ALBANY, N.Y. (NEXSTAR) — Families in New York getting food assistance through the federal Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) program should use their remaining funds soon. The benefits start expiring on November 28. Check your remaining balance and expiration date online or call EBT Customer Service at (888) 328-6399 to avoid losing access to funds. To help families use their benefits before they expire, officials said they notified eligible households by mail, text, and phone. The benefits expire 122 days from their issue date, so families who got their EBT funds in August will lose them before December. Each child's benefits will expire at different times depending on when they were issued. Judge strikes down New York Voting Rights Act Totaling $200 million in aid, the program paid out $120 per eligible child for summer groceries and was projected to help about 2 million children across the state. Used like typical SNAP funds, the benefits help families buy food at stores and farmers' markets, with funds on an EBT card assigned to each child. Many families automatically received the funds, but others had to apply, including families ineligible for other food programs. “Summer EBT has been a lifeline for millions of New York families keeping healthy food on the table,” said Rachel Sabella, Director of No Kid Hungry New York. As food insecurity rates rise across the state, she stressed, “If you don’t use these benefits, you’ll lose them.” Despite reforms, New York faces childcare cost crisis The USDA’s found that one in every five kids in New York live in food-insecure households. Nearly four in every five households in New York said they struggle to afford groceries, according to a recent No Kid Hungry poll. Many said they cut back on healthier foods over rising costs. House Republicans lock in leadership positions for next Congress House Republicans strike deal to make it harder to oust Speaker 'American Idol' finalist Triston Harper, 16, is expecting baby with new wife, his mother reveals Keg Tree at Genesee Brew House making a return for the10th year SUNY sees second year of enrollment increases