During the summer months, schools are closed so that students can enjoy the hot months and can go for walks, travel with their families or simply not do homework for a few weeks. The problem is that school cafeterias and lunchrooms are also closed, which are places where children from low-income families eat at least once a day.
In the most critical cases, these minors do not have good nutrition at home and school meals are the most important meal of the day. It is precisely for those families with school-age children that SNAP Benefits exist, and more specifically in the summer months, SUN Bucks.
Families With SNAP Benefits Also Receive SUN Bucks
Families receiving food stamps, currently called SNAP benefits, will receive an additional $120 in financial support during the summer months. This is mainly because, at that time, schools and colleges are closed.
For many low-income families with school-age children, school cafeterias are essential in terms of nutrition. Many of these children rely heavily on the meals offered during lunch at school. Therefore, when schools and their cafeterias close during the summer, an imbalance is generated not only in the children’s nutrition, but also in the family economy.
For this reason, the federal SNAP program has allocated an additional budget this year to distribute $120 per child (in a single payment or in up to three monthly payments during the summer) through the SUN Bucks program, with the goal of covering at least part of food costs.
More Than 30 States Sent SNAP Benefits’ SUN Bucks in August
In total, 30 states decided to join the federal initiative, which was organized as an open invitation by the USDA. Unfortunately, not everyone decided to participate for various financial or logistical reasons.
These are the states that opted out of the SUN Bucks initiative in 2024:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Georgia
- Iowa
- Idaho
- Florida
- Mississippi
- South Carolina
- Dakota del Sur
- Oklahoma (although tribal nations within the state participate)
- Texas
- Wyoming
- SUN Bucks must be used before September
Benefits are loaded onto an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card, similar to the one used for SNAP benefits, which can be used like a debit card to purchase the same types of foods allowed by the United States Department of Agriculture United States (USDA).
Although the federal government’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) funds these benefits, administration and distribution is up to state and local authorities, meaning not all recipients will receive payment on the same date.
SUN bucks benefits must be used before the end of August, because from September 1st they will be deactivated. That being said, it is understood that any unused surplus from these allowances can no longer be used, and will disappear from the EBT cards.
Eligibility Criteria for School Age Children
Children eligible to receive these SUN Bucks payments are those enrolled in schools that participate in various subsidized food and lunch programs, whether sponsored by the federal or local government.
Also automatically eligible are those whose families receive SNAP benefits, the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), or are enrolled in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.
Most eligible families will receive the benefit automatically, without needing to submit an application. However, some families may have to apply for SUN Bucks directly, according to the FNS. Detailed information can be consulted through the corresponding state provider.
Once enrolled, depending on the beneficiary’s location, SUN Bucks may be automatically added to their SNAP account or delivered via a separate EBT card.