Ohio is participating in the Summer Electronic benefits Transfer (Summer EBT) program, also known as SUN Bucks. While Cleveland Metropolitan School District offers no-costs meals to all students during the school year, children must meet certain eligibility requirements to receive Summer EBT benefits. If your household income is at or below 185% of the federal poverty level, your school-aged children may qualify.

IF YOU BELIEVE YOUR CHILDREN QUALIFY, APPLY FOR SUMMER EBT BENEFITS at sebt.ohio.gov by August 15, 2025, to receive benefits for this summer. Documentation is not required when applying, but you may be asked to verify your information later.

Receiving Summer EBT will not affect the immigration status of children or families.

Eligible households will receive a one-time payment of $120 per child on a benefit card, sent by mail. These funds can be used to buy food during the summer at grocery stores, farmers’ markets, and other authorized retailers. If you receive more than $120 per eligible child, do not use the extra benefits. Instead, contact the SEBT Helpline at 1-866-244-0071 (option 1) as soon as possible to report the error.

In addition to Summer EBT, children under 18 in your household can receive free meals during the summer. To find a meal site near you, call 1-866-3-HUNGRY or 1-877-8-HAMBRE, or text “summer meals” to 914-342-7744. For questions about Summer EBT contact the SEBT Helpline at 1-866-244-0071) option 1).

Automatically eligible- Children ages 6-18 receiving SNAP, Ohio Works First, participating in Medicaid within income criteria, HeadStart, Migrant, Homeless, Runaway, and Foster students.

If not part of the above criteria, you MUST apply, go to sebt.ohio.gov/apply.

When you will receive: 

• Not all family members will receive benefits on the same day.
• Current SNAP recipients will receive benefits on their existing Ohio Direction Card

Who will receive:

• You will receive a one-time issuance of $120 per eligible child.

How you will receive:

• A letter will be mailed when funds are applied to an issued or existing card.
• If requesting a new card, or a newly eligible child; the card will be mailed in a plain white envelope.

Application closes August 15th, 2025