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 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.

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 at any point this school year

*Kids age 6-18 who got Medi-Cal at any point this school year, 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 approved for free or reduced price meals based on family’s income. 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 by September 2, 2025.

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

Schools that are considered “Community Eligibility Provision” (CEP) schools don’t collect meal application forms, so they DO need to collect Universal Benefits Application forms instead for you to receive SUN Bucks. Click here to see if your Humboldt County school is a CEP school.

Submit the new Universal Benefits Application by Sept 2, 2025. Either reach out to your child’s school for it or download the form from the CDE website and return a printed copy to your child’s school by September 2, 2025. 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.

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.

Some cards are arriving already, as of May.

In Stage 1 of mailing, children who are streamlined certified, or who already have a school meal application on file will start getting cards in June and July.

In Stage 2 of mailing, newly eligible kids who need to apply (need to complete school meal application or Universal Benefits Application) will get cards in August.

Mailing will continue on, since households have until September 2, 2025 to complete a form.

Cards in each stage will be mailed in alphabetical order by LAST name this year.

If a recipient is experiencing homelessness / does not have an address, and is getting CalFresh or CalWORKs with a county mailing address, it will go to that. If a recipient is NOT getting CalFresh or CalWORKs, then it will go to the school district.

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.