A new program that is being funded with federal funds, provides food assistance to families with school-age children, will have important local implications, says District 186 School Superintendent Jennifer Gill, state and federal officials made an announcement of the approval of the state’s summer EBT program by the United States Department of Agriculture on May 15. This is part of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP benefits.
This now provides a one-time issue of $120 per child benefit throughout the summer months. The program is described as “the first of its kind” in more than 50 years.
Gill said while at a press conference at Enos Elementary School that approximately 8,500 district children could be eligible for the program.The eligibility requirements are the same as those eligible for free or lower-priced meals at school, meaning they come from families earning 185% of the federal poverty level. The local distribution in Illinois’ state capital, Springfield, will take place in 20 schools throughout the district, and will take place at the same time of their summer learning programs.
Summer EBT SNAP Benefits for Children in Illinois
“Not only will they continue to learn, but they will also get breakfast and lunch every day,” Gill said. “That’s a huge burden that’s been taken off our families.”
Statewide, more than 1 million children are expected to be eligible for the program, which does not require citizenship. Governor JB Pritzker said it will help address food insecurity while also helping with the students’ academic achievement, social function, and physical and mental health.
Children will be automatically enrolled if they were enrolled on or after July 1, 2023, in either the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps; Income-eligible Medicaid; Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF; or the state’s youth in care or foster care system.
Families who are not part of these programs, but who may qualify based on income requirements, can also apply through a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP).
How Will the Summer SNAP Benefits Distributed to Families in Need?
Families who qualify will receive the money in the form of an electronic benefit transfer, or EBT card, known in Illinois as a Link card.
For families who are already enrolled in the SNAP or TANF programs, the $120 per child benefit will be charged to their existing Link card.
Others are getting a new card in the mail from the Illinois Department of Human Services. According to the state’s Summer EBT website, the 2024 benefits will be distributed by the end of the summer.
Who Is Eligible to Receive SUN Bucks?
Those children who are eligible in the following categories will receive SUN Bucks automatically, without the need to submit an application, in the month of June.
- Children whose families received benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or the Temporary Assistance for Family Independence Program (FITAP) during the 2023-2024 school year.
- Children who applied and were individually approved for free or low-cost school meals through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
- On the other hand, children from the following categories can be candidates to receive SUN Bucks, but they will have to submit an application.
- Homeless children
- Immigrant children
- Children who receive free or low-cost school meals, but did not complete an NSLP application (for example, if the child attends a school with community eligibility provision where all students receive free or low-cost meals without submitting an application)
Even if your family does not fall into any of the above-mentioned categories, your child may still be eligible to receive SUN Bucks based on your family’s income, the DCFS reported.
