The program provides a one-time $120 grocery benefit for each eligible child. Families should check an existing SNAP EBT card or a separate SUN Bucks card, confirm the balance and use the funds before the expiration date assigned to that issuance.

What SUN Bucks provided

SUN Bucks, also known as Summer EBT, helps eligible families buy food while school is out. Iowa HHS says the benefit can be used at participating grocery stores, farmers markets and other authorized retailers.

The 2026 application period is closed. Iowa HHS says information about the 2027 program will be posted later.

Who could qualify automatically

Automatic eligibility covered certain children who were in kindergarten through 12th grade during the 2025-26 school year and attended a school participating in the federal National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program. Some children ages 6 through 16 during the program’s specified eligibility period also could qualify automatically.

Automatically eligible children also had to meet at least one qualifying condition. Iowa HHS lists receiving SNAP or the Family Investment Program, receiving Medicaid at or below 185% of the federal poverty level, being in foster care, or being approved for free or reduced-price school meals. School meal eligibility could include children who were homeless, runaways or migrants.

Attendance at a Community Eligibility Provision school alone did not guarantee SUN Bucks eligibility. Iowa’s Department of Education says a child at a CEP school could qualify through direct certification, but otherwise a parent or guardian needed to submit a SUN Bucks application.

Who needed to apply

Children who were not automatically eligible could qualify through an application if they were enrolled during the 2025-26 school year at a school participating in the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program and the household met Iowa HHS income guidelines.

For the guideline period from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, Iowa HHS listed a gross monthly income limit of $5,088 for a household of four. Limits varied by household size, and meeting the income figure alone was not a universal guarantee of eligibility because the program also required the applicable school and child conditions.

How benefits arrived

Households active in SNAP generally received the SUN Bucks benefit on their existing SNAP EBT card. Other eligible children received a separate SUN Bucks card mailed to the household, with the card issued in the child’s name.

Iowa HHS says addresses associated with SNAP, FIP, Medicaid or foster-care cases were used in some cases. For other children, the mailing address came from information reported to the school. Families should check whether a card arrived, confirm the address and activate the card if necessary.

Food rules changed July 2

Iowa HHS says a July 2 federal action directed the state to return to federal SNAP food-purchase guidelines. According to the agency, foods that were eligible before January 1, 2026, are again allowed under SUN Bucks.

The change occurred after Iowa’s food-restriction waiver had begun. The federal waiver record shows that the Iowa restriction was approved to take effect January 1, 2026. Families should follow the current rules used by participating retailers and Iowa HHS rather than relying on earlier lists from the beginning of the summer program.

Benefits expire 122 days after issuance

The expiration clock starts on the date each benefit was issued, not necessarily on August 14. Iowa HHS says unused benefits expire at midnight on the 122nd day after issuance. On day 123, the balance becomes zero, and expired benefits cannot be restored.

Iowa HHS also says expired, lost or stolen benefits cannot be replaced or appealed. Families with a missing card, an outdated address or a problem activating a card should contact the agency or Iowa EBT promptly. Reporting a problem does not guarantee replacement of the benefits, but it can help resolve an address, card or activation issue before the funds expire.

For a lost, stolen or hard-to-activate EBT or SUN Bucks card, Iowa HHS lists Iowa EBT customer service at 1-800-359-5802. Families seeking help verifying eligibility or an address can call Iowa HHS at 1-877-347-5678.

Other summer food help remains available

Children and teens 18 and younger may still be able to receive free meals through Iowa’s SUN Meals and SUN Meals To-Go programs. Families can call 2-1-1, call 1-866-3-HUNGRY, call 1-877-8-HAMBRE for Spanish assistance, or text “summer meals” to 914-342-7744 to find a meal site.

Sources

• Iowa HHS SUN Bucks program page
• Iowa Department of Education SUN Bucks program guide
• USDA Food and Nutrition Service Iowa SNAP Food Restriction Waiver record

The Arkansas rules began July 1, 2026, and also apply to the state’s Summer EBT benefits. Current agency guidance means affected households must use another payment method for restricted products, while eligible staple foods, SNAP eligibility and monthly benefit allotments remain unchanged.

What Arkansas SNAP benefits cannot buy

The USDA approval record identifies these restricted categories:

• Soda
• Low- and no-calorie soda
• Fruit and vegetable drinks containing less than 50% natural juice
• Other unhealthy drinks, including the energy-drink category identified in current USDA implementation materials
• Candy

The restrictions change what benefits can purchase. They do not, by themselves, change who qualifies for SNAP, the size of a household’s monthly allotment or access to ordinary eligible groceries.

What recipients will see at checkout

When a restricted item is included in a transaction, it must be paid for separately with cash or a credit or debit card. Retailers are responsible for applying the rules when processing an Arkansas EBT card.

Arkansas DHS guidance says the restrictions also apply to online purchases and to shopping outside Arkansas when an Arkansas household uses its benefits. The cardholder’s state determines which waiver rules apply, so retailers and fulfillment centers may need to identify the state connected to the EBT card.

For households using 2026 Summer EBT benefits, the same product restrictions began July 1. Summer EBT eligibility and issuance are separate questions from the restrictions, so not every child or family automatically receives those benefits.

What the June 22 court ruling did

In Aragon v. Rollins, a U.S. District Court judge on June 22, 2026, granted the plaintiffs’ summary-judgment motion and vacated USDA approval documents for pilot projects in Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, Tennessee and West Virginia.

The court found that USDA used the wrong statutory authority to approve the projects. It also ruled that the agency failed to follow a regulation requiring Federal Register notice at least 30 days before a demonstration project likely to have a significant public impact.

The court’s remedy vacated and remanded the approvals. The ruling did not decide whether Arkansas’ waiver is lawful, and it was not a nationwide injunction automatically invalidating every state’s food restrictions.

Why Arkansas is still operating

Arkansas was not one of the states directly covered by the listed court order. USDA’s current waiver materials continue to list Arkansas with a July 1 implementation date, and Arkansas DHS continues to describe the restrictions as statewide and in effect.

Those pages show the agencies’ current position; they are not a judicial ruling upholding Arkansas’ program. The longer-term legal status remains unsettled because the court’s reasoning addressed USDA’s statutory authority and notice procedures for comparable food-restriction projects.

The Associated Press reported that Arkansas officials were proceeding despite the ruling. Retailers have been preparing item lists and other tools to identify products that cannot be purchased with benefits, while online and multistate retailers may need to apply different rules based on the state associated with an EBT card.

What to watch next

The status of Arkansas’ program could change through an appeal, new USDA guidance, a federal directive or separate litigation involving Arkansas. Recipients should check current notices from Arkansas DHS and USDA before making assumptions about a product or transaction.

For questions about Arkansas SNAP rules, recipients can use the contact information provided by Arkansas DHS or consult the agency’s waiver FAQ. Retailers and online shoppers should rely on current state item guidance because product classifications may require a transaction-level decision.

Sources

• Arkansas SNAP Food Restriction Waiver — USDA Food and Nutrition Service
• SNAP Nutrition Waiver — Arkansas Department of Human Services
• Aragon et al. v. Rollins et al., Document 36 — U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
• Arkansas banning government food aid for candy and soda in spite of court ruling — Associated Press

The change was enacted by Congress through Section 10106 of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025. USDA’s proposed rule, published June 24, 2026, would update SNAP regulations to reflect the statutory change.

USDA estimates that the change would reduce federal administrative spending and increase state administrative spending by approximately $16.9 billion over fiscal years 2027 through 2031, or about $3.4 billion per year. The agency describes that amount as a transfer of costs from the federal government to states, with an estimated net change of zero in combined federal and state spending.

What the proposal would change

State agencies use SNAP administrative funds to determine eligibility, process applications and renewals, issue benefits, maintain program technology, conduct outreach and carry out other required operations.

Under the proposal, the federal government would reimburse 25% of eligible ordinary state administrative costs instead of the current 50% beginning in fiscal year 2027. States would therefore be responsible for covering a larger share through their own budgets and administrative decisions.

USDA says the proposal is required by statute and that it has identified no regulatory alternatives. The agency is requesting comments on how the cost shift could affect program operations and overall spending.

SNAP benefits would not be cut directly by this rule

The proposed rule concerns the cost of administering SNAP, not the monthly food-benefit formula. USDA’s analysis says it expects the rule to have a negligible effect on SNAP benefit spending and participation.

That does not mean the change would have no practical effect on households. States will have to decide how to absorb the additional expense. Possible pressure points include eligibility and renewal staffing, call centers, information technology, payment operations, outreach and processing capacity. The consequences will depend on state budget decisions and agency operations; the proposal does not itself require states to reduce eligibility or access.

More than 37 million people received SNAP benefits nationwide in March, according to preliminary USDA figures cited by The Associated Press. That makes the capacity of state benefit offices a broad public-impact issue, particularly for households that depend on timely applications, renewals and benefit issuance.

Some reimbursement rules would remain different

The proposed change would not apply identically to every SNAP administrative expense. SNAP Employment and Training administrative costs and related participant reimbursements, such as transportation and child care, would remain eligible for a 50% federal reimbursement rate.

The proposal also preserves a 75% federal reimbursement rate for state agencies and Indian Tribal Organizations administering SNAP on reservations.

The administrative cost shift is separate from other SNAP provisions involving state responsibility for benefit costs tied to payment error rates. Those requirements concern benefit-payment accuracy and have different conditions and timelines.

What happens next

The rule is not final. USDA says written comments must be received by August 24, 2026, through Regulations or other submission methods listed in the Federal Register notice.

After the comment period, the final effect will depend on USDA’s final rule, any further action by Congress, state budget decisions and how state agencies adjust their operations. For SNAP households, the immediate point is that this proposed rule would not reduce monthly benefit amounts. Its direct effect would be to require states to finance a larger share of the systems and staff used to deliver those benefits beginning in fiscal year 2027.

Sources

• Federal Register: SNAP administrative cost-sharing proposal
• USDA proposed-rule PDF
• Associated Press: SNAP participation and state costs

The benefit is tied to the 2025-26 school year. Nevada will still accept applications submitted after Aug. 9, but the Division of Social Services says those applications will be reviewed for the next year’s Summer EBT program rather than the current one.

Check the portal before applying

Families should first use the Access Nevada Summer EBT portal to search for each child. The system can show whether a child is already approved through automatic eligibility.

If a child is found and already eligible, no additional application is required. If the child is not listed or is not automatically eligible, the portal can direct the household through an application requesting household, income and school information.

Who may qualify automatically

Nevada says many children qualify through streamlined certification. That can include children who attend a school participating in the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program and qualify for free or reduced-price meals through direct certification, an approved school meal application or a school determination involving homelessness, migrant status, foster care or runaway status.

Children ages 6 through 18 may also qualify if they were on a SNAP, TANF or qualifying Medicaid case at any point during the 2025-26 instructional year through Aug. 9, 2026. Those children do not need to attend a school participating in the federal school meal programs. Children participating in the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations may qualify under the same period-based rules.

CEP school students may still need to apply

Attendance at a Community Eligibility Provision school does not, by itself, make a child automatically eligible for Summer EBT.

CEP schools provide free meals to all students through the federal school meal programs regardless of household income. Nevada says families at those schools may still need to submit a Summer EBT application based on household income unless the child qualifies through another automatic pathway.

Income limits for households that must apply

Families generally should apply if their child is not automatically eligible, attends a school participating in the National School Lunch or School Breakfast program and the household income is at or below 185% of the federal poverty level.

Nevada’s income guidelines, updated July 1, 2026, list these annual limits:

• One-person household: $29,526
• Two-person household: $40,034
• Three-person household: $50,542
• Four-person household: $61,050
• Each additional household member: $10,508

Meeting an income limit does not guarantee approval. Eligibility remains subject to the program’s other requirements and, in some cases, verification.

How to apply

In the Access Nevada portal, search for the child, review the result and complete an application if the child is not found or is not automatically eligible. Families should provide complete and accurate household, income and school information to help avoid processing delays.

How the benefit arrives and works

Children connected to an active SNAP or TANF case may have the $120 benefit added to the household’s existing EBT card if the guardian information matches. Some children who received Summer EBT last year may receive the benefit on the same card if the child’s and guardian’s information has not changed and the card was used at least once last summer.

Newly eligible children generally receive an S-EBT card by mail. Nevada says cards may be sent to the address in the school registration system, an address connected to the child’s DSS case or the address included on a new application.

The card can be used at SNAP-authorized retailers for eligible groceries, including breads and cereals, fruits and vegetables, meat, fish, poultry, dairy products and seeds or plants that produce food. Alcohol, tobacco, vitamins and medicines, hot or prepared foods and nonfood items are not covered. Nevada’s program flyer says the benefit is to be used in the state where the child completed school.

Benefits expire 122 days after they become available. Any unused balance removed after that period cannot be replaced under federal rules. Receiving Summer EBT also does not prevent a child from receiving summer meals through schools or other organizations.

State estimates about 302,000 children will be served

The Nevada Department of Human Services said in June that approximately 302,000 children were expected to receive Summer EBT assistance in 2026, representing roughly $35 million in benefits.

The state reported that about $18 million had already been issued to more than 157,000 automatically eligible children and that another $17 million was planned for more than 144,000 children receiving new cards. Those are state estimates and issuance figures, not independently audited totals.

Where to get help

Families with questions can call Nevada’s S-EBT customer service center Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., excluding state and federal holidays. The number is 775-684-8740 in Northern Nevada and 702-486-9640 in Southern Nevada.

Sources

• Nevada Division of Social Services: Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (S-EBT) Program
• Nevada Department of Human Services: Nevada Continues Fight Against Childhood Hunger

The district announced the return of the services June 23. The programs are intended to provide meals and take-home food for children during the summer period, when school cafeterias are closed. That gives eligible children continued access to food support beyond the regular school year and directly affects families in Valatie and the surrounding Ichabod Crane district service area.

What returned

The district brought back two forms of support: a free weekday summer lunch program and a weekend backpack program. The lunch service addresses weekday meals, while the backpack program provides food that children can take home for the weekend.

The announcement identifies the effort as a school-district service for children. It does not establish that every child in Valatie qualifies, and the available source material does not provide the program’s eligibility rules.

Ichabod Crane Central School District lists its address as 2910 Route 9, Valatie, NY 12184, tying the announcement directly to the village. The Village of Valatie’s official minutes and agendas page independently identifies the municipality as Valatie in Columbia County, New York, but does not document the meals program itself.

What families should know

The known service start date was June 29, 2026. The district’s announcement confirms the return of the programs, but the available source excerpt does not state the full weekday schedule, pickup locations, eligibility requirements or an end date.

It also does not provide participation totals or funding details. As a result, the available information confirms that the services resumed, but does not show how many children are using them, how the effort is financed or whether participation has changed from a previous year.

For families in Valatie and nearby communities served by the district, the practical development is the return of a district-run source of weekday lunches and weekend take-home food during the summer. The next date established in the announcement was the June 29 launch; no later deadline or closing date is identified in the supplied material.

The updated numbers matter because SNAP participation is falling as states implement changes to eligibility, work-related rules and program administration under Public Law 119-21, enacted July 4, 2025. At the same time, states are preparing for a new requirement to help pay for SNAP benefits beginning in fiscal year 2028.

CBPP’s tracker, updated July 21, found that the number of children receiving SNAP fell by 1,069,158 across 19 states with public or shared child-participation data. Total SNAP participation in those states fell by 2,442,853 people, or about 12 percent. Child participation fell by about 13 percent.

The most recent state figures generally run through March, April, May or June 2026, depending on the state. Because the reporting periods and definitions vary, the figures should be read as a measure of the change in those states, not as a final national tally.

What the national estimate means

CBPP separately estimates that more than 1.5 million children may have lost SNAP access nationally based on the available state reporting. The organization cautions that the 19-state sample may not represent the country. Arizona’s unusually large decline is one reason the state-level results should not be mechanically treated as a national rate.

CBPP also says USDA data show that total SNAP participation nationwide fell by more than 4.5 million people, or about 11 percent, between the law’s enactment in July 2025 and April 2026. That national comparison uses federal participation data, while the newer child estimate relies on state reporting because federal child-level tables do not provide the same timely national measure.

USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service remains the authoritative federal source for SNAP participation, benefits and payment-error data. Its public tables and state reports do not all update on the same schedule, and the newest month of federal data is often preliminary. State agencies may also count or revise participation somewhat differently.

A decline in participation does not show that every affected household was improperly denied. People can leave SNAP voluntarily, lose eligibility under enacted rules, miss an interview or recertification deadline, face processing delays, or be terminated incorrectly. The available participation figures do not separate those causes for every state.

Why families may be losing assistance

Public Law 119-21 expanded SNAP work-related requirements, restricted eligibility for some lawfully present immigrants and changed benefit and administrative rules. States have had to revise procedures, update eligibility systems, train workers and communicate new requirements to participants.

Those changes can create practical barriers for households that may still qualify under some circumstances. Missing a deadline, submitting incomplete documentation, failing to reach a call center or encountering an agency backlog can interrupt benefits. CBPP has reported examples of increased documentation demands, processing delays and more frequent recertification in some states. Such interruptions can produce “churn,” when a household loses benefits and later reenrolls.

The updated participation figures also do not prove that need has declined. CBPP notes that participation fell in most states and that some of the largest reductions followed changes in policy and administration. But participation data alone cannot measure food insecurity or establish why each household stopped receiving benefits.

States face future SNAP costs

Beginning October 1, 2027, most states are expected to pay between 5 percent and 15 percent of SNAP benefit costs, with the percentage tied to payment-error rates. The law provides delayed implementation for some states with especially high error rates.

USDA reported a national SNAP payment-error rate of 10.62 percent for fiscal year 2025, combining a 9.28 percent overpayment rate and a 1.33 percent underpayment rate. Payment-error rates measure benefit overpayments and underpayments; they do not treat an improper denial or termination of an eligible household as the same type of error.

Using fiscal year 2025 error rates and estimated benefit spending, CBPP projects that 35 states and one U.S. territory could face substantial new costs in fiscal year 2028, totaling roughly $9 billion. Those are projections, not enacted charges or final state budget liabilities. Actual amounts will depend on fiscal year 2025 or 2026 error rates, participation, benefit levels and economic conditions.

The new cost structure could affect state budget decisions and program administration. States may need to spend more of their own money on benefits while also receiving a smaller federal share of administrative costs beginning in fiscal year 2027. Whether that produces tighter eligibility administration, slower processing, reduced access or other changes will depend on state decisions and future federal guidance.

What to watch next

The next important developments include newer USDA participation tables, final fiscal year 2026 payment-error rates, state budget decisions and any congressional or court action affecting the cost shift or SNAP eligibility rules. USDA is not expected to finalize fiscal year 2026 error rates until June 30, 2027, according to CBPP’s analysis.

People who receive a SNAP denial or termination notice should read the stated reason and deadline carefully, contact their state SNAP office and ask about appeal or fair-hearing procedures. The notice may explain whether benefits can continue while an appeal is pending.

Sources

• USDA Food and Nutrition Service SNAP data tables
• CBPP SNAP Tracker, updated July 21, 2026
• Public Law 119-21

As of Wednesday, Aug. 5, the waiver is still in effect statewide. Counting Aug. 5 through Aug. 13, nine calendar days remain; there are eight full days after today before the expiration date.

What changed

The U.S. Department of Agriculture approved Louisiana’s waiver on July 15 after Tropical Storm Arthur, which began June 17, and related power outages. The waiver took effect immediately. The Louisiana Department of Health publicly announced it on July 20.

During the waiver period, all Louisiana SNAP households may use their existing benefits to buy eligible hot or prepared foods at authorized Louisiana retailers. The waiver applies statewide, not only in communities directly affected by the storm.

The change does not add money to EBT accounts. It is not an emergency allotment or D-SNAP, and households do not receive additional SNAP funds because of the waiver.

Restaurant meals remain excluded

The temporary permission applies only to eligible food sold by retailers authorized to accept SNAP. Restaurant meals remain excluded under this waiver.

Residents should not assume that every grocery store, convenience store or other food seller accepts SNAP or is ready to process hot-food purchases. The retailer must be authorized, the item must qualify and the store’s transaction system must be updated for the temporary rule.

Why a card may not work immediately

USDA says retailer systems may require 24 to 36 hours to update. A store also may need to confirm that its location is authorized and able to process eligible hot or prepared foods before a transaction will go through.

SNAP recipients can ask an authorized retailer whether the waiver has been activated before selecting hot food. Confirming first may help avoid a declined transaction at checkout.

What happens after Aug. 13

Unless officials announce a separate change, the temporary permission ends after Aug. 13, 2026. Normal SNAP rules then resume, including the general restriction on hot foods and foods prepared for immediate consumption.

Residents with case-specific questions should use Louisiana’s official SNAP assistance channels rather than rely on assumptions at a particular store. The waiver creates a temporary purchasing option, but it does not change a household’s benefit balance or make restaurant purchases eligible.

Sources

• USDA: Louisiana Disaster Nutrition Assistance
• Louisiana Department of Health: SNAP hot-food waiver
• KATC: Hot foods waiver issued for SNAP

The state is using $8.5 million from its Federal Cuts Response Fund for the program. The Department of Social Services arranged the distribution with Connecticut’s network of community action agencies, with support from the Connecticut Association for Community Action.

Who qualifies for the $300 benefit

The benefit is limited to individuals who lost SNAP eligibility because of the federal Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents, or ABAWD, work-rule changes since Dec. 1, 2025, and who are no longer receiving SNAP.

Residents should look for a DSS notice stating that they did not meet the ABAWD requirements and reached the three-month SNAP benefit limit. Eligibility is confirmed when the resident requests the grocery benefit through a local community action agency.

The benefit is issued per eligible individual, not per household. A household could therefore receive more than one $300 benefit if multiple individuals meet the eligibility requirements. Losing SNAP eligibility because of ABAWD rules also does not necessarily end benefits for everyone in the household; other members may remain eligible.

How to request the grocery card

DSS says affected residents should contact the community action agency serving their location. The agencies are handling outreach, eligibility verification and card distribution. Residents should not wait for the money to appear on their regular EBT card.

The statewide contact path depends on where a resident lives. DSS directs people who lost SNAP because of the federal work-rule changes to reach out directly to their local community action agency.

As one local example, Community Renewal Team is working with DSS on the grocery-card program for residents in Hartford and Middlesex counties. It lists SNAP outreach numbers of 860-560-5765 for Hartford County and 860-347-4465, extension 227, for Middlesex County. Residents elsewhere should use the community action agency serving their area rather than assume those numbers apply statewide.

How the prepaid benefit works

The grocery benefit comes as a prepaid virtual Mastercard or Visa. It can be used at food retailers that accept standard credit cards, but it is intended for purchases that generally qualify under SNAP rules.

The card does not expire, according to the state. Any unused balance remains available until it is spent. Receiving the benefit does not affect a recipient’s eligibility for other assistance programs.

How this differs from regular SNAP

The $300 payment is a one-time, state-funded bridge. It is not a replacement for ongoing SNAP and is not an automatic deposit into a household’s EBT account.

Residents who remain eligible for SNAP should continue following DSS instructions for renewals, reporting changes and maintaining benefits. A household should also check whether other members continue to qualify even if one individual lost benefits under the ABAWD rules.

Where to get additional help

DSS directs residents who need food pantries, soup kitchens or mobile food assistance to 2-1-1 Connecticut and Connecticut Foodshare. The DSS Benefits Center can be reached at 855-626-6632 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Residents who received a notice about losing SNAP under the ABAWD rules should keep that notice available when contacting their local community action agency. The state’s Aug. 4 rollout announcement does not mean every potentially eligible person has already received a card; access is being handled through local agencies after eligibility is verified.

Sources

• Connecticut DSS SNAP Eligibility 2026 guidance
• Community Renewal Team SNAP outreach

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

• Ohio Summer EBT program homepage

Many eligible children are enrolled automatically through qualifying public benefits or school-meal records. But some families, including those whose children attend Community Eligibility Provision schools without an individual meal application on file, may need to apply before the deadline.

What SUN Bucks provides

SUN Bucks is Louisiana’s summer grocery benefit for eligible children generally ages 5 through 18. The one-time $120 benefit is intended to help families buy food during the summer break.

The benefit is separate from regular SNAP assistance. It is issued through an electronic benefits transfer card and can be used for eligible groceries at retailers that accept SNAP.

Who may be enrolled automatically

Louisiana says many eligible children do not need to submit an application when the state has qualifying records. Automatic eligibility may apply when a child is connected to one of these programs:

• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP
• Family Independence Temporary Assistance, or FITAP
• Kinship Care Subsidy Program, or KCSP
• Income-based Medicaid under Louisiana’s stated household-income rules

Children individually approved for free or reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program may also be enrolled automatically when the school supplies the qualifying information.

Who may need to apply

A child’s attendance at a Community Eligibility Provision school does not, by itself, mean the child is automatically enrolled in SUN Bucks. Families may need to apply if the child did not have an individual National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program application on file and is not already connected to a qualifying benefit program.

Other children may qualify under Louisiana’s household-income rules even if they are not matched automatically to a benefit program or school-meal record. The state’s application process—not this article—determines an individual child’s eligibility.

How to apply before the deadline

Families whose children are not automatically enrolled can use Louisiana’s SUN Bucks application portal. Applications for the summer 2026 benefit period must be received by August 20, 2026.

Applications received after August 20 will be considered for summer 2027, rather than the 2026 benefit period.

Families should provide complete information for each child included in the application and follow the portal’s instructions for documenting eligibility.

How the benefit arrives

Households that receive SNAP, or that have an existing SUN Bucks EBT card, may have the $120 benefit added to that card.

Other eligible households generally receive a separate preloaded card in a plain white envelope addressed to the child. Families with more than one eligible child may receive cards separately.

Louisiana advises families to check the mailing address on file with Medicaid, FITAP, KCSP and the child’s school. Cards are sent to the address listed in those records, so families who have moved should update their information before benefits are issued.

What SUN Bucks can buy

The card can be used at SNAP-authorized grocery stores, farmers markets and some online retailers. Eligible purchases include foods such as fruits, vegetables, meat, grains and dairy products.

Standard SNAP restrictions apply. SUN Bucks cannot be used for hot prepared foods or restaurant meals.

Use the funds within 122 days

Families should track when the benefit is loaded or issued. Louisiana says unused SUN Bucks expire 122 days after issuance or loading. The expiration date therefore depends on when a particular household’s benefit was issued, and expired funds cannot be replaced or returned to the card.

Families can check a SUN Bucks balance and manage the card through the LifeInCheck EBT app or the state’s EBT customer-service options. For families who are not automatically enrolled, the immediate next step is to apply by August 20.

Sources

• SUN Bucks | Louisiana Department of Health
• Louisiana | USDA Food and Nutrition Service
• One-time $120 payment per child available through SUN Bucks program, but funds expire after 122 days | KNOE

The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services is processing individual applications on a rolling basis. The benefit is issued as one summer payment, equal to $40 for each of the three summer months, and can be used to buy groceries at participating retailers.

Applications received after Aug. 31 can still be submitted, but they will be considered for the summer 2027 program rather than the 2026 benefit. DHS says issuances for approved Summer 2026 applications will be completed by October 2026.

Why the benefit matters

SUN Bucks is intended to help families cover grocery costs when children are out of school and regular school-year meal programs are unavailable. DHS estimates that about 1.3 million Pennsylvania children will qualify for the 2026 program.

The state began distributing automatic benefits in June. DHS said approximately 860,000 automatically eligible children were included in the first distribution. A July 15 update described a second and final automatic distribution for about 235,000 additional children, while individual applications continue to be processed separately.

Who receives SUN Bucks automatically

Many eligible children do not need to apply. Automatic eligibility generally includes children in households that received SNAP or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF, during the applicable program period.

Children receiving Medicaid with income that qualifies for the National School Lunch or School Breakfast Program may also be automatically eligible. Other automatic categories include children determined eligible for free or reduced-price school meals and certain children who are homeless, in foster care, runaway, migrant or enrolled in Head Start, when the program and school-participation rules apply.

Families should not assume that receiving free meals at school automatically guarantees SUN Bucks. Students at schools using the Community Eligibility Provision, where meals are provided without individual applications, may need to qualify through another category or submit a SUN Bucks application.

Check before applying

Pennsylvania DHS recommends using its SUN Bucks Eligibility Navigator first. The tool helps families determine whether a child qualifies and whether the benefit should arrive automatically or requires an application.

This step can help prevent households from submitting an unnecessary application while also identifying families who may otherwise miss the Aug. 31 deadline.

How to apply

Households that need to apply can submit an online application, mail a paper application or request assistance through a County Assistance Office.

Applicants should be prepared to provide information about each child, including the child’s age, birth date, school and mailing address, as well as household income. DHS says applicants do not need to provide a Social Security number, proof of citizenship or pay stubs. Providing a Social Security number or an existing case number, if available, may help with processing but is not required.

How the benefit arrives

Families that already have a SNAP or TANF electronic benefits transfer card may receive SUN Bucks on that existing card. Households without an eligible card may receive a separate Summer EBT card by mail.

DHS says eligible application-based benefits will be issued on a rolling basis. Families should not assume that applying in August means the benefit will arrive before the end of summer; the state’s target is to complete Summer 2026 application issuances by October.

What to do if you have questions

Families can use the Eligibility Navigator, review Pennsylvania’s SUN Bucks information or call the SUN Bucks FAQ line at 1-877-762-1575.

The key deadline is Aug. 31, 2026: an application received by that date can be considered for the 2026 $120 benefit, while a later application will be considered for summer 2027.

Sources

• Pennsylvania DHS SUN Bucks program page
• Pennsylvania SUN Bucks application portal
• Pennsylvania 2026 SUN Bucks school FAQ

In a July 6 announcement, the city said the federal funding supporting the program is ending. Everett said the program served approximately 400 residents each week during its six-year operation.

What the August 31 notice covers

The announcement does not specify whether the scheduled conclusion applies to every senior-meal service connected to Everett, including delivered meals, meals served at the Connolly Center, or multiple program components.

That distinction matters. A January 2025 City Council packet described a meal-delivery program for older and disabled residents separately from the lunch program offered to older residents at the Connolly Center. The city said at that time that the delivery operation provided 335 meals daily, in addition to the Connolly Center lunch program.

The 335-meals figure is historical and may describe a different service component or period than the city’s current estimate of approximately 400 residents served weekly. Residents should not assume that either number represents current participation or that all meal services will stop on the same date.

Who residents should call now

Everett is directing residents seeking assistance to the Connolly Center at 617-394-2323 and Mystic Valley Elder Services at 781-324-7705.

The city says those organizations can provide information about Meals on Wheels, community food resources and other support services. Residents should ask whether their current service is part of the program scheduled to end August 31 and what alternatives may be available afterward.

Residents who are older, disabled or have difficulty leaving home should explain their mobility or health circumstances when calling. Replacement programs may have separate age, disability, residency, income, referral or capacity requirements, and the city has not said that another program will provide the same frequency, delivery schedule or menu.

Food and delivery alternatives

Everett’s food-assistance page lists local meals, food pantries, grocery delivery and Meals on Wheels information. The page says grocery deliveries may be available weekly, biweekly or monthly for eligible individuals or couples over 60 with mobility impairments, or for people with mobility impairments referred by a health care provider.

The page also lists Meals on Wheels for adults 60 and older and qualified people with disabilities. It describes hot meals delivered five days a week, with frozen meals for weekends and holidays. Residents should confirm enrollment rules, current availability and delivery coverage before relying on the service.

Other listed options include food pantries and community food programs in Everett and nearby communities. Because schedules and eligibility can change, residents should verify hours and registration requirements before traveling, particularly if they need a delivered or accessible option.

Transportation remains an open question

Everett said transportation assistance may be available through the city’s new van service for residents who have difficulty traveling. The announcement does not provide booking procedures, eligibility rules, service-area details or a schedule.

Residents should ask the Connolly Center or Mystic Valley Elder Services whether the van can be used to reach a meal site or food-distribution location, how far in advance rides must be booked and whether accessible transportation is available.

Funding and next steps

The city attributes the scheduled conclusion to the end of the ARPA funding that supported the program. The July announcement does not identify replacement funding or confirm a continuation plan.

For residents who currently receive meals, the immediate step is to call before August 31 and clarify what service they receive, whether it is affected and which replacement programs they may qualify for. The larger unresolved question is whether Everett will identify another funding source or allow the community meal program to end as scheduled.

Sources

• City of Everett announcement

The change will apply statewide to purchases made with SNAP benefits, including transactions made with out-of-state EBT cards and eligible online orders delivered to North Dakota. It will not reduce SNAP eligibility or the amount of benefits a household receives.

The North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services is preparing retailers through guidance, technical assistance and scheduled webinars. Retailers must update their point-of-sale systems and complete a required state attestation. The state says retailers remain responsible for accurate compliance.

What the USDA-approved waiver does

The U.S. Department of Agriculture approved North Dakota’s request for a two-year SNAP food-restriction demonstration project. The project is scheduled to run from September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2028. Any extension would require additional approval.

The September 1 start date remains scheduled rather than guaranteed. The USDA approval says implementation must be delayed if North Dakota cannot meet the required conditions.

The project applies statewide to North Dakota’s SNAP caseload and changes which products may be purchased with EBT. USDA will evaluate the project using information from the state and other available sources. That evaluation does not establish health outcomes in advance.

A June 22, 2026 federal court ruling vacated USDA approvals for food-restriction waivers in Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, Tennessee and West Virginia. North Dakota was not among the states named in that ruling, and USDA continues to list North Dakota with a September 1 target date.

Which products will be restricted

North Dakota’s guidance uses product definitions rather than a simple list of brands or package types. The restricted categories are sweetened drinks or beverages, energy drinks and candy.

Sweetened drinks generally include nonalcoholic, water-based beverages with at least 5 grams of added sugar, any artificial sweetener or less than 50% fruit or vegetable juice by volume. The category can include soda, sweetened tea, sweetened lemonade, some sports and electrolyte drinks, bottled coffee drinks with added sugar, drink mixes and ingredients for liquid or frozen beverages.

Energy drinks, shots and drink mixes are restricted when they contain at least 65 milligrams of caffeine per 8 ounces or stimulants such as fortified caffeine, guarana, glucuronolactone, ginseng or taurine.

Candy includes products marketed or sold as candy, including chocolate bars, gummies, caramels, taffy, licorice and candy bars. Non-bakery products dipped, coated or covered in chocolate, yogurt or another candy coating may also fall within the definition. Store-brand products equivalent to candy and marketed as such are included.

Shoppers should not assume every sports drink, bar or chocolate-coated product is treated the same way. Product labels and the state’s flowcharts will matter for borderline items.

What will remain eligible

The waiver does not restrict the purchase of food generally. Examples that North Dakota says will remain eligible with SNAP include:

• Milk and milk substitutes such as soy, rice, oat and almond milk.
• Beverages containing more than 50% fruit or vegetable juice by volume.
• Unsweetened beverages, tea without added sugar and beverages with 5 grams of sugar or less or no artificial sweeteners.
• 100% juice and baby formula.
• Protein bars, granola bars and cereal bars.
• Products primarily sold as baking ingredients, including honey, sugar, alternative sweeteners, flour, maple syrup and chocolate chips.

North Dakota’s public guidance also lists flavored milk products, meal-replacement drinks with milk and unsweetened seltzer as eligible examples.

What happens at checkout

If a restricted product is scanned, the point-of-sale system should decline payment through SNAP. The shopper may still complete the purchase using another payment method, such as cash, a debit card or a credit card.

Online orders follow the same basic rule. An online retailer that accepts SNAP in North Dakota must block restricted food and drink items when an order is delivered to a North Dakota address.

The rule follows the location of the purchase. An out-of-state SNAP participant shopping at a North Dakota retailer must follow North Dakota’s restrictions. A North Dakota SNAP participant shopping in another state must follow that state’s rules.

What retailers must do

Each North Dakota retailer that accepts SNAP is responsible for updating its point-of-sale system to identify and decline restricted items. Retailers must also maintain an accurate understanding of which products are allowed and restricted.

All SNAP-authorized retailers must complete the state’s retailer attestation form acknowledging the updated requirements. North Dakota HHS says it will provide technical assistance, including guidance on product definitions and restricted items, but retailers remain responsible for compliance.

The state’s retailer guidance says no funds are currently available to help pay for point-of-sale upgrades. Retailers should track additional state guidance about technical assistance, system changes and implementation requirements.

North Dakota HHS has scheduled retailer information webinars through October 27. The listed sessions include August 13, August 25, September 10, September 22, October 8 and October 27; the July 28 session has already occurred.

Grace period and enforcement

Existing SNAP-authorized retailers will receive a 90-day grace period beginning when the waiver is implemented. The grace period does not apply to retailers newly authorized after implementation, and it does not remove the retailer’s responsibility to follow the rules.

After the grace period, a retailer found out of compliance may receive a warning letter and instructions for corrective action. A second finding after the warning and at least 30 days may lead to involuntary withdrawal from SNAP authorization. Retailers may request an administrative review, and any withdrawal is held while that review is pending.

For shoppers, the practical step is to check labels and ask store staff about products that are not clearly categorized. For retailers, the immediate preparation steps are completing the attestation, updating checkout systems, training staff and monitoring North Dakota HHS guidance before the scheduled September 1 launch.

Sources

• North Dakota HHS SNAP Healthy Choice Waiver: Retailer Information
• USDA North Dakota SNAP Food Restriction Waiver Approval
• Aragon v. Rollins memorandum opinion

That can matter fast when school is out. Breakfast, lunch, and snacks become a daily cost again, and a local no-cost pickup site can ease that pressure for parents, grandparents, and other caregivers.

How SUN Bucks fits in

Families may also want to check USDA’s SUN Bucks program. USDA says the summer grocery benefit provides $120 per eligible school-age child when school is out. In participating states, some children are automatically enrolled if their household receives benefits such as SNAP or TANF, while others may need to apply.

USDA’s North Carolina page says SUN Bucks is available in the state and points families to the state agency for details. Duplin County Schools’ Child Nutrition page also says complete student breakfast and lunch meals are provided at no cost for the 2025-26 school year through the Community Eligibility Program, and Rose Hill-Magnolia Elementary links families to summer meals and SUN Bucks information.

Bottom line: Magnolia Town Hall has a no-registration summer meal option through August 10, and SUN Bucks may offer extra grocery help for eligible households. Checking the town and district pages before heading out is still a good idea in case details change.

Sources

• Town of Magnolia homepage / summer meals notice
• Duplin County Schools Child Nutrition
• USDA SUN Bucks program page
• Rose Hill-Magnolia Elementary homepage

Cook County has posted local guidance explaining the cutoff and pointing residents to food-help resources. The county’s notice is aimed at people who may need to act quickly if they are among the affected households, rather than waiting until benefits stop.

Chicago-based support groups are warning that the timing could strain family budgets right away. The Greater Chicago Food Depository has updated its SNAP requirements page with information on the rule changes and nearby help, reflecting likely near-term pressure on food pantries and emergency food access across the city.

That concern is not limited to households alone. Recent local reporting from WBEZ quoted grocers and neighborhood vendors who said they are watching for weaker SNAP spending in communities where affected shoppers rely on those benefits for groceries and household basics. For small stores, corner shops, and local food sellers, even a modest drop in purchasing power can ripple through weekly sales.

Chicago Public Schools also maintains a SNAP resource page for families, which is another reminder that the policy change reaches beyond the dinner table. When benefits are disrupted, schools often become a place where parents look for guidance on food support, benefits questions, and other family services.

Who may be affected

The cutoff applies to some recipients who do not meet the new work-reporting rules. It is not a citywide loss of benefits for all SNAP households in Chicago. Residents who think they may be affected should check their status now, review any notices they received, and confirm whether they need to submit additional documentation or update their case information.

Where residents can look for help

Cook County’s guidance, the Greater Chicago Food Depository’s SNAP information, and Chicago Public Schools’ family support page all give residents a starting point if they need food help or benefits-related information. The practical advice is to act before benefits are interrupted, not after an account has already changed.

For neighborhoods that already lean on pantry networks, the timing may matter. More households looking for food assistance can mean longer lines, tighter pantry inventories, and more pressure on community-based groups that are already serving people on fixed incomes.

For now, the main takeaway for Chicago residents is simple: this is an active policy change, not a future proposal. Some households are already in the cutoff window, and anyone who thinks they may be affected should verify their SNAP status and use local help resources as soon as possible.

Sources

• Cook County SNAP benefit changes page
• WBEZ: SNAP food-assistance cutoffs begin in Illinois on May 1
• Greater Chicago Food Depository SNAP requirements page