The last regular 2026 mailing is scheduled for Thursday. Each eligible child receives one $120 benefit, and cards may take up to 10 business days to arrive.
Updated Sept. 9, 2026.
By Hola Nebraska
LINCOLN, Nebraska — Nebraska has its final regular Summer EBT mailing of 2026 scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 10, with a one-time grocery benefit of $120 for each eligible child.
Sept. 10 is the mailing date, not necessarily the day a family will receive the card. Delivery can take up to 10 business days, so some eligible households may not see the card until later in September.
The application period ended Aug. 12, but that deadline does not cancel benefits for children who were already determined eligible or whose approved information is included in the final issuance.
The Sept. 10 benefits can be used through Jan. 9
Nebraska sets separate deadlines for requesting a replacement card, using the benefit and the final expiration of the funds.
| Final Summer EBT round | Date |
|---|---|
| Card mailing date | Sept. 10, 2026 |
| Benefit | $120 per eligible child |
| Replacement-card cutoff | Dec. 27, 2026 |
| Last day to use benefits | Jan. 9, 2027 |
| Benefits expire | Jan. 10, 2027 |
The expiration period is tied to the benefit’s issuance date rather than the day a household receives or activates the card. Unused Summer EBT benefits cannot be restored after they expire.
Nebraska DHHS maintains the full Summer EBT issuance and expiration schedule, including dates for earlier 2026 rounds.
Sept. 10 is not a second $120 payment for families already paid
Summer EBT provides one payment of $120 per eligible child for the 2026 summer period.
The Sept. 10 round does not mean households that already received their 2026 Summer EBT benefits will automatically receive another $120 per child.
The final mailing can include eligible students identified through qualifying public assistance programs, school records or Summer EBT applications that were approved before the application period closed.
Qualifying categories include children connected to:
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP;
- Aid to Dependent Children or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families;
- Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations;
- qualifying income-based Medicaid programs;
- free or reduced-price school meal eligibility; and
- approved 2026 Summer EBT applications.
A household with two eligible children can receive a total of $240. Three eligible children can bring the household benefit to $360.
The 2026 application period remains closed
Nebraska stopped accepting applications for the 2026 Summer EBT period on Aug. 12.
Some children did not need a separate application because their eligibility was established through public assistance programs, qualifying school meal records or other approved categories.
The closed application period does not prevent Nebraska from mailing benefits that were already approved for the 2026 program.
Cards may continue arriving after Sept. 10
Families included in the final round should not expect every card to arrive Thursday. Nebraska allows up to 10 business days for delivery after a card is mailed.
Summer EBT cards are mailed to the address available through DHHS, the student’s school or the approved application. Benefits for multiple eligible children in the same household are generally combined on one card issued to the head of household, while foster children receive cards in their own names.
A lost, stolen or damaged card can be reported through the EBT card service at 877-247-6328. Eligibility and Summer EBT questions can be directed to Nebraska DHHS at 800-383-4278, option 5.
Families who also receive SNAP can read Hola Nebraska’s guide to Nebraska’s current SNAP purchasing rules.
Nebraska’s final regular Summer EBT mailing remains scheduled for Sept. 10. Benefits issued in that round can be used through Jan. 9, 2027 and expire the following day.
Stay informed about what’s happening in your community. Your source for stories that inspire — visit HolaNebraska.org for news, culture and community updates across Nebraska.
