Frequently asked questions about Summer EBT

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Summer EBT helps families purchase healthy food for the months in which students are not in school. Expand the sections below for answers to frequently asked questions about Summer EBT.

What is Summer EBT?

What is Summer EBT?

Summer EBT (also called SUN Bucks) is a program that helps families buy healthy food while their kids are on summer break.
Here is how it works:

• You get a one-time payment of $120 for each eligible child.
• The money comes on a Summer EBT card.
• You can use the card to buy food at most grocery stores or farmers markets. 

Not sure if your family is eligible? You can quickly check your child's status using our new Colorado S-EBT Enrollment Checker!

How much will I receive?

You will receive a single payment of $120 for each approved child in your household.

Will Summer EBT affect our immigration status?

No, it will not! Using Summer EBT does not affect your or your child’s immigration status.
Important facts to know:

• The "public charge" rule does not apply to this program.
• We will never ask for your immigration status.
• You do not need to be a U.S. citizen to get these benefits.

Who Gets Summer EBT? (Eligibility Rules)

Who is eligible for Summer EBT?

Most eligible children will be automatically enrolled in Summer EBT. Some children may need to apply. You can quickly check if you need to apply through our online Colorado S-EBT Enrollment Checker.
 

Your child is eligible and will be automatically enrolled in Summer EBT if…
 

• Your child attends a school participating in the National School Breakfast or Lunch Program (NSLP), AND one or more of the following is true:
  • Receives SNAP or Colorado Works (TANF)
  • Has household income that is less than or equal to 185% of the federal poverty guidelines and receives Health First Colorado (Medicaid) or your household submitted an income form to their school
  • Is homeless, in foster care, is in the Migrant Education Program, or is a runaway youth
• Your child does NOT attend a NSLP school AND is between 6–17 years old AND  meets one or more of the bulleted criteria above.

You should submit a Summer EBT application for your child if: 

• Your child does not appear to be automatically enrolled in the program via the Colorado Summer EBT Enrollment Checker, AND

• Your child attends a school, Pre‑K, or Head Start program that participates in the National School Breakfast or Lunch Program AND
• Your household income is less than or equal to 185% of the federal poverty guidelines.
  

What if my child is younger than 6, older than 17?

Children outside of typical elementary or high school ages can still get Summer EBT if they meet specific rules.

If your child is younger than 6: They can get Summer EBT if they meet both of these rules:

• They go to a pre-K, Head Start, or elementary school that takes part in the National School Lunch Program, AND
• Your family makes less than or equal to 185% of the federal poverty guidelines.

If your student is older than 17: They can get Summer EBT if they meet all of these rules:

• They go to a school that takes part in the National School Lunch Program, AND
• Your family makes less than or equal to 185% of the federal poverty guidelines.

Are children who are not yet enrolled in school eligible for Summer EBT?

A child who was not yet enrolled in school during the 2025-26 school year may be eligible if: 

• They were born on or before Aug. 1, 2020; and
• Their family is receiving SNAP, Colorado Works (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), or Health First Coloraod (Medicaid). If the student is qualifying through Medicaid, the family must also meet NSLP income guidelines to be eligible. 

What if my child is homeschooled?

Even though homeschooled children do not go to a school that serves traditional school lunches, they might still qualify for Summer EBT!

Your homeschooled child can get Summer EBT if your family is already enrolled in one of these programs and is between the ages of 6-17 years old:

• SNAP (food stamps)
• Colorado Works (also known as TANF)
• Medicaid (Important state rule: If you only have Medicaid, your family must also meet the income limits for free or reduced-price school meals to get Summer EBT).

Do you have a unique situation with a homeschooled child, a preschooler, or an older student? Skip the guesswork and check your family's exact enrollment status right now using the Colorado Summer EBT Enrollment Checker!

What if my child switched schools this year? Do they still qualify?

Yes! Changing schools does not mean you lose your benefits.
Your child will still get Summer EBT as long as both of these things are true:

• They went to a school that takes part in the National School Lunch Program at any time during this school year, AND
• Your family makes less than or equal to 185% of the federal poverty guidelines.

Important rule: This means even if your child's new school does not offer the National School Lunch program, you still qualify because of their time at their old school.

Did your child recently change schools? You do not have to guess if their information transferred correctly. Check their status in seconds using our Colorado S-EBT Enrollment Checker!

What if we didn't get Summer EBT, but I think my child qualifies?

The state sends out benefits based on the information they get from schools and other state programs. 
If you believe your child meets the eligibility criteria and should have received benefits, here is what you can do:

• Step 1: Check your status. Use the Colorado Summer EBT Enrollment Checker at co.gov/sebtenrollment to quickly see if your child is already enrolled.
• Step 2: Apply if you meet the rules. If the checker says your child is not enrolled, but you believe your child qualifies based on the criteria listed here, you should fill out an application. The checker will guide you to the exact link you need to apply!

What if my child's Summer EBT application is denied, and I want to appeal?

If your child is denied, you will get a letter. This usually happens because:

• Your child's school does not use the National School Lunch Program.
• Your household income is too high.
• You did not send the right documentation to prove your income.
   

Every child gets their own letter, which might arrive on different days. You can always apply again later.

How to Appeal:
If you think this is a mistake, you can ask for a fair review, which is called an appeal. You can also have someone else speak for you.You must ask for an appeal within 90 days after the summer ends. You can contact us by:

• Phone: Call 800-536-5298 and pick option 8.
• Email: cdhs_sebt_supportcenter@state.co.us
• Mail: 1575 Sherman St, 5th Floor, Denver, CO 80203, Attn: Summer EBT.
   

Getting Your Card

How will I receive my Summer EBT benefits?

Eligible students will receive a letter in the mail indicating that they will be receiving the benefit. If your child already has a Summer EBT card and is eligible again this summer, $120 should be added to their existing card at the end of May. For new participants, cards will be mailed to the address the Summer EBT Program has on file for your child (new cards can take 30-45 days to arrive). You will get a separate card for each approved child in your household.

If you need to check what address we have on file, visit the Colorado S-EBT Online Portal.

When will my child receive Summer EBT?

Colorado will begin sending out Summer EBT benefits in late May 2026.

What does the Summer EBT card look like?

Here is an example of a Summer EBT card. Please note that the cardholder name will be the name of the approved child.

The card will come in a white unmarked envelope. The envelope will be addressed to the parent/guardian we have on file. It will look like this:

What if I receive multiple cards for the same student?

Each eligible child only gets one benefit payment of $120 for the entire summer. You should only receive one card per child. If you get two (or more) cards for the same child in the mail:

• Do not use the extra card. Contact the Summer EBT Support Center right away. We will look up your account and tell you which card to keep.
• Do not spend the extra money! If you use more than one card for the same child, you will have to pay that extra money back to the State of Colorado.

Summer EBT Support Center:

• Phone: 800-536-5298, Option 8
• Email: cdhs_sebt_supportcenter@state.co.us
  • Make sure you include the following:
    The primary parent/guardian’s full name, phone number and email address (if different from the one you’re writing from)
  • Your child(ren)’s full name, date of birth and school name
  • A clear description of what you need

My Summer EBT card hasn't arrived. What should I do?

If you are waiting on a new or replacement card, please allow 7-10 business days from the date it was issued for it to arrive. You can see the date your card was issued by logging into the Summer EBT Online Portal. You can also check the mailing address the card will arrive at in the Portal. If your address is correct and the card status says “Active,” your card is on its way.

Do not request another replacement card! Requesting more than one card will deactivate the card already on its way to you by mail.

My Summer EBT card arrived, but when I tried to set it up I was told it's deactivated. What happened and what should I do?

This usually happens if another card was requested after this card was mailed. Requesting a new card automatically deactivates any card mailed before it. So if more than one card was requested, only the most recently mailed card is active.

You can check your mailing address and your card’s status anytime in the Summer EBT Online Portal. If your address is correct and the status says “Active,” your card is on its way.
 

Managing Your Household

How do I find out who is listed as the current guardian on file?

The parent or guardian listed on file is the person who will get the approval letter in the mail. To confirm if you are the person on file, you must contact the Support Center.

Important privacy rule: For your family's safety, the Support Center cannot share any account details with you if you are not the adult listed on the account. They cannot even tell you who the listed person is.

Can we change who is on file? Because of these safety rules, the state can only change the main guardian in two specific situations:

• The adult currently on file calls to hand the benefits over to someone else and gives the new name and address.
• The adult currently on file has passed away, is too sick to handle the account, or is in jail or prison.

Summer EBT Support Center:

• Phone: 800-536-5298 (Press Option 8)
• Email: cdhs_sebt_supportcenter@state.co.us
  • Make sure you include the following:
    • The primary parent/guardian’s full name, phone number and email address (if different from the one you’re writing from)
    • Your child(ren)’s full name, date of birth and school name
    • A clear description of what you need

If you are the main adult on file, you can quickly check your child's account without waiting on hold by using our Colorado Summer EBT Online Portal!

 

Custody for my student is split between two households. How does my student receive Summer EBT?

We know that managing two households can be complicated. However, Summer EBT is a single payment meant for the child, so the state cannot split the benefit between two parents. 

The Summer EBT card will be printed in your child’s name. The card is meant to travel back and forth with your child between both homes so they can buy food wherever they are staying.

Which house will the card be mailed to? It depends on how your child qualified:

• If they qualified through their school: The card will be mailed to the main parent or guardian listed in the school's computer system (usually the person who filled out the school meal form). Sometimes, there are multiple parent/guardian names listed in the school’s system and one name is selected at random. Our system is only able to house one parent/guardian name per child.
• If they qualified through SNAP, TANF (Colorado Works), or Medicaid (Health First Colorado): The card will be mailed to the main adult (Head of Household) listed on that state benefits account.

If you aren’t sure how your child qualified for Summer EBT, look at the paper approval letter you or your co-parent received in the mail. Each approved child receives their own approval letter. The letter will say the child’s “Reason for Eligibility" in the grey box with the approved child’s name.

Important rule: The state cannot change who the card is mailed to based on custody agreements. Parents and guardians must work together to share the card and support the child.
 

Using Your Card at the Store:

How do I activate my new card and set my PIN?

Your new card is actually active as soon as it arrives in the mail! However, before you can buy food, you must set up a secret 4-digit PIN (Personal Identification Number).

How to set your PIN:

• Call EBT Customer Service at 1-888-328-2656. (If you are deaf or hard of hearing, call TTY: 800-659-2656).
• Using your phone keypad, type in your card number when the phone system asks for it.
• When asked by the system to “enter your date of birth”, please enter the date of birth of the CHILD, not yourself. 
  • If you selected the English language option, enter the child's DOB in the format month-day-year (MM-DD-YYYY). 
  • If you selected the Spanish language option, enter the child’s DOB in the format day-month-year (DD-MM-YYYY).
• You will also need to enter the zipcode of the address that the card was mailed to. 
• Follow the instructions on the phone to pick the 4 numbers for your PIN.
• Important safety tip: Pick a PIN that is easy for you to remember, but hard for a stranger to guess. Do not use your child's birthday or simple numbers like "1234," or repeating numbers like “1111.”

Protecting your card after your PIN is set:

• Protect your benefits by downloading the ebtEDGE app or logging on to the ebtEDGE website
• Using ebtEDGE, you can freeze your card when it is not in use so that no one else can get access to your benefits. 

How do I pay with my Summer EBT card at the store?

Your EBT card works just like a regular debit card. Just follow these steps:

1. Know your balance: Check how much money is on your card before you shop so you know what you can spend. If there’s not enough money left on your card to pay the full balance of the transaction, the transaction will not go through.
2. Swipe your card: Swipe the card at the cash register. If the screen asks you to choose "Food" or "Cash," always choose "Food."
3. Type your PIN: Enter your secret 4-digit PIN. (Safety rule: Never say your PIN out loud. The cashier should never ask you for it!)=
4. Check the total: Look at the screen to make sure the amount is correct, then press "OK" or "Yes."
5. Keep your receipt: Your store receipt will actually show your remaining balance for your next shopping trip!

Tip: If your card does not have enough money to cover everything in your cart, that is okay! Just tell the cashier exactly how much Summer EBT funds you want to use first, and then you can pay for the rest with cash or another card.

What can I purchase with Summer EBT benefits?

You can use your Summer EBT benefits to buy SNAP eligible food for your family at most stores and farmers markets. It works just like regular SNAP benefits! Please see the SNAP website for up to date information: cdhs.colorado.gov/snap

Can I use my Summer EBT card to buy food online?

Yes! Just like regular SNAP, you can use your Summer EBT card to buy groceries online for delivery or curbside pickup at certain stores.

Here is how it works at different stores:

• Walmart & Instacart: You can pay with your Summer EBT card online when you check out.
• Amazon: You can pay with your Summer EBT card online for delivery. (Note: They also offer discounted Prime memberships!)
• King Soopers & Safeway / Albertsons: You can order your food online, but you must bring your Summer EBT card and swipe it in person when you pick up your groceries.

Important rule: Summer EBT benefits can only be used to buy food. It cannot be used to pay for delivery fees, service fees, or driver tips. You will need to use a regular debit or credit card to pay for those extra costs.

Can I use my Summer EBT card in another state?

Yes! You can use your Summer EBT card at most grocery stores and farmers markets anywhere in the United States. Check here for authorized retail locations.

Important safety rule: To protect your benefit from being stolen, the State of Colorado may block your card if it sees someone trying to buy food in certain other cities or states. Learn more here.

If you travel out of state and your card stops working:

• Do not panic—your benefit is still there!
• Just call the Colorado EBT Program at 800-536-5298, option 2.
• Tell them you are traveling, and they will unlock your card so you can buy your groceries.

How do I check the balance on my card?

It is easy to check your Summer EBT balance! You have three ways to do it:

• On your smartphone: Download the ebtEDGE app and create an account.
• Online: Log-in to the ebtEDGE website: www.ebtedge.com
• By Phone: Call ebtEDGE Customer Service at 1-888-328-2656 or 1-800-659-2656 (TTY).
• On your store receipt: When you make a purchase with your EBT card, the remaining card balance after the purchase will be printed on the store receipt. Make sure to ask the cashier for the receipt.

Do Summer EBT benefits expire?

Yes, they do. You have 122 days (about 4 months) to use your Summer EBT benefits after it is put on your card. You can always check when your benefits will expire by visiting the Colorado Summer EBT Online Portal!

Important rule: Once that time is up, the benefit will be removed from your card and it cannot be given back. Be sure to buy your groceries before it expires!

Should I throw away my card after the benefit is gone?

No! Please keep your Colorado Summer EBT card in a safe place for next summer.

If your child qualifies for Summer EBT next year, the new benefits will likely be put on this exact same card. Keeping it means you will not have to wait for a new one in the mail!

Protecting Your Benefit & Updating Your Info:

How can I protect my card from scammers and theft?

Important: If your Summer EBT benefit is stolen from your card, the state cannot replace it unless the card was reported as lost or stolen prior to the reported fraudulent charge.

Because of this rule, it is very important to protect your card using the ebtEDGE website or mobile app:

• Freeze your card: You can turn your card "off" when you are not using it. Just unfreeze it right before you pay at the store!
• Block out-of-state or online shopping: You can turn these blocks on to prevent theft. You can remove the block anytime.
• Check your account often: Look at your purchases regularly. If you see something you did not buy, freeze your card right away and request a new one.

How do I change my address or request a new card?

You do not need to wait on hold to do this! You can easily update your mailing address or request a replacement card online.
Just log in to the Colorado Summer EBT Online Portal to make those changes instantly.

Help with the Summer EBT Online Portal:

Where can I find the Summer EBT Online Portal?

You can find the Colorado Summer EBT Online Portal by going to co.gov/sebtportal

We highly recommend saving or bookmarking this website on your phone or computer! It is the fastest way to check your application or benefits status, update your mailing address, or request a replacement card without ever having to wait on hold.

What can I do in the new Summer EBT Online Portal?

Our new Colorado Summer EBT Online Portal is the fastest way to manage your family's benefits without ever making a phone call!

By creating a secure account, the main parent or guardian on file can:

• See the benefits status and card status for all approved children in your household.
• See the application status for any S-EBT applications that you submitted.
• Request a new card if yours is lost, stolen, or damaged.
• Update your mailing address so you do not miss important mail.
• Opt-in to email communications about your benefits. 

What if the portal says it cannot verify my identity? 

To keep your family's information safe, the portal uses a strict security system to check that you are really you.

If the system cannot match your information and you get an error, do not worry. Just contact the myColorado Support Center, and they will help you get it sorted out:

• Phone: Call 303.562.9855 to speak with a customer support agent over the phone during these hours: Monday to Sunday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. 
• Chat: Use the myColorado Assistant any time, or chat with a live agent during these hours: Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Customer Support Request Form: Submit your online request any time, and an agent will get back to you as soon as possible.

What if I need help logging into the Online Portal?

If you are having a hard time creating an account or logging in, please contact the MyColorado help desk at:

• Phone: Call 303.562.9855 to speak with a customer support agent over the phone during these hours: Monday to Sunday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. 
• Chat: Use the myColorado Assistant any time, or chat with a live agent during these hours: Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Customer Support Request Form: Submit your online request any time, and an agent will get back to you as soon as possible.

What if I see the wrong child listed on my Portal dashboard?

If you log in and see a child that is not yours, or if a child's information looks completely wrong, please do not panic! This usually just means there was a simple mix-up with the paperwork sent over from the school or the state.

To fix this, you will need to contact the S-EBT  Support Center so a real person can look at your account and correct the mistake. 
Email: cdhs_sebt_supportcenter@state.co.us

I logged into the Portal, but I do not see any children on my dashboard. What went wrong?

If you successfully logged in but your dashboard is empty, it usually happens for one of three reasons:

• You are not listed as the main guardian: Remember, for your family's safety, the portal will only show the child's information to the main parent or guardian listed on the school's paperwork or your state benefits account. Sometimes, when two parents are listed on the school file, one is selected at random. If a co-parent or another relative is listed as the main guardian, your dashboard will be empty.
• Your child is not signed up yet: If you recently submitted a Summer EBT application, your child's information might not be in the Summer EBT database yet.
• Your child may not qualify for the benefit or may need to apply

What you should do next: 

If you believe you are the main parent on file and your child is enrolled in Summer EBT but you are still not seeing them on your portal dashboard, please contact the S-EBT Support Center at cdhs_sebt_supportcenter@state.co.us

Contact Us

Need more detailed support? Contact us!

Skip the phone lines! Use our fast online tools:

• Need to check if your child is signed up? Use the Colorado S-EBT Enrollment Checker to see if you are automatically enrolled or if you need to apply.
• Need to update your address, request a new card, or check your application? Log in to the Online Portal to manage your account. (Having trouble logging into the portal? Call myColorado Customer Support at 303-562-9855).

Prefer to email us?

You can email us at cdhs_sebt_supportcenter@state.co.us 

Important: Your email must include all of these things:

• Parent/Guardian Name: First and last name.
• Child's Information: First name, last name, and date of birth. (Please use the exact name that is on their school record, even if it is a nickname.)
• Your Phone Number.

Prefer to call us?

• For other issues or questions: Call the Summer EBT Support Center at 800-536-5298 (Press Option 8).
• To check your balance or change your PIN: Call EBT Customer Service at 1-888-328-2656 (If you are deaf or hard of hearing, call TTY: 800-659-2656).