CNP summer EBT admin

The Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service awarded $2,830,615 to the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance on October 1, 2025, under the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Program for Children (CFDA 10.646) to administer Summer EBT benefits in Massachusetts through September 30, 2026.

Summer EBT provides nutrition benefits on electronic benefit transfer cards to children who lose access to free and reduced price meals through the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program during summer months when school is not in session. Eligible children are those determined eligible for free or reduced price school meals in the prior school year or during summer, either through automatic enrollment based on administrative data or through application and eligibility determination. Benefits are loaded onto Summer EBT cards for use in purchasing food from approved retailers.

The Department of Transitional Assistance, a Massachusetts state entity, administers the program on behalf of the Commonwealth. This formula grant funds the administrative and operational costs of Summer EBT delivery in Massachusetts. The funding is obligated annually and may be released as a lump sum or distributed monthly according to the state's determined summer benefit period. Recipients must retain records for three years following submission of annual certification data.