Summer Food Program

FRIEND PUBLIC SCHOOL-NDE NUTRITION SERVICES

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) are partnering to issue Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (SEBT) benefits to households of eligible students. If your student was eligible for Free or Reduced-price meals in SY2023-24, they are eligible for SEBT and will receive a benefit card with $120 to use at participating EBT vendors during summer break.

Each eligible student’s card will be loaded with $120 in funds to purchase nutritious foods. Students are eligible for benefits by meeting these criteria:

1. Enrolled in a school that participates in the USDA’s National School Lunch Program (NSLP) in SY2023-24 and

2. Qualify for Free or Reduced-price school meals in SY2023-24. Students qualify for Free or Reduced-price school meals in these ways:

a. Application for Free or Reduced-price school meals (these are distributed by schools at which students are enrolled);

b. Directly certified as foster, migrant, or homeless;

c. Live in household with a student directly certified for SNAP, TANF, FDPIR, Medicaid (with income guidelines that match the USDA School Nutrition)

If your student meets an SEBT eligibility requirement above, YOU DO NOT NEED TO TAKE ANY ACTION. Your student’s benefit card will be issued to the address on file at your child’s school. To update your mailing address, contact one of the following: DHHS at 800-383-4278 or DHHS.SEBT@nebraska.gov, or the NDE at nde.sebt@nebraska.gov, and provide parent first and last name, correct address, phone number, email address, children’s first and last names and birthdates, school, and school district.

Students who do not qualify for SEBT by one of the four methods above, but live in a household that may qualify, must complete the Summer EBT application available on the NDE Nutrition Services website after June 1, 2024.

DO NOT CONTACT YOUR SCHOOL TO COMPLETE THE SEBT APPLICATION. ACCESS THE APPLICATION DIRECTLY THROUGH WWW.EDUCATION.NE.GOV/NS.