From the 2024 summer season, Louisiana will offer SUN Bucks, a program also known as Summer EBT, to provide grocery shopping benefits to low-income families with school-aged children. When schools are closed over the summer, each eligible child will receive a single payment of $120 for the summer, and the benefits will be distributed in three phases, according to a statement from the Department of Children and Family Services.
Phase 1 will be in June and children who received SNAP benefits in the 2023-2024 school year will be eligible for simplified certification and will be automatically enrolled, SUN Bucks benefits will be added to their existing Electronic Benefit Transfer card, phases 2 and 3 will be announced soon, according to the website.
“We have been working with our federal partners and leaders from other agencies to finalize plans and timelines,” said DCFS Secretary David Matlock. “The degree of collaboration has been tremendous, and we thank you for your support and assistance during this process.”
Summer EBT Program in Louisiana: Who Qualifies for the Extra Assistance?
Children who are eligible for the benefit and do not have an existing EBT card will have one created when their benefits are issued. It is vitally important that families verify that their mailing address is updated and correct on their SNAP benefis, FITAP and/or or Medicaid, and at your child’s school, per federal regulations, SUN Bucks must be used within 122 days of the benefits’ issuance date, or they will be removed from the card, once benefits expire, they cannot be added to the card again.
“We expect a large percentage of eligible children to receive benefits in time for the summer,” said Aly Rau, Undersecretary of Family Support. “The SUN Bucks program, along with other federal nutrition programs like SUN Meals (the Summer Food Service Program), will provide Louisiana students with access to nutritious meals during the summer months.”
Who Is Eligible to Receive SUN Bucks in Louisiana?
Those children who are eligible in the following categories will receive SUN Bucks automatically, without needing to apply, in the month of June:
- Children whose families received Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP benefits) or Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program (FITAP) benefits during the 2023-2024 school year.
- Children who receive Medicaid
- Children who individually applied and were approved to receive free or reduced-cost school meals through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
On the other hand, children in the following categories may be eligible to receive SUN Bucks, but must submit an application:
- Homeless children
- Immigrant children
- Children who receive free or reduced-cost school meals, but who have not completed an NSLP application (for example, if the child attends a school with community eligibility provision where all students receive free or reduced-cost meals without submitting an application)
Even if your family does not fall into any of the categories above, your child may still be eligible to receive SUN Bucks based on your family’s income.reported el DCFS.
