Formula Grant 262IL098N1175

The Illinois Department of Human Services received a $140.2 million formula grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service under the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Program for Children (CFDA 10.646), effective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. This funding supports the delivery of nutrition assistance benefits to eligible low-income children during summer months when school is not in session, targeting children who lose access to free and reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program. The program provides EBT benefits loaded onto Summer EBT cards that children use to purchase food from approved retailers.

Under this formula grant award, IDHS is responsible for identifying and enrolling eligible children, processing benefit distributions, managing EBT card infrastructure, and administering the program in accordance with federal requirements. Eligible children include those determined eligible for free or reduced-price school meals during the prior school year or during the summer application period. IDHS must maintain required management and administrative plans, distribute benefits either as lump-sum payments or monthly allocations according to the state's designated summer period, and retain records for three years following submission of annual certification data.