New State-Funded Food Assistance Program to Replace Summer EBT – 96 Percent of Tennessee Children in Households With Low Incomes to be Left Without Benefits
In the summer of 2024, Tennessee participated in the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (Summer EBT) Program, which provided $120 in grocery benefits to approximately 700,000 eligible children across the state. While Summer EBT benefit dollars are provided by the federal government, states must match 50 percent of the administrative cost of implementing and operating the program. Tennessee allocated $5.8 million to cover half of Summer EBT administrative costs in 2024, and in return, the state drew down over $77 million in benefits that helped to address childhood food insecurity during the summer months.