Official Site of The State of New Jersey

Summer EBT benefits are available for four months.  Summer EBT benefits expire 122 days from the date the benefits were first loaded onto your Summer EBT card. Federal regulations do not allow benefits to be replaced after they have been expunged. 

If you do not want to receive the Summer EBT benefit for your child, you must opt out of the program.

• For children attending a participating school, contact the school directly to decline the benefit.
• If your child does not attend a participating school or is home-schooled, and is between the ages of 6 and 16, you must email dfnsummerebt@ag.nj.gov to decline the benefit.

Please be advised that once you decline (opt out of) participation in the Summer EBT program, you will not be permitted to opt back in to the program until the following summer, provided you remain eligible.

Summer EBT benefits are specific to the child and cannot be given to another person. 

If you believe you received a Summer EBT card in error, and your child attends a participating school, do not use the card and contact your child’s school to confirm eligibility. If you believe you received the card in error and your child does not attend a participating school or is home-schooled and is between the ages of 6-16, do not use the card and email dfnsummerebt@ag.nj.gov to confirm eligibility. If it is confirmed by the school district or the State agency that the card was received in error, it must be destroyed.

If your Summer EBT card has been lost, stolen or damaged, and the benefits on the card have not been used, it is important to immediately cancel your card. You can cancel your card by using the ConnectEBT app on your mobile device; online at EBT Connect Client Portal or by calling 1-800-997-3333. This will “freeze” your card so no one can use your benefits. You may be asked to verify your identity. There may be a $1.50 fee for replacement Summer EBT cards.

If your Summer EBT card has been stolen, and the benefits on the card have been used fraudulently, the state is not able to replace these benefits as federal regulations do not allow for the replacement of stolen Summer EBT benefits.

If you suspect your PIN was stolen, you can call 1-800-997-3333, go to www.NJFamiliesFirst.com or download the ConnectEBT app in the Apple App store or Google Play store to review your transactions and/or change your PIN to protect any remaining benefits.