PULASKI COUNTY, Ark. – Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (Summer EBT) is a program designed to help provide students with nutritious meals when school is out. Each eligible child (ages 5-17) will receive a one-time benefit of $120. Here are the eligibility requirements, application guidelines and benefit details for the 2025 program.
PCSSD Students Who are Automatically Eligible
Some PCSSD students automatically qualify for the 2025 program. Students who meet either of these qualifications do not need to apply:
Those who were individually approved to receive free or reduced-price school meals for the 2024-2025 school year.
Those who are eligible for SNAP or TEA.
PCSSD Students Who Need to Apply
Parents of students who do not automatically qualify for Summer EBT are encouraged to apply through Arkansas DHS here. Approval is based on the same household income guidelines for free or reduced-price lunch. The deadline for applications is 8/25/2025.
Families who have a household income at or below 185 percent of the Federal Poverty Level need to apply if they:
Did not receive SNAP/TEA benefits during the current school year.
Attend a National School Lunch Program (NSLP) school where all students receive free or reduced-price lunches.
Do not attend an NSLP school.
Students who are Homeless, a Runaway, a member of a Migrant Family or in Foster Care are automatically eligible, but may have to apply for services. Visit ar.gov/summerebt for more information.
If you are unsure if you need to apply, you can follow the interactive flowchart here to determine your next steps.
How It Works
Benefits will be issued on an EBT card in the name of each eligible child. For families receiving this benefit for the first time, you will receive a card for each child in the mail. If your eligible student already has a Summer EBT card from a previous summer, benefits will be reloaded onto their card as early as 5/9/2025. Cards will be mailed and/or reloaded as applications are processed. Please note, families have 122 days to use their benefit from the date they receive their funds.
Once activated, the card works like a debit card and can be used to buy food, including fruits, vegetables, meat, whole grains, and dairy, at places that accept SNAP benefits.