Summer EBT
Important SEBT Announcements
WV SEBT Applications Received by May 31st
WV SEBT applications received by May 31st have been processed, and we estimate you will receive correspondence from the West Virginia Department of Education or by the West Virginia Department of Human Services by the end of June. Children with approved benefits will receive their activation letters and SEBT cards in separate mailings by July 2nd.
WV SEBT Applications Received After May 31st
WV SEBT applications received after May 31st will be processed with the second batch of WV SEBT cards. This will occur approximately July 30th with benefit issuance in August.
Request for Application Verification
If you have received a request for application verification, you must respond by August 1st or your child will not be eligible to receive the WV SEBT benefit.
What Is WV-SEBT?
The West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) and the West Virginia Department of Human Services (DoHS) are collaborating to launch the West Virginia Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (WV-SEBT) program, which provides grocery-buying benefits to low-income families with school-aged children during the summer months when schools are closed.
Important: S-EBT is different from P-EBT
During the pandemic emergency – all children who attended a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) school received Pandemic EBT (PEBT). CEP schools are National School Lunch Program (NSLP) schools where all students eat free of charge without households completing income applications. Most West Virginia students attend a CEP school. Now that emergency orders and waivers have all expired, new rules define the permanent SEBT program.
The SEBT will support children who qualify based upon low-income household circumstances – rather than grouping together all students by a county or school CEP status.
In other words, if your child is eligible for this new benefit – it will be based upon your household low-income status and not just because they attend a CEP school where all students have access to free meals.
How do you know if your child is eligible?
Eligibility Tool
Unsure of your child’s eligibility? Take our eligibility questionnare to help if your child/ren are potentially eligible for WVSEBT. Completing this form is a resource only and is not an application nor does it guarantee benefits.
Eligibility Pathways
There are two possible pathways for being eligible for SEBT.
Pathway 1:
The child attends a school that participates in the federal school meal programs AND their household is designated as “low-income.” Low-income can be determined by one of the following ways:
- Your household receives another public benefit (such as SNAP).
If so, no further action is needed from you. The State has your information and benefits will be automatically issued in your student’s name. Benefits and all correspondence regarding the program will be mailed to the address on file with DoHS. - Your household completed a school meals application and qualified for free or reduced-price school meals in the 2023-2024 school year.
If so, no further action is needed from you. The State has your information and benefits will be automatically issued in your student’s name. Benefits will be mailed to the address on file with the child’s school. - Your child attends a CEP school in West Virginia where they cannot collect free/reduced-price applications and your household does not receive another public benefit – however, you believe your household meets the income criteria to be designated as “low-income.”
If so, you must complete the Summer EBT application for CEP students. Households with CEP students who meet the federal income requirements will be eligible for this benefit through an application submission.- You can complete the application online by visiting schoolcafe.com. When the application is live, you will be able to select the West Virginia Summer EBT application option. The WVSEBT application portal will be available starting on Monday, April 22, 2024.
- If you do not have reliable internet access, you may visit a local DoHS office for assistance.
- You may call the hotline at 1-866-545-6502.
For a printable flow chart that visually explains Pathway 1 eligibility, download the USDA Eligibility Flow Chart For Students Attending a School that Participates in the National School Lunch Program and/or School Breakfast Program.
Pathway 2:
Your child is a West Virginia resident between 6 and 17 and your household receives a qualifying public benefit (such as SNAP). This pathway does not depend upon the type of school your child attends, but the household MUST be a public benefit-receiving household.
A child 7 years old is homeschooled and their household receives SNAP. This student is eligible for SEBT.
Due to federal regulations, this group of students cannot apply for SEBT. Unfortunately, federal law prohibits the State of West Virginia from collecting any applications for this group of students.
DoHS will already have records of your school-aged children living in your household through existing public benefit records. If you are unsure of the status of your DoHS case file, you will need to contact your case worker for more information.
For a printable flow chart that visually explains Pathway 2 eligibility, download the USDA Eligibility Flow Chart for School-Aged Children Who are Not Attending a School that Participates in the Federal School Meals’ Programs.
WV SEBT FAQs
Most questions about the WV SEBT program can be answered by reviewing our FAQs. If you cannot find answers to your questions, please use the contact section of the main WV SEBT page to reach out.
Important SEBT Contact Information
- West Virginia SEBT Hotline
1-866-545-6502
Monday – Friday
8:00 a.m. – 4:45 p.m.
Automated assistance is available 24/7 - Office of EBT Services
304.558.4126
osawvebt@wv.gov - Location and Contact Information for West Virginia Department of Human Services (formerly DHHR) Field Offices
- WVSEBT Email Inbox
wvsebt@k12.wv.us
HeaderFarm To SEBT
Explore West Virginia's farm-to-school initiatives, SNAP Stretch benefits, local food recipes, and resources for connecting with local farmers and markets. Discover how to incorporate fresh, locally sourced food into your meals.
West Virginia Summer Food Service Program
In addition to the Summer EBT (SEBT) program that provides income-eligible families with summer food buying benefits, the State of West Virginia will have hundreds of sites across the state that will be providing free meals for ALL children up to the age of 18 throughout the summer! Even if your child does not qualify for SEBT, there are many locations where you can access free meals this summer.
Summer food site locations are places in communities where children can come to receive meals at no cost in a safe and supervised environment. Sites may be in various settings, including schools, parks, community centers, libraries, farmers’ markets, apartment complexes, and churches. Sites may also choose to offer enrichment opportunities for children, such as reading, physical activity, or nutrition education.
Schools, local government agencies, camps, faith-based and other nonprofit community organizations that can manage a food service program may be SFSP sponsors.
Find a Summer Food Service Program
Starting May 20, 2024, you may text “FOOD” (or “COMIDA”) to 304304 to find the nearest Summer Food Service Program location near you. Data is updated weekly to reflect active sites in your area.
ADA Compliance
This program is covered by the Americans with Disabilities (ADA) and Section 504 Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The Department is committed to providing individuals with disabilities an equal and meaningful opportunity to participate in, and benefit from, Summer EBT. If you have questions about receiving an ADA accommodation or would like to request an accommodation, please contact 304-941-6319.
Non-Discrimination Statement
USDA FNS Non-Discrimination Statement
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:
- Mail:
S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or - Fax:
(833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or - Email:
Intake@usda.gov
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Declaración De No Discriminación Del USDA
De acuerdo con la ley federal de derechos civiles y las normas y políticas de derechos civiles del Departamento de Agricultura de EE. UU. (USDA), esta institución tiene prohibido discriminar por motivos de raza, color, origen nacional, sexo (incluida la identidad de género y la orientación sexual), discapacidad, edad, o represalia o represalia por actividad anterior de derechos civiles.
La información del programa puede estar disponible en otros idiomas además del inglés. Las personas con discapacidades que requieran medios alternativos de comunicación para obtener información del programa (p. ej., Braille, letra grande, cinta de audio, lenguaje de señas estadounidense), deben comunicarse con la agencia estatal o local responsable que administra el programa o el Centro TARGET del USDA al (202) 720- 2600 (voz y TTY) o comuníquese con USDA a través del Servicio Federal de Retransmisión al (800) 877-8339.
Para presentar una queja por discriminación en el programa, el Demandante debe completar el Formulario AD-3027, Formulario de queja por discriminación en el programa del USDA, que se puede obtener en línea, desde cualquier oficina del USDA, llamando al (866) 632-9992, o escribiendo una carta dirigida al USDA. La carta debe contener el nombre, la dirección, el número de teléfono y una descripción escrita de la supuesta acción discriminatoria del denunciante con suficiente detalle para informar al Subsecretario de Derechos Civiles (ASCR) sobre la naturaleza y la fecha de la supuesta violación de los derechos civiles. El formulario o carta AD-3027 completo debe enviarse al USDA antes de:
- Correo:
Departamento de Agricultura de EE. UU.
Oficina del Subsecretario de Derechos Civiles
1400 Avenida Independencia, SW
Washington, DC 20250-9410; o - Fax:
(833) 256-1665 o (202) 690-7442; o - Correo electrónico:
intake@usda.gov
Esta institución es un proveedor que ofrece igualdad de oportunidades.
HeaderWest Virginia Summer Food Service Program
In addition to the Summer EBT (SEBT) program that provides income-eligible families with summer food buying benefits, the State of West Virginia will have hundreds of sites across the state that will be providing free meals for ALL children up to the age of 18 throughout the summer! Even if your child does not qualify for SEBT, there are many locations where you can access free meals this summer.
Summer food site locations are places in communities where children can come to receive meals at no cost in a safe and supervised environment. Sites may be in various settings, including schools, parks, community centers, libraries, farmers’ markets, apartment complexes, and churches. Sites may also choose to offer enrichment opportunities for children, such as reading, physical activity, or nutrition education.
Schools, local government agencies, camps, faith-based and other nonprofit community organizations that can manage a food service program may be SFSP sponsors.
Starting May 20, 2024, you may text “FOOD” (or “COMIDA”) to 304304 to find the nearest Summer Food Service Program location near you. Data is updated weekly to reflect active sites in your area.