Starting this summer, you can buy more food for your child with California SUN Bucks, also called Summer-EBT. SUN Bucks works just like CalFresh, but for the summer.
Your student will receive their SUN Bucks card by mail in a plain white envelope.
What is SUN Bucks?
SUN Bucks, also known as Summer EBT (S-EBT), is a new program to help families buy food for their school-aged children during the summer. Families will get $120 ($40 per month) for each eligible child to buy groceries during the summer.
Families must use SUN Bucks within 122 days of funds being loaded to their cards. Children who get SUN Bucks can still participate in other summer meal programs. SUN Bucks will not affect immigration status.
Will my child get SUN Bucks?
Your child will automatically get SUN Bucks if:
- They are age six to 18 years and get CalFresh, CalWORKS, or Medi-Cal; OR
- They are age 0 to 22 years, attending schools that are part of National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and/or School Breakfast Programs (SBP), AND are approved for free or reduced price meals. Check with your child’s school to make sure your free or reduced-price meal application or Alternative Income Form is on file.
Children who are attending Head Start, experiencing homelessness, living in foster care or part of a migrant family are also automatically eligible.
When will I get my SUN Bucks Card?
Most families will begin receiving their 2024 SUN Bucks cards in mid-June through August. Automatically enrolled kids will begin receiving their cards mid-June and continuing through August. Cards will be mailed in alphabetical order by the child’s last name (A-Z) as follows:
| Month | Starting Letter of Last Name |
|---|---|
| Mid-June | A-D |
| July | E-L |
| August | M-Z |
Regardless of when the card is received, every SUN Bucks card will be loaded with the full $120 per child. If you have any questions, please call the SUN Bucks Helpline at (877) 328-9677.