CALIFORNIA, USA — A new California program is allowing eligible families with children to have extra money for food this summer — and some don’t even need to apply for the funds.
SUN Bucks, or Summer-EBT, offers a total of $120 for food from June through August to “help families in California buy food during the summer months when school is closed,” according to the website.
The program was approved in 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 or EBT to help eligible families have extra funds for food.
The funds will come preloaded on a card, which will ship out depending on your last name, and expire if not used within 122 days of receiving the card.
Who is eligible?
Children who qualify for or already receive free or lower cost school meals, get CalFresh, CalWORKs or Medi-Cal are automatically enrolled and will receive a card in the mail. If you did not apply and received a card, you do not have to apply or fill out any paperwork.
The state will automatically enroll about 5 million eligible children based on existing school and social services data, according to the website.
Children who are experiencing homelessness, living in foster care, part of a migrant family or are attending Head Start are eligible.
The program is available to students ages zero to 22 depending on their eligibility. Find more information HERE.
How to apply
Most children eligible for the SUN Bucks program will receive a card in the mail with $120 preloaded onto it. Those who want to apply can do so by getting an “Alternative Income Form” application from the child’s school, filling it out and returning it to the school and being evaluated for the program.
Cards are per child and families with more than one qualifying child will receive multiple cards.
If you qualify based on the form, you will be eligible for the SUN Bucks.
Cards will be sent out in alphabetical order by month with students with a last name from A to D receiving it by mid June, E through L by July and M through Z by August.
Those who want to file a dispute can call the program help line at (877) 328-9677.
What can SUN Bucks buy?
Like EBT cards, funds will be preloaded onto the card and able to be used at most grocery stores, farmers markets and other businesses. Amazon and Walmart take these funds online as well.
Most items can be purchased with these funds, but here’s what can not be bought: hot foods, pet foods, cleaning or household supplies, personal hygiene items or medicine.
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