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Updates for local agencies, community-based organizations, and providers that offer help to members of Wisconsin's health and nutrition assistance programs.
Summer EBT Benefit Issuance Sent June 7
Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) is an income-based program that helps families who qualify buy food for their children while school is out. The benefits are issued once a summer to eligible children. This means that once a child has been sent benefits, they will not get any more Summer EBT benefits for the year.
Wisconsin sent the main issuance of Summer EBT benefits to known, eligible families on Saturday, June 7, 2025.
Issuance details
On June 7, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) issued about $52 million in Summer EBT benefits to over 239,000 families throughout Wisconsin. The benefits sent out so far will help more than 432,000 children.
Families received $120 for each eligible child. This is a one-time payment and is equal to $40 per summer month for each eligible child. The amount was determined by the United States Department of Agriculture.
To be eligible for Summer EBT benefits, a child must have met one of the following requirements at any point during the 2024-2025 school year:
- They were approved to get free or reduced price meals through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) at their school.
- They are school-aged, and their household is part of FoodShare, Wisconsin Works (W-2), the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), or certain income-based Medicaid programs; or they were known to be a migrant, in foster care, or experiencing homelessness.
Future issuances
Over the summer, DHS will continue to send Summer EBT benefits to any eligible children who were not identified in time for the issuance on June 7, 2025. The issuance of benefits to these children will occur until the end of September.
Next steps for families who were not issued benefits for their children
Families who did not get benefits in the initial issuance may still be able to get benefits for their children.
Families with children who qualified for Summer EBT but were not sent benefits
Some families with children who met the requirements to automatically get Summer EBT but did not get families benefits may just need to update their contact information. These families should use the Benefit Management Tool to provide their most recent information.
Families of school-aged children who did not qualify for benefits
Children who are school-aged but did not yet get Summer EBT benefits may be eligible if their families apply for one of the qualifying benefit programs during this summer. These programs include:
If a family is approved for one of these programs by August 28, 2025, then their child may qualify for Summer EBT. Children who did not attend a school that participated in the NSLP during the 2024-2025 school year must be school-aged to qualify. More information about who would be considered school-aged is available on the DHS Summer EBT: Who Automatically Qualifies page.
If a child qualifies by the deadline, DHS will issue the benefits as soon as possible once their information is received. To learn more about applying for one of the programs, families can call 211, visit the ACCESS website, or contact their local or Tribal agency.
Families who can apply directly for Summer EBT
Families of children who attended a school that participated in the NSLP during the 2024-2025 school year can also apply directly for Summer EBT through an online application. More information on the application and who should use it is available on the DHS Summer EBT: Steps to Qualify page.
Families must complete an application by August 28, 2025.
Questions about Summer EBT
If families have questions they can contact the Summer EBT Support Team by emailing DHSSEBTSupport@dhs.wisconsin.gov or calling 833-431-2224.
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