summer EBT General Inquiry Request forms on the IDHS homepage is no longer available.
Summer EBT Screener - New Functionality Summer 2025
Summer EBT Screener functionality will expand in May 2025 to include additional self-service options for customers via a "Contact Us" link that will be on the Summer EBT Screener Results Page. The available self-service options that customers will have will depend on the screener results they obtain, see the table below.
| Summer EBT Screener Results |
Contact Us Options |
- "You don't need to apply"; or
- "You don't need to apply, but we need some more information"
|
- Change of Address
- Update Contact Information
- Opt Out or Voluntarily Return Summer EBT benefits
- Summer EBT benefits or approval letter not received
- Problems choosing a PIN for Summer EBT Benefits
- Other
|
- "We need more information from you"; or
- "We do not have enough information to determine your child's Summer EBT eligibility."
|
- Child should be eligible, but not found in Summer EBT Screener
- Questions about using the Summer EBT Screener
- Other
|
Systematic processes in IES will attempt to auto-process the "Change of Address", "Update Contact Information", and "Opt Out" requests when the customer can confirm their current address and it matches IDHS records in IES.
Manage My Summer EBT Benefits - New Summer 2025
In May 2025, a button titled "Manage My SEBT Benefits" was added to the MMC portal. On the Manage My SEBT Benefits page, customers will be able to:
- View the Summer EBT individual status of all members in their household;
- View benefit details and notices; and
- Opt-in or out of Summer EBT benefits.
- Systematic processes in IES will attempt to auto-process the opt in and opt out requests when the customer can confirm their current address and it matches IDHS records in IES.
Manual Revisions
[signed copy on file]
Dulce M. Quintero
Secretary, Illinois Department of Human Services
Forms Referenced
IL444-0267SEBT
IL444-0541
IL444-4500
IL444-5269
IL444-5432
IL444-5433
IL444-5436
IL444-9304
