The Pandemic EBT program in New York (P-EBT NY) ended on September 30, 2023, and no new benefits have been issued since. If you still have an old P-EBT card, any balance has probably already been wiped by the 274-day inactivity rule, but it’s worth checking. Going forward, the permanent replacement is Summer EBT, which gives $120 per eligible school-age child each summer for groceries. New York is participating in 2026.
Check the Balance on an Old P-EBT Card
Federal rules let states expunge EBT benefits after 274 days (about nine months) without account activity. Since the last P-EBT deposits in New York went out in 2023, most dormant balances are already gone.
To find out whether anything remains on your card, call EBT Customer Service at (888) 328-6399. The automated line runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week.1NYC.gov. EBT Card Assistance You can also check online at ebtedge.com after creating an account. If there is money left, spend it right away. Once the inactivity clock runs out, the funds are gone for good.
Summer EBT: The Program That Replaced P-EBT
Congress replaced P-EBT with a permanent program called Summer EBT. It isn’t tied to school closures or a public health emergency. Every summer, children from lower-income families receive $120 per child on an EBT card to buy groceries during the months school meals aren’t available.2Food and Nutrition Service. Summer EBT A family with three qualifying kids would receive $360.
In New York, the program covers school-age children between ages 6 and 16. Most eligible kids are enrolled automatically. You don’t need to apply if your child is already in any of the following programs:3ACCESS NYC. Summer EBT
- SNAP (food stamps)
- Cash assistance
- Medicaid
- Free or reduced-price school meals
If your child qualifies automatically, a letter comes in the mail confirming enrollment.
Applying If You’re Not Auto-Enrolled
Families outside those programs can still qualify. Two things have to be true: your child attends a school in the National School Lunch Program, and your household income is at or below the monthly limit for your family size.3ACCESS NYC. Summer EBT
The 2026 monthly income limits are:
- 1 person: $2,413
- 2 people: $3,261
- 3 people: $4,109
- 4 people: $4,957
- 5 people: $5,805
- 6 people: $6,653
- 7 people: $7,501
- 8 people: $8,349
- Each additional person: add $848
Apply at summerebt.ny.gov. If no enrollment letter has arrived by June 16, 2026, submit an application before the September 8, 2026 deadline.3ACCESS NYC. Summer EBT
When Benefits Arrive and When They Expire
New York begins depositing 2026 Summer EBT funds on June 16. Approvals and deposits continue in waves through the end of the year, so families approved later in the summer will see their money later.3ACCESS NYC. Summer EBT
The expiration date catches people off guard. Summer EBT benefits expire 122 days (about four months) after the deposit hits the card.3ACCESS NYC. Summer EBT A June 16 deposit disappears around mid-October. There is no extension. Use the funds before the deadline.
Activating the Card and Setting a PIN
Most children receive their Summer EBT benefit on a dedicated card mailed to the address the school has on file. If your household already gets SNAP or cash assistance, the state may load the benefit onto your existing EBT card instead. The letter confirming enrollment tells you which method applies.
To activate a new card or set a four-digit PIN, call (888) 328-6399. The automated system is open around the clock.1NYC.gov. EBT Card Assistance A frozen or forgotten PIN can also be reset in person at any Benefits Access Center. At the register, the card works like a debit card: swipe, enter the PIN, and the purchase is deducted from the balance. Keep the PIN private, because anyone with the card number and PIN can drain the account.
If you’ve moved recently, update your address with your child’s school district. That is where the state pulls address data for card delivery.
What You Can Buy With Summer EBT
Summer EBT follows SNAP purchasing rules. Eligible items include fruits and vegetables, meat, dairy, bread and cereals, snack foods, non-alcoholic beverages, and seeds or plants that produce food.4Food and Nutrition Service. What Can SNAP Buy?
The card cannot be used for:4Food and Nutrition Service. What Can SNAP Buy?
- Alcohol, tobacco, or cannabis products
- Hot foods ready to eat at the point of sale
- Vitamins, medicine, or supplements (anything with a Supplement Facts label)
- Household supplies like cleaning products, paper towels, or pet food
- Personal care items like soap, shampoo, or cosmetics
Some states have started restricting SNAP purchases of soda, candy, and energy drinks through USDA waivers. New York has not adopted those restrictions as of 2026.5Food and Nutrition Service. SNAP Food Restriction Waivers
A Note for Immigrant Families
Nutrition programs, including SNAP, Summer EBT, school meals, and WIC, are not counted in federal public charge determinations, so receiving Summer EBT will not affect a green card or visa application under the current framework.6USCIS. Public Charge Resources A November 2025 DHS proposed rule could change how public charge is evaluated in the future. If that matters to your household, talk to an immigration attorney before deciding whether to enroll.
Phone Numbers and 2026 Dates
New York’s Summer EBT helpline opens June 16, 2026 at (833) 452-0096. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.3ACCESS NYC. Summer EBT For card activation, PIN problems, or balance checks, call (888) 328-6399 at any time.1NYC.gov. EBT Card Assistance
- June 16, 2026: benefits begin depositing; helpline opens
- September 8, 2026: application deadline for families not automatically enrolled
- 122 days after deposit: benefits expire (roughly mid-October for June deposits)