Nevada Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (S-EBT) Program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) oversees the S-EBT program at the federal level. In Nevada, the program is administered by the Nevada Division of Welfare and Supportive Services (DWSS) in partnership with the Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) and the Nevada Department of Education (NDE).

The S-EBT program is only for children, and eligibility is determined based on specific program rules. There are two categories of automatic eligibility (Streamlined Certified): 

1. Children Attending a School That Participates in the National School Program (NSLP) or School Breakfast Program (SBP)

• Eligible for free or reduced-price meals through:
• • Direct certification (if they are on SNAP, TANF, or Medicaid, with household income at or below 185% of the Federal Poverty Level [FPL]).
  • An approved Free and Reduced-Price Meal (FRL) application submitted through the school.
  • A school determination that they are homeless, migrants, foster children, or runaways. Schools identify these children based on federal definitions, and their eligibility for NSLP automatically qualifies them for S-EBT benefits.
   

2. Compulsory-Aged Children (Ages 6-18)

• Unlike the first category, these children do not need to be enrolled in a school that participates in NSLP or SBP.
• They must be on an active SNAP, TANF, or Medicaid case. For Medicaid, household income must be confirmed at or below 185% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) at any point during the 2024-2025 school year through the end of the Summer Operational Period (May 24, 2025 - August 10, 2025).
• Children in this category may also qualify if they participate in the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) at any point during the same period.

Families Who Do Not Meet This Criteria Must Apply

Note: The S-EBT application portal will not be available until May 17, 2025. Parents must wait until this date to check eligibility and apply if necessary. Applications for the 2025 summer will only be accepted until August 10, 2025.

S-EBT is an income-tested program, meaning a household's income must be at or below 185% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) for their household size to qualify. If your child is not automatically enrolled, you must submit an application to determine eligibility.

Steps to Apply:

1. Use the ACNV S-EBT Child Search Tool
2. • Visit this link to check if your child is already in the system.
3. Check for Your Child's Eligibility Status
4. • If your child is found in the system, no further action is needed.
   • If your child is not found, the system will prompt you to submit an application.
5. Submit an Application (If Required)
6. • If prompted, complete the application with the necessary household and school information.
   • Ensure all details are accurate to prevent processing delays.

*Updates July 1st of each year 

Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) schools provide free meals to all students without requiring household income applications. Schools, groups of schools, or entire school districts may participate if they meet the following requirements:

• Schools must participate in both the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and the School Breakfast Program (SBP).
• At least 25% of enrolled students must be identified as eligible for means-tested programs such as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), or FDPIR (Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations) as of April 1 of the prior school year.
• Breakfast and lunch must be provided to all students at no cost.

No. While CEP schools provide free meals to all students, S-EBT eligibility is based on household income requirements. A student must meet the S-EBT eligibility criteria to qualify.

If the school participates in NSLP and a student was not automatically enrolled in S-EBT, families may need to submit an application to determine eligibility.

No. If your child was not enrolled in a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or School Breakfast Program (SBP), they will not be eligible for S-EBT benefits. Applications for children who do not meet this requirement will be denied.

I didn't apply for free or reduced school meals because my child was distance learning, home-schooled, or a private school, how can I apply for S-EBT?

If a household applies for S-EBT and their child was not enrolled in a school that participates in the NSLP or SBP they will not be eligible for S-EBT benefits and their application will be denied.

Families who wish to opt out of the 2025 Summer S-EBT program must call the S-EBT hotline and request to opt out.

• A customer service representative will verify eligibility and process the request.
• The system will flag the household as opted out, canceling the benefits before they can be accessed.

Yes. S-EBT benefits expire 122 days after they become available. If the benefits are not used within 122 days, they will be removed from the card and cannot be replaced, per federal regulations.

When will benefit arrive?

• S-EBT benefits will begin to be issued on May 17, 2025, for all streamlined-certified eligible children.
• For children with an existing EBT card (SNAP/TANF or prior S-EBT card): Funds will be deposited automatically only if the guardian listed in the Summer 2024 program file from NDE remains the same. If the guardian has changed, a new S-EBT card will be issued from Nevada’s EBT processor in Wisconsin, and delivery may take 2-3 weeks.
• For children who have never had an S-EBT card issued: A new S-EBT card will be sent from Nevada’s EBT processor in Wisconsin, with an estimated 2-3 week delivery time. Benefits will be available once the family receives the card.
• For families that need to apply for S-EBT: Once the application is processed and found eligible, an S-EBT card will be mailed to the address provided on the application.

Eligible items:
Breads and cereals
Fruits and vegetables
Meat, fish, and poultry
Dairy products
Seeds and plants that produce food

Items not covered:
Alcohol (beer, wine, liquor)
Tobacco products (cigarettes, cigars)
Vitamins and medicines
Foods meant to be eaten in-store
Prepared or hot foods
Non-food items (pet food, soap, paper products, household supplies)

Operating hours are Monday through Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm (excluding state and federal holidays).

• Northern Nevada: 1-775-684-8740
• Southern Nevada: 1-702-486-9640

Important: The S-EBT Customer Service Center cannot share case specifics or confirm any case information (including guardianship) with individuals not listed as the primary guardian in the school’s registration system for the 2024-2025 school year.