35% of Summer EBT money went unspent by Colorado families last year, data shows

According to state data, more than a third of the funding for Colorado's Summer EBT program went unused by families last year. Summer EBT provides eligible families with $120 per child to purchase groceries during school breaks. The program was initiated during the pandemic to ensure children continued to receive free meals when schools were closed.

The unspent money indicated that families were missing out on valuable free food benefits during a critical period when hunger is most prevalent. State officials implemented changes to the 2023 Summer EBT rollout to encourage greater utilization of the benefits. Families have 122 days to use their $120 benefit, which will expire around late September this year.

This is the third year Colorado has participated in the Summer EBT program. Last summer, the state distributed $57.6 million to over 480,000 families of preschool through 12th grade students. However, 35% of those students did not use their $120 benefit, resulting in nearly $20.2 million being returned to the federal government.

Colorado had the lowest usage rate among 20 states for which data was collected by education policy consultant David Rubel. Missouri, for example, distributed $57 million in Summer EBT benefits but only lost $3.5 million. There are several reasons why families may not have used their $120 per child benefit, according to advocates.

The benefits are issued on a reusable card separate from a family's regular benefits card, and families must apply for a new card if they lose or discard their current one. Some families are unaware that Summer EBT exists, while others have expressed hesitation or uncertainty about utilizing the benefit due to its novelty. Additionally, operational and customer service challenges, as well as outdated mailing addresses, contributed to the lower usage rate last year.

Colorado had remedied the outdated mailing addresses issue by using current addresses from the state's public benefits system this year. School districts also play a role in informing families about Summer EBT, and advocacy organizations provided training to district staff with updated information this year. While school districts share general information about Summer EBT, they do not send targeted communications due to confidentiality concerns.

The Colorado Department of Human Services sends targeted communications and updated them this year with clear guidance on keeping the card. The department also introduced two new online tools this summer to help boost Summer EBT usage. The Summer EBT Enrollment Checker allows families to check their child's eligibility, and the Summer EBT Portal enables them to request a new card, change their address, or check application status without making a phone call.

Both tools are available in English and Spanish. Experts emphasize that summer is the hungriest time of year, and Summer EBT and summer meals help alleviate the summer hunger gap.