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. 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.

Some kids will get it AUTOMATICALLY:

*Kids in households that got CalFresh or CalWORKs during this school year

*Those receiving Medi-Cal, as long as they are below 185% of the Federal Poverty Level

*Children who are experiencing homelessness, living in foster care, or part of a migrant family.

*Kids attending schools (including Head Start programs) 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 1, 2025.

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

Submit the new Universal Benefits Application by Sept 1, 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 1, 2025.

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