West Virginia students will receive a one-time payment of $120 by the end of the school year, subject to the child’s qualifying factors.
This year, the Department of Human Services (DoHS) will offer two “Pathways” to eligibility.
If the child receives other benefits such as Medicaid or is homeless, living in foster care, or experiencing other similar extenuating circumstances, they do not need to be enrolled in a public school to be eligible for Pathway One.
A child who qualifies under pathway one does not need to apply for summer EBT.
Pathway Two requires the child to attend a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program.
To qualify for Pathway Two, a family of four must earn less than $59,477 per year, or 185% of the federal poverty line in 2025.
According to the DoHS, the majority of children eligible for Pathway One will receive Summer EBT benefits by the end of the 2024-2025 school year, while children eligible for Pathway Two will receive benefits within 30 days of submitting an approved Summer EBT application.
West Virginia households that meet the eligibility requirements can apply online at schoolcafe.com, download an application, or pick up a paper copy from any DoHS county office.
