Summer EBT Reconsideration Process
Summer EBT reconsideration is the process by which the State will review Summer EBT requests from households that believe their children should have received benefits but whose applications were not approved. The reconsideration process provides a second opportunity for approval for families who were initially denied through the Summer EBT application process.
Please note: Reconsideration is only available to families that submit a Summer EBT application. If a family did not submit a Summer EBT application because they believe their child should be automatically eligible through participation in SNAP, Families First, TennCare, and/or the National School Lunch Program, the family will not see the reconsideration request option within the Parent Portal. These families should submit a Summer EBT application to begin the request process. For more information on the Summer EBT application, click here.
All families requiring an application to verify eligibility may request reconsideration before filing a formal appeal, although it is not mandatory to do so.
The Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (Summer EBT) program is a federally funded food assistance program administered at the state level which provides nutrition benefits to eligible school age children during summer months when school meals are not available. Like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), benefits are distributed through EBT cards that can be used to purchase groceries.
The Summer EBT reconsideration period begins on June 17 and ends on July 31, 2024
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Summer EBT reconsideration period?
The Summer EBT reconsideration period begins on June 17 and ends on July 31. To begin a reconsideration request, you must have your child or children linked to your Summer EBT Parent Portal account at onedhs.tn.gov and submit the required form.
If approved, benefits will be issued automatically within 15 days from the approval date. Reconsideration requests approved after July 5, 2024 will be issued on a rolling basis. Weekly benefit issuances will occur on Fridays beginning July 19, 2024.
If a family’s reconsideration request is denied, the family may file an appeal August 15, 2024 – November 13, 2024.
Can a household request reconsideration if a child was not streamlined certified or was determined ineligible through a Summer EBT application?
Reconsideration is only available to families that submit a Summer EBT application. If a family did not submit a Summer EBT application because they believed their child should be streamline certified through participation in SNAP, Families First, TennCare, and/or the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), the family will not see the reconsideration request option within the Parent Portal. These families should submit a Summer EBT application to begin the request process.
“Streamline certification” is the process by which children are automatically determined eligible for Summer EBT. To be eligible for streamline certification, a child must:
- Participate in SNAP, Families First, or TennCare during the 2023/24 school year and be born on or after 8/1/2005 and on or before 8/1/2017; or
- Have an approved NSLP application on file with their school (no age restriction).
Please note, per federal guidelines, children must be of “compulsory school age,” or age that children are required to attend school (or an equivalent program as defined by State or Tribal law) to be streamline certified through participation in SNAP, Families First, or TennCare. In Tennessee, the compulsory school age is 6-17.
Children of any age who are enrolled in NSLP participating schools are eligible to participate in Summer EBT if they are eligible for free or reduced-price meals, or if they reside in a household with an income level at or below 185% of the Federal Poverty Level and complete a Summer EBT application.
All families requiring an application to verify eligibility may request reconsideration before filing a formal appeal, although it is not mandatory to do so.
If approved through Reconsideration, when do my benefits expire?
Upon approval, benefits will remain valid for 122 days after Summer EBT card issuance.
Is the Summer EBT benefit amount for Reconsideration request the same as the amount for the main Summer EBT application?
Yes, the benefit amount approved through reconsideration is $120, the same amount issued to all S-EBT participants whether eligibility is determined via streamline certification or Summer EBT application.
How do I apply?
Reconsideration request forms will be available on the Summer EBT Parent Portal June 17, 2024 – July 31, 2024. Please login to your account at onedhs.tn.gov for more information or contact One DHS Customer Service at 833-772-8347 if you have additional questions.