By Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services
LINCOLN, Neb. – The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has sent out its seventh and last regular scheduled issuance of Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) benefits starting today, Sept. 9, 2025.
Throughout the 2025 Summer EBT period, households with eligible school-age children were able to receive assistance in buying groceries with the program’s second year of operation. A one-time payment of $120 was issued for each eligible child, intended to cover the three summer months at $40/month.
The last regular scheduled issuance was sent to eligible students as reported by school districts and any new eligibility determinations through public assistance benefits and Summer EBT applications.
Summer EBT cards were mailed to eligible families using their registered address with DHHS or their child’s school. Once families receive the Summer EBT card, it must be activated using the instructions mailed with the card.
Eligible families will have 122 days, or four months, to use Summer EBT benefits. The 122-day count begins the day after benefits are issued. If benefits are not used within 122 days, funds will be returned to the federal government and cannot be reissued.
Expiration dates for Summer EBT issuances are as follows:
- April 23 issuance: August 23, 2025
- May 15 issuance: September 14, 2025
- June 5 issuance: October 5, 2025
- June 26 issuance: October 26, 2025
- July 17 issuance: November 16, 2025
- August 12 issuance: December 12, 2025
- September 9 issuance: January 9, 2026
Summer EBT benefits can be used to purchase food at grocery stores, online food retailers and farmer’s markets that accept SNAP EBT. To use the activated card at an approved retailer:
- Select “EBT.”
- Swipe the card.
- Enter your private PIN.
Please allow 7-10 business days for the card to arrive in the mail. If you need a replacement Summer EBT card, the following options are available:
- Via EBT Edge (if your address has not changed) by calling 877-247-6328.
- You will need to report the card as lost/stolen/damaged.
- When it asks for a date of birth, use the child’s date of birth that activated the card.
- For the social security number, enter “0000.”
- You will be transferred to a customer service representative. When speaking to the customer service representative, you can provide your account number if you know it.
- Complete the SEBT replacement card request via this link: https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/SEBT-Card-Replacement.aspx.
- Contact DHHS
- Via email at [email protected]; or
- Via phone at 1-800-383-4278 and selecting option 5.
For more information on the program, please visit https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Summer-EBT.aspx.