The federal assistance program SNAP benefits (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) has been a crucial resource for many low-income families in the United States, providing funds to purchase basic foods.
During the summer months, this support is reinforced with the addition of the SUN Bucks, an additional benefit that aims to compensate for the absence of free or reduced-price school meals.
However, the time to take advantage of this benefit is coming to an end, as SUN Bucks will expire on August 31 and any remaining balance will disappear from E CardsBT.
What Are SUN Bucks?
SUN Bucks are a temporary component of the SNAP program, distributed exclusively during the summer months in states that have opted in (some opted out this year).
These additional benefits were created to address a critical need: the lack of access to school meals when educational institutions are closed. During the school year, many students rely on school cafeterias to receive at least one nutritious meal a day. However, in the summer, this resource is not available, leaving many families struggling to meet their children’s food needs..
To mitigate this problem, the federal government provides an additional amount of $120 per child, intended to ensure that families can maintain an adequate diet during the summer months. This money is loaded onto EBT cards, which are used similarly to debit cards for purchasing food at authorized stores.
Priority in Using SUN Bucks
With SUN Bucks set to expire at the end of August, officials have urged recipients to prioritize using them over regular SNAP funds. Beginning September 1, any unused balance of SUN Bucks will automatically disappear from EBT cards, and there will be no ability to recover these funds.
The recommendation for beneficiaries is direct and clear: Remember to use SUN Bucks for your food purchases first before turning to standard SNAP benefit funds., which do not have an immediate expiration date.
This way of using resources will ensure that the additional benefit provided by SUN Bucks is not lost and that families can maximize the financial support they have received during the summer months, when school cafeterias and cafeterias do not serve food due to being closed. .
Participating States and Distribution of SUN Bucks
In 2024, more than 30 states joined the SUN Bucks initiative, organized by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Although the invitation was open to all states, not everyone decided to participate, meaning the availability of SUN Bucks varies by location. States such as Texas, Florida and Georgia, among others, chose not to participate in this round of the program, while other states did implement the distribution of additional benefits.
Distribution of SUN Bucks has been carried out similarly to regular SNAP benefits, through EBT cards. However, administration of these funds is up to state and local authorities, meaning distribution dates and methods may differ from state to state. In some cases, SUN Bucks have been automatically added to existing SNAP accounts, while in others, recipients have received a separate EBT card specifically for these additional funds.
Eligibility and Use of SUN Bucks
SUN Bucks are primarily intended for school-age children who qualify for free or reduced-price meals through federal or local government-sponsored programs. Additionally, those children whose families already receive benefits from SNAP benefits, the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) are automatically eligible to receive SUN Bucks.
Most families who qualify for this benefit will receive it automatically, without needing to submit an additional application. However, in some cases, it may be necessary for families to enroll in the SUN Bucks program through their state provider. Once enrolled, funds will be loaded onto EBT cards, and will be available for immediate use toward the purchase of USDA-permitted foods.
