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LINCOLN — Nebraska officials said they’re sending out letters notifying qualifying families of the upcoming expiration date on grocery assistance available for kids through the once-controversial Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer program.
Federal rules call for the child-focused, food-buying benefits to be used within 122 days of issuance — or they return to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The first group of eligible low-income households in the state were issued Summer EBT cards May 28, giving them until Sept. 26 to use up any remaining funds, according to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.
DHHS said that on or before Sept. 19, a household may request a replacement Summer EBT card if the original card was lost, damaged or not received. That would allow a replacement card to arrive in time to use the benefits prior to them being expunged, said DHHS.