Latest news with #S-EBT
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
State: insufficient planning, funding pauses summer meals program
Officials with the Braun administration pointed to Gov. Eric Holcomb as the reason Indiana opted out of a student summer meals program. (Getty Images) Indiana Gov. Mike Braun's second-in-command, along with a key executive branch agency, pointed to a lack of planning under Gov. Eric Holcomb's administration as the reason hungry Hoosier schoolchildren won't be able to use a summer meals program. 'The previous administration did not file for SUN Bucks in the way they should have,' Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith told a crowd at a Zionsville town hall on Tuesday. 'I'm working with Gov. Braun to get those SUN Bucks dollars back.' 'A giant leap backwards': Indiana opts out of summer program for hungry schoolchildren That 'lapse,' along with other perceived failures of Holcomb, were part of what propelled the duo into office, Beckwith continued. Last year, 669,000 Hoosier children who qualified for food benefits and reduced-price school meals got an additional $120 while schools were closed for the summer, for a total of roughly $80 million. But Indiana opted out of the program this year, saying that Holcomb's administration hadn't done the legwork in advance of 2025. Oversight costs for the program would be roughly $3.7 million for the state, according to the administration, a tough sell following the state's projected $2 billion revenue shortfall earlier this year. In response, budget writers trimmed nearly every agency by 5% and sharply cut into economic development and public health programs. 'The successful implementation of the SUN Bucks program required early planning and strategic coordination to launch in Summer 2025. To ensure a timely rollout, the Division of Family Resources (DFR) needed clear direction from state leadership during late summer to early fall of 2024, during the prior administration,' Marcus Barlow told the Indiana Capital Chronicle. Barlow is the deputy chief of staff and director of the office of Strategic Communications and Public Affairs for the Family and Social Services Administration, which administers the program alongside the Department of Education. He said 'due to the complexity of procurement processes and system enhancements,' the Holcomb administration should have done the following before 2025, which is when Braun took office: Finalize contract amendments with the Electronic Benefit Transfer processor to allocate funding for Summer EBT Secure a system vendor to support technical enhancements and application processing for 2025 Summer EBT, or S-EBT, is the official name for the SUN Bucks program. The Food and Nutrition Service, part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, handles the program at the federal level. It's unclear what changed between the program's administration in 2024 and 2025 that necessitated such changes. In response to a follow-up question, Barlow noted that 'since that prior administration didn't move forward, no decisions were made regarding whether or not to use the same vendor.' 'Upon taking office, this administration quickly submitted a waiver application to the Food and Nutrition Service to explore all possible avenues for launching the program this summer. However, our review revealed that the gaps in prior preparations prevented implementation in time for Summer 2025,' Barlow said. That waiver application, dated for March 2025, appeared to indicate that the state was moving forward with the program and would be submitting a Plan for Operations and Management for approval under Braun's administration. However, Barlow didn't respond to further questions about that plan and whether it was submitted or approved, saying the Indiana Capital Chronicle would need to submit a records request for the document. The federal government also declined to share a copy of Indiana's plan or comment on whether it was submitted or approved. 'USDA Secretary (Brooke) Rollins believes in empowering states to tailor programs and policies to their specific circumstances, rather than imposing a one-size-fits-all approach. She recognizes that states are best equipped to understand their own populations and encourages them to explore innovative ideas to address their unique needs. Under Secretary Rollins, USDA is committed to engaging with Indiana to find bold and sustainable solutions that support and protect both participants and taxpayers,' a USDA spokesperson said. Barlow pointed to existing resources under the USDA's Site Finder Map and the Hunger Hotline for families to connect to food resources. The hotline is accessible Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. Eastern Time at 1-866-3-HUNGRY (1-866-348-6479) for English speakers or at 1-877-8-HAMBRE (1-877-842-6273) for Spanish speakers. CONTACT US At the Tuesday town hall, the devout Beckwith continued on the topic of summer meals by saying that the state should 'take advantage' of the federal money being offered. 'We should go after that federal money,' Beckwith said to cheers. 'It's just going to go to a different state.' Additionally, the Noblesville pastor asked the faith community to step up in place of the state to 'be the hands and feet of Christ in these communities' this summer. 'I don't think the state is equipped to do it as well as nonprofits,' Beckwith concluded. '… It's a nonprofit's (and) faith community's job to do it. They can do it better than the state (and) far more efficiently.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Nevada families to receive $120 summer grocery aid per eligible child
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — With summer break on the horizon and school cafeterias closing their doors, thousands of Nevada families are set to receive much-needed food assistance. The Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (S-EBT) program will give each qualifying student $120 to help families buy groceries over the summer months. 'Programs like Summer EBT are essential for reducing childhood hunger,' Kelly Cantrelle, Deputy Administrator at the Division of Welfare and Supportive Services, said. 'Even a small amount of extra grocery support can ease the burden for working families during the summer months.' DWSS expects as many as 280,000 Nevada children to qualify for benefits automatically this year, based on current enrollment in school meal programs and public assistance. Families who meet federal guidelines do not need to apply, benefits will be distributed automatically. Households that received Summer EBT in 2024 will get this year's benefits on the same card, as long as their school information has not changed. Families new to the program or those with updated school records should expect a new card to arrive by mail within two to three weeks. In 2024, the program distributed $37 million in grocery support across Nevada, with nearly 80% of those benefits used, highlighting the need for continued summer food assistance. The deadline to apply is Aug. 10. For more information or to check eligibility, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
NV families will start receiving summer EBT food benefits this month
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways Last year, the S-EBT program delivered about $37 million in benefits to nearly 312,000 children, with about 80% of those benefits being fully utilized. (Photo by) Thousands of children in Nevada will start receiving federal nutrition benefits designed to cover school meals missed during summer vacation this month. About 280,000 children in Nevada will automatically receive a one-time payment of $120 starting May 17, thanks to a federal nutrition program known as the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (S-EBT). Congress passed bipartisan legislation in late 2022, making S-EBT permanent for states that opt-in, including Nevada. The federal program now permanently provides families with $40 each summer month per eligible child to buy food at grocery stores, farmers markets, or other authorized retailers. Last year, the S-EBT program delivered about $37 million in benefits to nearly 312,000 children, with about 80% of those benefits being fully utilized. In order to automatically qualify for the S-EBT program, a child must attend a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program and be eligible for free or reduced-price meals. Children who qualify for free or reduced-price meals due to their participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) will also automatically qualify for S-EBT, even if they do not attend a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program. Children on Medicaid in a household with an income at or below 185% of the Federal Poverty Level also automatically qualify for S-EBT, regardless of which school they attend. Children participating in the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) can also be automatically eligible for the S-EBT program. Families can check to see if their child was automatically enrolled into the program through an online portal at Access Nevada starting May 17. Not automatically eligible? Apply anyway. Households that are not automatically eligible are still encouraged to apply for the S-EBT program starting May 17, when applications open on the Nevada Division of Welfare and Supportive Services website. While most Nevada Summer EBT eligible families will automatically receive the Summer EBT benefit, there is a group of income eligible families that must submit an application. Last year, a total of 6,347 families not automatically eligible for S-EBT applied for the program, according to the Nevada Division of Welfare and Supportive Services. Of those applicants, 2,690 were ultimately determined eligible for the summer food benefits, or about 42% of all applicants. David Rubel, a New York City-based education consultant, said even more families were likely eligible last year, but never applied. He found that only 9% of potentially eligible households in Nevada submitted applications, leaving about $8.4 million in benefits on the table. 'Only a handful of Summer EBT eligible families submitted applications last year,' Rubel said. 'Using a formula from USDA, the potential number was 70,400 families.' However, those funds are now lost. S-EBT is a one-time benefit tied to a specific school year and cannot be retroactively applied for or claimed for previous years, according to the Nevada Division of Welfare and Supportive Services. 'The Summer EBT money won't get distributed and spent this summer unless families know about it,' Rubel said. Nevada wasn't the only state to lose out on benefits. Rubel looked at 14 states' potential number of applications vs. applications submitted and found that the percentage of applications submitted in every state was less than 20% of potential applicants. How benefits will be distributed Eligible households that participate in SNAP or TANF will automatically receive their S-EBT benefits starting May 17 on existing EBT cards if the guardian listed by the Nevada Department of Education in the Summer 2024 program file remains the same. Families that qualified last year can also receive benefits on their existing S-EBT cards issued last year, the program's inaugural year. Families that need a replacement card can request a replacement S-EBT card from the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services Division of Welfare and Supportive Services. Replacement S-EBT cards may take 2-3 weeks to receive. Children receiving benefits for the first time will be mailed a S-EBT card to the address of the guardian listed in the school's registration system for the 2024-2025 school year. Mailed S-EBT cards may take 2-3 weeks to receive. S-EBT benefits expire 122 days after they become available. If the benefits are not used within 122 days, they will be removed from the card and cannot be replaced, per federal regulations. For additional details on eligibility, benefit usage timelines, or how to apply, families are encouraged to visit the DWSS Summer EBT webpage and review the program FAQs.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Applications open in New Mexico for Summer EBT program
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – The New Mexico Public Education Department has opened applications for a program that is aimed at keeping students fed during the summer. Story continues below Business: Two big New Mexico brands up for sale as owner looks toward retirement Education: Albuquerque high school students get up-close look at big-time film production News: Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham authorizes National Guard deployment to ABQ SUN Bucks, also known as Summer EBT (S-EBT), is a federal program that helps families by giving them money to buy groceries during the summer when children are not in school. Families that qualify for this program will get $120 for each child that's part of the program. The money will go on an EBT card and can be used at grocery stores, farmers markets, and some online retailers. PED said there will be some students who are not eligible for SUN Bucks. Students who are not automatically eligible will need to apply; however, if a student does not attend an NSLP/SBP participating school, the student is not eligible for SUN Bucks. Some Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) and private schools do not participate in NSLP/SBP. Automatically eligible (No Application Needed): A student that has been approved for free or reduced-priced meals by having filled out a school meals application in a school participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or School Breakfast Program (SBP); A student's school may have reported the child to be homeless, a migrant, or in foster care; or A student received SNAP, MAGI-Children's Medicaid (only those on Medicaid categories 401, 403, MA-SSI, DDW or Foster Medicaid 066), or TANF any time during the school year and was between the ages of 5 through 18. Parents will be sent a notice to inform them of their child's automatic eligibility. Apply for SUN Bucks: Must attend an NSLP/SBP participating school. If your student does not have an approved NSLP/SBP application on file with the school. If your student attends a school that participates in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program and provides free meals for all, they are not automatically eligible and may still need to apply to receive the SunBucks benefit. Have a household income that is less than 185% FPL. Reside in the state of NM. Families will have 122 days to use the benefits from the date they are issued. If there is any unspent benefit on the 122nd day, the benefits will be removed from the child's card. To learn more about SUN Bucks and to apply, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Utah is ready to spend millions on free meals for eligible students
Students work in a class at Wasatch Junior High School in Salt Lake City on Tuesday, March 12, 2024. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch) When Republican Rep. Tyler Clancy, who is also a Provo police officer, drove a young girl to school moments after she witnessed her mother being saved from an overdose, she cried in the back of his car because she hadn't eaten breakfast that morning or dinner the night before. Clancy said he was able to solve the problem in that moment by taking her to McDonald's. 'How in the world are we expected to have this young lady learn about reading, writing, math, become a self-sufficient adult that's going to provide for herself and her future family, if we can't meet the basic needs?' Clancy asked the House Education Committee Tuesday. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX With HB100, Clancy wants to expand which students are eligible for Utah's free school meals program. Currently, households with incomes at or below 130% qualify for free meals under federal guidelines, and households with incomes between 130% and 185% pay a reduced meal fee. The proposed legislation would allow reduced-price Utah students in kindergarten through sixth grade to opt into a program that would give them free breakfast and lunch. 'I'm not asking you to cover meals for everyone,' he said. 'We're trying to be very precise and take a scalpel-like approach to hit those few students who really need the help, so they can move along that pathway to human dignity and that self-sufficiency.' The new legislation could provide no-cost meals to around 40,000 children by using $2.8 million in state funding. 13 states with Republican governors opt out of summer food program for kids 'Every year schools are generating about $2.8 million of school meal debt, and so instead of paying off debt, we want to get to the heart of that issue … we want to hit those students who are really in need, and that's what this reduced price category is,' Clancy said. HB100 would also require the Utah Department of Workforce Services to participate in the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children Program, a federal program that provides families with around $40 per month per eligible child to assist with food costs during the summer when kids are out of school. Participation in the S-EBT program could help 260,000 Utah students. A public-private partnership between The Policy Project and Utah's philanthropic families would cover the $618,000 for S-EBT, and the state would not assume the cost until 2027. Other aspects of the bill include prohibiting schools from stigmatizing students unable to pay for meals and encouraging schools to reduce food waste. Opponents of the bill were concerned about adding a program to address hunger and government overreach. 'I know that there are a lot of programs in place. I've talked to different school districts and board members, and there are a lot of districts who have in place, already, programs that will cover the family portion if needed,' Rep. Tiara Auxier, R-Morgan, said. 'So I'm just trying to figure out why we need another program to address this.' Rep. Nicholeen Peck, R-Tooele, asked how the bill aligns with the principles of limited government. 'I feel like there's other boxes we could be looking into, beside more government money,' Peck said before voting against the bill. 'So even though I care deeply, deeply about the children and I respect the sponsor deeply as well and his heart on this, I'm going to have to be a no.' Brynn Murdock, executive director for Ogden School Foundation, said she gets to see the difference that education makes for students on a daily basis. 'We know that when students' needs are met and they are able to successfully learn in class, that has not only an impact on their life, but the impact of our state,' she said. Rep. Carol Moss, D-Holladay, said this bill's funding is small compared to other programs, such as the school voucher program, which receives around $82.5 million. 'This is such a small part of government spending,' she said. 'When you look at the totality of what we spend on education, and the benefit is profound. No child should go to school hungry. I think that's the bottom line.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
