(KLZA)-- The federal Department of Agriculture has approved the Department of Health and Human Services’ Summer EBT program.

Nebraska was the fourth state in the nation to be approved.

Eligible families in Nebraska will receive $120 per child for the summer period. DHHS said an estimated 175,000 students, or 80,000 households, will be eligible to receive Summer EBT benefits.

In addition to DHHS utilizing Summer EBT and built-in touchpoints in its plan, NDE will also administer the Summer Food Service Program, which provides no-cost meals to children ages one through 18 at nearly 300 locations across Nebraska. No applications or paperwork are required to receive meals from approved sites.

Most SFSP sites will begin providing meals during the first week of June. Text FOOD or COMIDA to 304-304 to receive information about local SFSP sites.

School-age, income-eligible children may receive Summer EBT benefits. This includes:

1. School-age children participating in the following public assistance programs: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program;

• • Aid to Dependent Children; Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations; or Children on Medicaid with household income under 185% of the Federal Poverty Level.

2. School-age children who are eligible for free or reduced-priced meals through the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program based on the following statuses:

• Participation in Head Start; Homeless; Foster;

  • Migrant; or Runaway.

3. School-age children who have already been approved for free or reduced-priced meals through filling out a school meals application; and

4. School-age children enrolled in a school participating in NSLP/SBP, not already eligible, and determined income-eligible through a Summer EBT application, which will be available after June 1.

DHHS said if a child meets the first three above criteria, they do not need to complete a Summer EBT application. Their benefits will be issued to a Summer EBT card and mailed to the address provided by the student- school or maintained by DHHS for public assistance participants.