Massachusetts Governor Maura T. Healey launched the new Massachusetts Summer Child Nutrition Program, joining Congressman Jim McGovern, U.S. Department of Agriculture Administrator of Food and Nutrition Services Cindy Long, community partners, local and state officials at Fales Elementary School in Westborough.
The new federally funded child nutrition program, also known as Summer EBT, will provide low-income families with school-age children financial assistance to buy groceries while schools are closed for the summer. Payments are set to begin next week at $120 for each eligible child.
“Massachusetts is proud to be launching this game changing child nutrition program. We know that far too many families suffer from food insecurity, especially when kids are home in the summer months,” said Governor Maura Healey. “This program will help relieve those pressures by providing families with financial assistance to buy healthy groceries, supporting their health and wellbeing, as well as our local economy. We’re grateful to the Biden-Harris Administration and Congress for permanently establishing this program.”
The Summer Child Nutrition Program is estimated to bring in more than $70 million in federal funds to the state’s economy, supporting over 600,000 children and their families. The program is being administered by the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) in collaboration with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and local school districts. It complements the Summer Eats program, which provides free meals to all kids and teens, ages 18 and under, at locations across Massachusetts during the summer months.
Families already enrolled in SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), TAFDC Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children, or some MassHealth plans are automatically enrolled in Summer EBT and do not need to take any action.
Families who are not automatically enrolled can apply online using DTA Connect. Families have until September 7 to apply.
Families who currently receive DTA benefits (SNAP and/or TAFDC) will get their Summer EBT payment on their existing EBT card. Families who do not already receive DTA benefits will receive a Summer EBT card in the mail.
More information on the program and further details on how to apply can be found online at Mass.gov/SummerEBT.