Summer EBT Appeals

If your application for Summer EBT food benefits was denied for one or more of your children, and you think the decision was wrong, you may ask OTDA to review it. If the decision was incorrect, we will correct it. To request a review of the decision, you must ask for a conference or an appeal with a Summer EBT reviewer.

A conference is an informal opportunity to speak with an OTDA representative via telephone to discuss the decision for your application and receive an explanation as to why your application was denied. If you request a conference, you may still request an appeal. The information you receive in a conference can help with your appeal. If you would like to request an appeal after your conference, the OTDA representative will schedule one for you. OTDA will email you a notice with the time and date of your appeal.

An appeal is a more formal opportunity to speak with an OTDA representative and explain why you believe our decision is incorrect. You may have a representative (a lawyer, a relative, a friend, an interpreter, etc.) on the call to help you. You and your representative will have a chance to present evidence to explain why the decision was wrong and ask questions about the denial decision. If you think you need a lawyer to help with your appeal, you may be able to get one at no cost to you by contacting your local Legal Aid Society or other legal advocate group. Failure to attend or reschedule an appeal will result in the denial of your Summer EBT benefit.

To request a conference or an appeal, you must call the Summer EBT Helpline at (833) 452-0096 within 30 days of the date you received your denial notice. If you received denial notices for multiple children within the same household, you only need to submit one request.

When calling to request an appeal, please be prepared to provide personal information for both yourself (name, phone number, email address, street address) and any children whose application was denied (name, date of birth, school name). You will also be asked to provide a Notice Number and Application Number. These can be found in the denial notice you received via email.

After you have requested an appeal, you will receive a phone call from an OTDA representative to schedule your meeting. You will also receive an email with the date and time of your meeting, along with a list of required documentation you will need to provide prior to your meeting.

If you request an appeal, you have a right to access your child's records. Upon request, we will provide you with free copies of the records OTDA used to make their decision about your Summer EBT benefit. If you would like copies of specific records for your appeal, contact us before the appeal, and we will provide them to you. Documents will be mailed to you only if you specifically ask that they be mailed, otherwise they will be emailed to you.

OTDA will email you with a decision on your appeal within 30 business days of your meeting.

To request an appeal, access your child's records, or for any other questions, call the Summer EBT Helpline at (833) 452-0096.