Summer EBT and SUN Bucks (with timeline for 15 states) (2024)

Updated 6/18/24

What is Summer EBT?

Summer EBT, also known as SUN Bucks, will provide a total of $120 in food benefits to eligible children each summer.

Its purpose is to reduce child hunger during the summer months, when students lose access to free or reduced-price meals. It is similar to the previous Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) program — which ended in 2023 — but has a few changes.

Providers will keep this page up-to-date as we get more information.

Summer EBT 2024 participating states, territories, and tribes:

A: American Samoa, Arizona, Arkansas

C: California, Cherokee Nation, Chickasaw Nation, Colorado, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Connecticut

D-H: Delaware, District of Columbia, Guam, Hawaii

I-L: Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana

M: Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana

N: Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota

O-P: Ohio, Oregon, Osage Nation, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico

R-Z: Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont

States not participating in Summer EBT 2024:

Summer EBT will not be available in the following states: Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Oklahoma, Mississippi, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming. These states may choose to participate in future years.

What about P-EBT in 2024?

Summer EBT is similar to the previous Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) program that ended in 2023 — but is not exactly the same. Some children who automatically received P-EBT will need to submit an application for Summer EBT.

The most common example of this is children who attend a "community eligibility" school who are not automatically eligible because their household is not receiving SNAP.

Who is eligible for Summer EBT / SUN Bucks?

Children are considered automatically eligible if their household receives SNAP (food stamps).

Children are also automatically eligible in most states if their household receives:

• TANF
• FDPIR (Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations)
• Medicaid (about 39 states)

Children who are not automatically eligible can still submit an application. To be approved, their household must be under 185% of the federal poverty limit. (For example, a household of 3 must make less than $47,767 per year to be eligible.)

Who needs to apply?

Most children will be automatically approved for Summer EBT and do not need to apply. The state will notify them of their eligibility, and then send them benefits. This automatic group includes children who either:

• Are school-aged and receive SNAP, TANF or FDPIR benefits (or Medicaid in some cases)
• Attend a school that offers the National School Lunch or School Breakfast Program (NSLP/SBP) and are approved for Free or Reduced-Price meals
• Are in foster care, in Head Start, experiencing homelessness, or part of a migrant family

If a family is NOT automatically approved for Summer EBT and meets the income requirements, they will need to fill out an application. The application will be available on your state's website.

What about kids who are in homeschool or go to online school?

Children not enrolled in a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or School Breakfast Program (SBP) may still qualify if they are part of other programs like SNAP, TANF, FDPIR, or Medicaid in some states.

How much will I receive?

Families will receive a total of $120 per eligible child for the summer period ($40 per month).

• 1 child: $120
• 2 children: $240
• 3 children: $360
• 3+ children: $120 for each additional child

These benefits can be used at grocery stores and other EBT-accepting retailers, similar to how SNAP benefits are used.

When will I get the Summer EBT card or deposit? (updated 6/12/24)

The timeline depends on your state, and many are still working out their deposit timeline.

We are continuously updating as states share timeline information.

If your state is NOT listed below, check this page later or download the Providers App to get notified.

Deposit and card timeline info for select states:

Mailed cards may take a few weeks to arrive due to the large number being printed.

How are SUN Bucks issued?

Depending on your state, SUN Bucks will either be issued:

1. To your existing SNAP EBT or P-EBT card, or
2. Onto a new EBT card that will be mailed to you.

The new card may be issued in your child’s name, or the parent's or guardian’s name.

How can I check my Summer EBT card balance?

Download the Providers App which makes it easy to check your Summer EBT balance. You can also add multiple cards, which is helpful for families with more than one child.

You can also check your balance by calling the number on the back of the card.

When does this benefit expire?

SUN Bucks will expire 122 days after the date they are issued to the household's EBT or SUN Bucks card.

Do Summer EBT / SUN Bucks affect my food stamps?

No, SUN Bucks will not impact other food benefits. It's extra help on top of any other benefits you or your children might be getting.

Do I have to be a US citizen to get Summer EBT? Does it affect my immigration status?

No, you do NOT need to be a citizen for your kids to get Summer EBT, and it will NOT affect your immigration status.

Applying for or receiving Summer EBT also does NOT affect the immigration status of your children or family.

Where can I get updates?

We will share more information here as it becomes available!

For now, download the Providers app to stay on top of your benefits, check your EBT balance, and get information like this on other benefits you might be eligible for.

Share this page with family and friends with this link:

Sources

• FRAC, A Guide to Summer EBT Eligibility
• USDA, "Summer EBT Eligibility & Certification Flowcharts and Program Timeline"
• USDA, "Summer EBT Questions and Answers"