SUN Bucks

Get grocery help this summer with SUN Bucks!

Starting in 2024, eligible families will get a boost in their grocery budget each summer when school is out of session.

SUN Bucks, also known as Summer EBT, is a federal program that supports families who lose access to free school meals over the summer months. Families will receive an allotment of $120 for each eligible child to help cover the cost of groceries when school is out of session. Similar to SNAP (Basic Food), SUN Bucks can be used to buy food at grocery stores, farmers markets, and other locations.

SUN Bucks works in tandem with the Free Summer Meals program to support families when school meals are unavailable.

What are SUN Bucks?

Is my child eligible?

Eligibility for SUN Bucks is based primarily on participation in public assistance programs like SNAP, TANF, or free school meals. Families can also qualify based on household income. There is no citizenship requirement, and SUN Bucks is not considered under the public charge rule.

Most eligible families will be automatically certified for SUN Bucks and do not need to submit an application.

Use our screening tool below to see if your child is eligible and learn whether you need to submit an application.

Get ready for summer 2025 - fill out the CNEEB!

While school is still in session, the best way to ensure your children are set up to receive SUN Bucks is to fill out the CNEEB form (Child Nutrition Eligibility and Education Benefit form). The CNEEB can be found on your school’s website, or in-person at your school’s front office. If your household income is deemed eligible through this form, your child will be automatically enrolled in SUN Bucks.

If your child’s school does not offer the CNEEB form, and your child does not qualify for SUN Bucks through participation in another public assistance program, you will need to submit a SUN Bucks application through DSHS.

SUN Bucks Updates - Right To Your Phone!

By signing up for SUN Bucks texts, you will receive specific information on your child’s eligibility, updates on your household’s benefits, and support resources when questions arise.

SUN Bucks Eligibility

  • Children between the ages of 8 and 18, who participate in one or more of the following programs, are automatically eligible and will receive SUN Bucks:

    - SNAP (Basic Food)

    - TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families)

    - Medicaid (Apple Health)

    - Head Start

    - Students with homeless, foster, migrant, or runaway status

  • Children of any age who have submitted a CNEEB form (Child Nutrition Eligibility and Education form) to their school demonstrating a qualifying household income will be automatically enrolled in SUN Bucks.

    Most families fill out a CNEEB at the beginning of the school year. If you haven’t filled out the CNEEB yet, you can find your school’s form here or visit your school’s office.

  • For children who are not captured by the above eligibility methods, a statewide SUN Bucks application will be available. Families who apply and meet the income requirements for free and reduced price meals will be eligible for SUN Bucks.

    Note: these income limits will increase on July 1, 2025. Eligibility will be determined based on income limits at the date of application.

    Check back in summer for the link to the 2025 application.

There are several different ways that a child can qualify for SUN Bucks. Learn more about the different paths to eligibility by expanding the options below.

SUN Bucks Benefits

Once a child is verified as eligible, their SUN Bucks card will be loaded with the $120 benefit. Newly eligible children will receive a SUN Bucks card in the mail. Each card can then be used to purchase groceries at any retailer that accepts SNAP (Basic Food).

To replace lost or discarded cards, call the SUN Bucks Contact Center at 833-543-3230.

SUN Bucks expire 4 months after the date of issuance. Once families receive their benefit, they have 122 days to spend down the funds before they will be invalid. Therefore, families should prioritize spending SUN Bucks before other funds like SNAP (Basic Food/EBT).

Frequently Asked Questions

  • No. SUN Bucks benefits will be loaded on to the same card each year, so you should hang on to your card from summer to summer. If you lose a SUN Bucks card, you can request a new one by calling the SUN Bucks Call Center at 833-543-3230 (TTY: 1-800-833-6348) between 8am and 5pm, Monday-Friday.

  • Children of all ages who are enrolled in a school that operates the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or School Breakfast Program (SBP) can be eligible for SUN Bucks. This includes students at public pre-schools, elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools, as well as students participating in programs for people with mental and physical disabilities.

    Children who do not attend a NSLP/SBP school, such as students who are homeschooled or attend a private schools, must be between the ages of 8 and 18 to be eligible for SUN Bucks. They must also participate in government assistance such as SNAP or TANF. This age guideline includes children who 'age in' or 'age out' during the year. For the 2024 SUN Bucks season, for example, eligible children had to be between the ages of 8 and 18 at some point between July 1, 2023 through August 31st, 2024.

  • No! There is no citizenship requirement for this program, and SUN Bucks is not included in “public charge” tests. Receiving SUN Bucks will not affect your family’s ability to remain in the United States, get a Green Card, or become U.S. Citizens.

  • Yes. Households without a permanent address can receive SUN Bucks.

    If your child received SUN Bucks last year and you still have the card, benefits will be automatically loaded onto it.

    If your child didn’t receive SUN Bucks last year, or you no longer have the card, talk to your child’s school about your options. You may be able to have the card sent to the school or to a district office and pick it up there.

  • Children who are enrolled in a qualifying public assistance program (e.g. SNAP, TANF) do not need to meet any additional income requirements.

    Similarly, children who are certified to receive free and reduced price school meals do not need to meet any additional income requirements.

    For all other children, the income threshold for SUN Bucks is 185% of the Federal Poverty Line (highlighted in blue).

    Note: these income limits will increase on July 1, 2025. Eligibility will be determined based on income limits at the date of application.

  • Maybe! Use our screening tool to learn whether you will need to apply.

    If your child participates in SNAP, TANF, or other qualifying assistance programs, they will be automatically enrolled and you do not need to submit an application for SUN Bucks.

    Similarly, if your child is already qualified to receive free or reduced price meals at school, they will be automatically enrolled and you do not need to submit a SUN Bucks application.

    If neither of these apply to your child but you believe they are eligible, you will need to submit a SUN Bucks application. The application will be available during the summer.

    Reminder: SUN Bucks eligibility is determined individually by child. If your household has multiple children with different circumstances, you may need to submit an application for one but not another.

  • The SUN Bucks application will not ask for any documentation or verification of eligibility. It will include a self-attestation statement and must be signed by an adult member of the household.

  • Eligibility is determined on a per child basis. Each child needs to meet the eligibility requirements individually in order to receive SUN Bucks.

    This could mean that some children in your family are eligible while others are not, especially for children of different ages or who attend different schools. Use the eligibility screening tool to check eligibility status for each child individually.

  • Maybe.

    Any child aged 8-18 who is enrolled in SNAP, TANF, or FDPIR, is eligible for SUN Bucks, regardless of where they attend school.

    For all other children, they must be enrolled in a school that operates the National School Lunch Program/School Breakfast Program (NSLP/SBP) in order to qualify.

    You can use this screening tool to learn more about your child’s eligibility.

  • You can call the SUN Bucks Contact Center year-round at 833-543-3230 (TTY: 1-800-833-6348) between 8am and 5pm, Monday-Friday.

  • You will receive an approval letter in the mail about 7-10 business days before your SUN Bucks card arrives. This letter will also be printed with the issuance date for the SUN Bucks benefits. Benefits expire 122 days from this date.

    You can also call the SUN Bucks Contact Center at 833-543-3230 (TTY: 1-800-833-6348) between 8am and 5pm, Monday-Friday for more information.

  • Yes! You can use SUN Bucks and SNAP together when shopping for food. Make sure to use your SUN Bucks benefits first, however, because these expire more quickly than SNAP dollars.

    Additionally, each card qualifies for Fruit and Vegetable Incentives programs and you can use both SNAP and SUN Bucks benefits for programs like Market Match and Produce Match.

Make the most of your child’s SUN Bucks with Fruit and Vegetable Incentives!

SUN Bucks are eligible for Fruit and Vegetable Incentives, which can up to double your SUN Bucks dollars and help you buy more delicious summer produce when you shop at certain locations, including farmers markets and many grocery stores.

Have questions? Call the SUN Bucks Contact Center at 833-543-3230 (TTY: 1-800-833-6348) between 8am and 5pm, Monday-Friday.

Last updated: March 6, 2025