Section 121.146  Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Program (Summer EBT)

a)         The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (P.L. 117-328) established the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Program (Summer EBT) for the purpose of providing nutrition assistance during the summer months for each eligible child, to ensure continued access to food when school is not in session for the summer.  The federal regulations for the Summer EBT program can be found at 7 CFR 292.

1)         Summer EBT provides nutrition assistance during the summer months for each eligible child to ensure continued access to food when school is not in session for the summer.

2)         A summer operational period is set each school year and is the period of time that Summer EBT benefits are intended to cover. The summer operational period is generally the period between the end of classes during the prior school year and the start of classes for the next school year.

b)         Households will not have to complete a Summer EBT application for any children who are streamline eligible for the Summer EBT program.  Streamline is an automatic enrollment process utilizing the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) Student Information System (SIS) and the Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) Integrated Eligibility System (IES) for data matching. Streamline- eligible children are:

1)         Children within the legally required school age range (6-17 years old) from July 2^nd preceding the school year through the end of the summer operational period who are receiving benefits in at least one of the following programs: SNAP, TANF, or AABD Cash; or

2)         Children within the legally required school age range (6-17 years old) from July 2^nd preceding the school year through the end of the summer operational period who are receiving federally funded Medicaid with income at or below 185%; or

3)         Children who attended a school that participated in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and who were approved to receive free/reduced meal benefits during the instructional year immediately preceding the summer operational period.

c)         Households with children that do not meet the requirements of subsection (b) must complete a Summer EBT application and meet the following requirements for the children to be deemed eligible:

1)         Children must have attended a school participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) during the instructional year immediately preceding the summer operational period; and

2)         Household income is at or below 185% FPL.

3)         Applications can be submitted at any time, however, applications must be received by the end of the Summer Operational Period (SOP) to be considered for Summer EBT benefits for that year.  Applications received after the end of the SOP will be considered for the next summer's benefits.

4)         Applicants may mail the Summer EBT Application to the Central Scan Unit (CSU), P.O. Box 19138, Springfield, IL 62794 or mail/drop off at a local Family Community Resource Center (FCRC).  PDF versions of the application can be obtained from the IDHS website at https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=163478.  They may also apply for benefits online at www.abe.illinois.gov.

d)         Each eligible household will receive a one-time benefit for each eligible child .  The amount of the benefit will be adjusted in accordance with 7 CFR 292.15(e)(3) (2024).

e)         Summer EBT Benefits will be available as follows:

1)         For children who can be streamline certified or who have an approved Summer EBT application on file, benefits shall be issued and available to use at least seven calendar days and not more than 14 calendar days before the start of the summer operational period.  When there is insufficient data to issue a benefit to an eligible child, DHS must work to resolve the case and issue the benefits as expeditiously as possible.

2)         For children found eligible through a Summer EBT application filed after the summer operation period begins, benefits will be available within 15 work days after the date the application was received by DHS.

f)         Households may choose to opt out of the Summer EBT Program at any time.

g)         Households that knowingly receive more than the approved benefit amount found on form IL444-5269 for streamlined-eligible households or form IL444-5432 for applicant households, or  knowingly receive duplicate benefits must report the error to:

1)         Their local FCRC, which can be located at https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?module-12; or

2)         Contact the Summer EBT Hotline at 1-833-621-0737.

h)         Households that fail to report receiving more Summer EBT benefits than the household is entitled to are subject to overpayment recoupment, penalties and fines. (See 7 CFR 292.27)

i)          Summer EBT benefits are not eligible for replacement due to electronic (EBT) theft.

j)          Benefits may be replaced for food purchased with Summer EBT benefits that is destroyed due to a disaster (fire, flood, tornado, or other devastating event).

k)         Summer EBT benefits must be used within 122 days from the availability date.  Any remaining balances will not be available after 122 days.

l)          Appeals for the denial of Summer EBT follow the Fair Hearings Process (see 89 Ill. Adm. Code 10.280) and must be filed within 90 days following the end of the summer operational period.

1)         The appeal may be filed by the head of household or the household's authorized representative.

2)         The request for a hearing shall be made in writing. 

3)         The appeal may be submitted via the Department's online ABE Appeals Portal at Abe.illinois.gov, via facsimile transmission (fax) 312-793-3387, email at DHS.BAH@illinois.gov or in person at the Bureau of Hearings, 69 W. Washington, Suite 901, Chicago, IL  60602 or at any Family Community Resource Center.

(Source:  Added at 50 Ill. Reg. 9319, effective June 25, 2026)