Summer EBT, known as SUN Bucks, is a program that helps families buy food for their school-aged children during the summer.

Families will get a card with $120 for each eligible child to buy groceries during the summer. Families must use SUN Bucks within 122 days of funds being loaded to their card. It is recommended that households spend SUN Bucks benefits first, since they expire, and once they’re used up, then go back to using CalFresh.

Children who get SUN Bucks can still participate in other summer meal programs.

Some children are automatically enrolled, and some are not and would need to print and fill out a form (Universal Benefits Application, or UBA) to submit to the school.

SUN Bucks will not affect immigration status.

Eligible families will get SUN Bucks on an EBT card mailed to their home.

All cards arrive in the mail with information on how to activate the card. Since SUN Bucks benefits must be used within 122 days of funds being loaded onto the card, it is recommended that families use their SUN Bucks benefits before CalFresh benefits.

Please report address changes as soon as possible to ensure the card is mailed to the correct address. See below for more details on that.

You can use SUN Bucks just like a debit card to buy food like fruits, vegetables, meat, whole grains, and dairy at grocery stores, farmers markets, and other places that accept CalFresh EBT benefits. You can also use SUN Bucks with Market Match at local farmers’ markets.

There is no immigration status requirement to receive or use SUN Bucks, and will NOT be considered a “public charge.”

Some kids will get it AUTOMATICALLY:

*Kids age 6-18 who got CalFresh or CalWORKs during the eligibility period (July 1, 2025 through August 31, 2026)

*Kids age 6-18 who got Medi-Cal during the eligibility period, as long as they are below 185% of the Federal Poverty Level

*Kids age 0-22 who are experiencing homelessness, living in foster care, runaway, or part of a migrant household.

*Kids age 0-22 attending schools (including Head Start and TK) that are part of National School Lunch and/or School Breakfast Programs, AND are certified to receive free or reduced price meals. Check with your child's school to make sure your free or reduced-price meal application is on file, or submit a Universal Benefits Application to your school.

Some kids will need to APPLY (if they do not meet the criteria for automatic, streamlined eligibility)

Children who are not automatically eligible must apply for SUN Bucks by submitting a National School Lunch Program (NSLP) application or Universal Benefits Application. Children who have already submitted a NSLP application during the current school year do not need to submit a UBA application.

Children attending a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) school or Provision 2 (P2) school, who are not automatically eligible for SUN Bucks, should contact their school or district to determine which application they are required to submit.

All applications must be submitted by August 31, 2026 to establish eligibility for the Summer 2026 benefit.

Click here to see if your Humboldt County school is a CEP school.

Either reach out to your child’s school for the application form or download the UBA form from the CDE website and return a printed copy to your child’s school by August 31, 2026. The form is available in 22 additional languages here too!

The Universal Benefits Application does NOT collect Social Security Numbers or immigration status.

Make sure your mailing address is current, so your SUN Bucks are sent to the right place!

• If you get CalWORKS, CalFresh, or Medi-Cal, change your address online at BenefitsCal.com, or call or visit your local county office.

• If you qualify for free or reduced-price meals, change your address at your child's school of attendance. Not sure? Check with your child's school.

SUN Bucks cards will be mailed to the address on file, depending on the data source used to determine eligibility. Keep your address current with your school and with county programs.

The state has a SUN Bucks call center that can be reached through the regular EBT helpline: (877) 328-9677

The SUN Bucks Helpline can help support PIN set-up, card replacement, finding out date card was loaded, eligibility questions, reporting food loss, and more.

Families can check their benefit balance and claim status, by visiting the California EBT cardholder website.

SUN Bucks is NOT the same as or a replacement for CalFresh benefits or other summer nutrition benefits.

SUN Bucks has no bearing on eligibility for CalFresh or any other nutrition program.

You can receive SUN Bucks, CalFresh, and “to go” school meals at the same time. You do NOT need to choose between these available resources.

More info from California Association of Food Banks

More info from CA Dept. of Social Services

The State (California Dept. of Social Services) is sending proactive text messages to let families know that cards are coming.

Every year you will receive a new SUN Bucks card. Use the one that comes in the mail. Last year’s card will NOT work. The card will be white, with a SUN Bucks logo on it. Cards will begin arriving in late May and will continue to be delivered through the fall.

In Stage 1 of mailing, children who are streamlined certified between July 1, 2025 through March 31, 2026, will begin receiving cards in June 2026.

In Stage 2 of mailing, children determined eligible between April 1, 2026 through August 31, 2026 will receive cards in monthly batches beginning mid-August 2026 until all issuances are complete. State 2 will include approved benefit replacement requests and any other newly eligible children identified during the application period.

SUN Bucks cards are NOT chip/tap, so please use caution in safeguarding your benefits.

While the SUN Bucks card is eligible for replacement in the event of a disaster, it is NOT eligible for replacement if skimmed (stolen benefits).

Use the ebtEDGE app to track, freeze/unfreeze benefits, and to PIN your card.

Even though stolen benefits will not be replaced, please do call the state Helpline to report it.