FAQs

To activate, check the account balance or receive other information for Ohio Summer EBT card. You may contact the card company at 1-866-386-3071 and follow the instructions below:

• To activate, check the account balance or receive other information - Press 1
• For English press 1, Spanish press 2
• Enter the 16-digit card number.
• Press 1 to activate a Summer EBT card
• Enter the child’s YEAR of birth
• Enter the child’s date of birth MM/DD/YYYY
• Enter the PIN number **Do not use the same number more than once in the PIN**
• Re-enter the PIN number If system is still unable to validate the information entered.
• The system will prompt you to hold for the next available CSR.

Card Reissue steps –  

Call 866-386-3071 

PROMPT: To activate, account balance or received other information - Press – 1 

• For English press – 1

 PROMPT: Please enter the 16-digit card number followed by the # 
• Let the message play – DO NOT ENTER ANYTHING 

 PROMPT: To access card using card holder information Press - 1 
• Let the message play – DO NOT ENTER ANYTHING. 

 PROMPT: Check the status of a previously ordered card Press – 2 
• Let the message play – DO NOT ENTER ANYTHING. 

 PROMPT: To Report a card lost, stolen or damaged Press – 3 
• When asked for the SSN, Enter 0+MM/DD/YYYY (A zero plus the child's year of birth) 
• Enter the child’s Date of Birth (MM/DD/YYYY) 
• Enter PIN number (if known) 
 

If you know the PIN number : 
Once the information is validated  
Confirm Address Menu: 
Prompt: The numeric portion of your address is <street num> 
• Is this correct Press 1  
• If not Press 2 
• Enter PIN number 
Replacement Menu  
Prompt – By choosing this option, for your protection, we will cancel your current card immediately. The card cannot be reactivated. A new card will be sent to you.  
• To cancel the card, Press 1  
• If you do not want to cancel your card at this time Press 2 

If you do not know the PIN number 

Do NOTHING when prompted for the PIN 
• The system will prompt you to hold for the next available CSR. 

Parents/Guardians with Summer EBT cards are encouraged to download the ConnectEBT app to view account balances, transactions, as well as to help prevent skimming. A new account would need to be created for each child that has an SEBT card in the household. By using the app, the SEBT card can be turned off between uses, to make it harder for skimmers to take the funds between shopping trips. you will need to enter a 0+ Child’s DOB (0+MM/DD/YYYY) when asked for the SSN on the app setup.  

You may also call the number on the back of the card (866-386-3071) to listen to the transaction history and check the account balance. 

Households with active SNAP accounts should have benefits loaded to their Ohio Direction Card. All other households will receive a new Summer EBT card in the mail for each eligible child. The card will arrive in a plain white envelope and be addressed to the child. Any past summer P-EBT cards can be thrown away.

Summer EBT funds will expire after 122 days after the benefit is issued. If the benefit is loaded on the Ohio Direction Card, the Summer EBT benefit will be used first the next time you visit a store.

Student data submissions will only allow for one address per child. The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, Ohio Department of Medicaid, and Schools will provide the address for the primary guardian.

Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Program for Children (Summer EBT), also known as SUN Bucks, began in summer 2024 and continues for 2025. Summer EBT provides grocery benefits to low-income families with school-aged children when schools are closed for the summer. Summer EBT benefits will either be loaded to a household’s Ohio Direction Card or a benefit card will be sent in the mail in a plain white envelope addressed to each eligible child.

Families will receive a one-time benefit of $120 for each eligible child and can use the money to buy food during the summer at grocery stores, farmers markets, and other authorized retailers.

All children between the ages of 6 to 18 participating in one or more of the following assistance programs (on or after July 1, 2024) will receive Summer EBT automatically with no need to apply:

• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• Ohio Works First (OWF)
• Medicaid (if income meets USDA Income Eligibility Guidelines for current program year)

Children of any age enrolled in a school participating in the National School Lunch Program that are approved for free or reduced-price meals for school year 2024-2025 will also receive Summer EBT automatically with no need to apply.

No, each student at a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) or Provision 2 school are not automatically eligible for Summer EBT.

Households with children that participate in SNAP, OWF, Medicaid and are within the free or reduced-price meal income level, or are homeless, migrant, runaway, or participate in HeadStart will automatically get Summer EBT.

Households that are within 185% of the federal poverty level but do not participate in one of these programs can submit a Summer EBT application via the Summer EBT web page at sebt.ohio.gov.

Children who qualify for the Summer EBT program will receive benefits in one of two ways:

1. Households that currently receive SNAP benefits will see benefits for each eligible child issued on their Ohio Direction Card.
2. Households that do not currently receive SNAP benefits will receive a new Summer EBT card in the mail for each approved child. The card will be in a plain white envelope and addressed to the child. Households should keep Summer EBT cards to potentially receive future summer benefits.

Households with children already participating in SNAP, OWF, Medicaid with household income within the free or reduced-price school meal guidelines, or certified for free or reduced-price school meals during the school year will receive their benefit by July 31. Check back regularly for updates.

Note: benefits will be issued over many days so children in the same household may receive their benefit on a different day from one another.

Households that become eligible for SNAP, OWF, or Medicaid during the summer, or apply for Summer EBT using the Summer EBT application will receive benefits within two months after being approved.

Graduating seniors of any age who are approved for free or reduced-price meals will receive Summer EBT.

Preschool and Kindergarten students under the age of 6 will only be included if they are approved for free or reduced-price meals, their school is on the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program, and they are being offered school breakfast and/or school lunch. Preschool or Kindergarten students at a childcare center will not receive Summer EBT.

When a school has fully virtual/online students with no access to the National School Lunch Program, those students will not be submitted by the school for Summer EBT. However, the student will automatically receive Summer EBT if the student is on SNAP, OWF, or Medicaid (and the household is within the income eligibility of the free or reduced-price meal program).

Summer EBT and the Summer Food Service Program are meant to work together to address food insecurity during the summer months when children are not receiving school meals. Households can participate in both programs. Call 1-866-3-HUNGRY (486479) for a nearby location