Oregon Begins Issuing Summer EBT Food Benefits to Eligible Families
Oregon families can receive $120 per eligible child to help buy food while school is out for summer.
SALEM, Ore. — Oregon families who are automatically eligible for Summer EBT food benefits will begin receiving benefits today, June 5, according to the Oregon Department of Human Services.
Summer EBT provides $120 per eligible child to help families buy food during the summer months, when many children do not have regular access to school meals. Families can check their EBT card balance at ebtedge.com to confirm whether benefits have been received.
The program is administered by ODHS and the Oregon Department of Education. State officials expect Oregon Summer EBT to serve about 360,000 children this year.
Families who do not automatically receive Summer EBT benefits on June 5 should check eligibility requirements before applying. Program information and applications are available at sebt.oregon.gov. Families may also contact the Summer EBT Call Center at 833-673-7328. The call center is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific time.
“Access to nutritious food is essential to children’s health, well-being, and learning,” Oregon Department of Education Director Dr. Charlene Williams said in a statement. “Summer EBT provides important support to families during the summer months, and we encourage eligible families to take advantage of this resource.”
Families will automatically receive benefits on their Oregon EBT card if they have children ages 6 to 18 and received one of several qualifying benefits or services during the 2025-26 school year, including SNAP food benefits, TANF cash assistance, qualifying Medicaid, or foster care services.
Children may also automatically qualify if their school determined they had migrant, houseless or runaway status; if they took part in the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations; or if they attended a Head Start program that was part of the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program.
Some families may need to apply if their household meets income requirements for free or reduced-price school meals, and their child attends a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program.
“We know summer can be especially hard for families who are already struggling to keep food on the table,” ODHS Director Liesl Wendt said in a statement. “When school is out, many children lose access to regular school meals, and no child should have to worry about being hungry.”
Applications open June 5 and must be submitted by Sept. 1. The Summer EBT Call Center will close Sept. 25.
Children cannot receive 2026 Summer EBT benefits in more than one state. The program is available to eligible children living in Oregon during the 2025-26 school year, regardless of immigration status. Summer EBT benefits are not considered in a public charge test.
Families can find more information, check requirements, and apply at sebt.oregon.gov.
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