TOPEKA — The deadline for applying to a federal program that helps families cover the cost of food for school-aged children has been extended.
The Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) announced that the application deadline for its 2024 Summer EBT program, which started in May 2024, has been pushed back.
This program, a partnership between DCF, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Kansas Department of Education, provides eligible families with a one-time payment of $120 per child to buy groceries during the summer.
“Even though children are back in school, the Summer EBT program can still help families with food costs,” said DCF Secretary Laura Howard. “We hope the extended deadline gives more families the chance to apply for the benefit.”
The new application deadline is Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, at 5 p.m. Families can apply through the DCF’s online self-service portal.
To be eligible, the child must have attended a Kansas school that participates in the National School Lunch or School Breakfast Program, and the family’s income must have qualified for free or reduced-price meals during the 2023-24 school year. Children who received food assistance, TANF, or foster care benefits during the same school year are also eligible and were automatically issued the Summer EBT benefit in July 2024.
So far, about 117,200 students have received the $120 benefit, and DCF has received over 2,000 applications.