Ohio families have until Aug. 14 to apply for 2026 Summer EBT benefits
Ohio families can apply through midnight Friday, Aug. 14, for the state’s 2026 Summer EBT grocery benefit.
The program, also known as SUN Bucks, provides a one-time $120 benefit for each eligible child. Many children are enrolled automatically, but families who are not should check their status and apply before the deadline.
Who qualifies automatically
Ohio says school-aged children generally receive Summer EBT without an application if, on or after July 1, 2025, they participated in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Ohio Works First or Medicaid. For Medicaid, household income also must meet the applicable federal guidelines for free or reduced-price school meals.
Children certified for free or reduced-price meals through a participating school during the 2025-26 school year may also qualify automatically. Attendance at a community-eligibility or Provision 2 school does not, by itself, make every student eligible.
Families should check whether a benefit has already been issued before applying. Ohio warns against submitting a duplicate application or using Summer EBT benefits issued by more than one state for the same child.
Who may need to apply
Families may need to apply if a child attended a school participating in the National School Lunch Program during the 2025-26 school year but was not automatically certified through one of the qualifying programs. The state application page says school enrollment will be verified with the district.
The application is only for Summer EBT. It is not an application for free or reduced-price school meals.
Fully homeschooled or fully virtual students without access to a school meal program are not eligible through the application route. Some may still qualify automatically through SNAP, Ohio Works First or qualifying Medicaid if the household meets the income requirement.
What information the application requires
The online form asks for the student’s name, date of birth, district and school information, household address and income details. Applicants must report gross earnings before deductions and other household income listed in the state instructions.
Families may upload documents such as pay stubs or bank statements to support income information. Before uploading, Ohio advises applicants to redact sensitive information such as Social Security numbers and taxpayer identification numbers.
Submit the application through Ohio’s Summer EBT website by midnight Aug. 14, 2026. The state says households applying through the form may receive benefits within two months after approval, so payment is not necessarily immediate.
How the $120 benefit arrives
Households with an active SNAP account should receive the benefit on the child’s Ohio Direction Card.
Other approved households receive a separate Summer EBT card for each eligible child. The card is mailed in a plain white envelope addressed to the child.
The benefit can be used for eligible groceries at authorized retailers, including grocery stores and farmers markets. Ohio says the benefit is issued once at $120 per eligible child, and funds expire 122 days after issuance.
Families who received a Summer EBT benefit in May 2026 should check Ohio’s funds-availability tool because those benefits expire in September 2026. The tool provides the exact fund-expungement date.
How to check status or get help
Ohio’s Summer EBT website includes tools to check income eligibility, track an application and view the availability of issued funds.
Families with questions about eligibility, duplicate benefits or an application can call 866-244-0071 and choose Option 1. Watch for a deposit on an Ohio Direction Card or a plain white envelope containing a new card.
Sources
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