VT, NY, MA Summer EBT enrollment deadline looms

ALBANY, N.Y. ( NEWS10 ) — The USDA’s Summer EBT Program available in Vermont, New York, and Massachusetts provides low-income students with a one-time payment of $120 to buy groceries. As one woman told NEWS10, the program made all the difference for her and her children.

“As a single mom of two kids, it’s become difficult to keep food in the fridge,” said Rosa Arias. She told NEWS10’s Zion Decoteau that she’ll ensure her children eat before she does.

“Sometimes there’s not enough for me…to have enough nutrition for myself. And, I’ve ended up in emergency two times, and I had a nutrition deficiency,” Arias detailed.

Summer can be especially taxing on the grocery budget as kids are home all day. “They eat more and then we have to get ready to buy more school supplies and everything and sometimes it’s just really hard,” Arias continued.

So, in came the US Department of Agriculture’s National Summer EBT program to help those with low income. Ivy Enoch from ‘Hunger Free Vermont’ said the problem is especially prevalent in the Green Mountain State. “Recent information we have shows that about two in five folks experienced food insecurity,” Enoch said. “No kid should have to learn what hunger feels like,” she continued.

Children in Vermont, New York and Massachusetts who receive certain public assistance benefits, already qualify and will AUTOMATICALLY receive Summer EBT.  To find out the status of your automatic benefits go to USDA.GOV’s Summer EBT page and click on your state for more info. For those without automatic enrollment, follow the same process.

“Summer benefit EBT cards can be used anywhere that accepts EBT, which is at more than 600 retailers across Vermont, and more than 30 farmers markets across the state,” Enoch said.

Arias says having fed and happy children is one less stressor during the hectic back-to-school season.  “Knowing that my kids are going to be feed throughout the summer that…you know…I cannot express the feeling. It’s really amazing!” the mom told NEWS10.

2024 Summer EBT Enrollment Deadlines:

• New York : Sep 3
• Vermont : Sep 4
• Massachusetts : Sep 7

Find out more about the program by clicking here .

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