SUN Bucks (Summer EBT) will provide California families with a total of $120 in food assistance from June through August to help them purchase food while schools are closed.
CALIFORNIA, USA — A new program in California could help families with eligible children get extra money for food this summer — and some families won’t even have to apply for the funds.
According to its website, SUN Bucks (Summer EBT) will provide food assistance totaling $120 from June through August “to help California families purchase food during the summer while school is out.”
The program was approved for 2023 and is run by the California Department of Social Services and the California Department of Education.
What are SUN Bucks?
The program is similar to existing programs like CalFresh and EBT and helps eligible families secure additional funds for food costs.
Funds will be preloaded onto the card and shipped to you according to your last name. If not used within 122 days of receiving the card, it will expire.
Who is eligible?
Children who qualify for or already receive free or reduced-price school meals, CalFresh, CalWORKs, or Medi-Cal are automatically enrolled and will receive a card in the mail. If you received your card without applying, you do not need to apply or fill out any paperwork.
The state will automatically enroll about 5 million eligible children based on existing school and social service data, according to the website.
The program targets children who are homeless, living in foster care, part of an immigrant family or attending Head Start.
The program is available to students ages 0-22, depending on eligibility. More information available here.
How to Apply
Most children who qualify for the SUN Bucks program will receive a pre-loaded card in the mail with $120. Children who wish to apply can do so by obtaining an Alternative Income Form from their child’s school, completing it, and returning it to the school for review by the program.
One card will be given per child, and multiple cards will be given to families with multiple qualifying children.
If you qualify based on the form, you are eligible for SUN Bucks.
Cards will be sent out in alphabetical order by month: students with last names A-D will receive by mid-June, students with last names E-L will receive by July, and students M-Z will receive by August.
If you wish to file a dispute, please call the Program Helpline at (877) 328-9677.
What can I buy with SUN Bucks?
Like EBT cards, funds are preloaded onto the card and can be used at most grocery stores, farmers markets, and other businesses. Amazon and Walmart also accept these funds online.
Most items can be purchased with the funds, but some items cannot be purchased, including hot foods, pet food, cleaning or household supplies, personal hygiene products or medicines.
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