SUN Bucks $120 claim deadline: last day to claim EBT Summer by each of the 50 states in the U.S

With summer on the horizon, families across the nation will be looking to claim their SUN Bucks-formerly Summer EBT-in order to keep their kids fed. The program is intended, and set up, to provide needed financial assistance to families with school-aged children who rely on the meals given through school programs during the summer when the programs are not in service. For 2024, the eligible families have a claim on $120 per child to help with food costs. Still, the application or process and deadlines involved for the same need to be spotted by the family so that they do not miss out on such benefits.

What is SUN Bucks?

SUN Bucks are a food assistance program providing financial resource assistance to families with children who qualify for free or reduced-priced meals during the school year. It bridges that critical summer nutrition gap when school meals are not provided for these children. Each eligible child will receive a total of $120 for the summer, distributed in $40 monthly installments from June through August.

Families can receive SUN Bucks through an EBT card that is utilized just like a debit card. This can be used at grocery stores, farmers’ markets, and any other location that accepts EBT payments. The money put on the card must be accessed within 122 days, so timely access to the family benefits is a consideration.

Eligibility requirements

The following are the requirements for a family to be eligible for SUN Bucks:

• Automatic eligibility: School Year 2023-2024 and onward, children ages 0-22 with a benefits letter on file for that school year showing CalFresh, CalWORKs, or Medi-Cal, will be automatically eligible. Children enrolled in schools where there is on file a NSLP-approved free or reduced price meals application will also automatically be eligible for WDP benefits.
• Application required: School meal and Alternative Income Forms will need to be completed and returned to the child’s school no later than August 31, 2024, for those whose children do not automatically qualify. Children who do not have an application filed by August 31, 2024 lose SUN Bucks program benefits for the summer.

Claim deadlines by State

Although the timing for claiming SUN Bucks benefits remains somewhat similar in most states, the big deadline for most applications falls on August 31, 2024. The following outlines a quick look into the deadlines of claims across several states.

How to apply

Applications for SUN Bucks benefits can be sent through your child’s school or the local social services office. The following steps will help you in undertaking a successful application:

• Eligibility check: First, check to see whether your child is automatically eligible for SUN Bucks due to their receipt of other specific benefits or participation in a school meal program.
• Application completion: If not automatically qualified, an application should be completed for the program on behalf of your child.
• Return completed application by deadline: The completed application should be returned on or before August 31, 2024.
• Confirm update address: In addition, families are reminded that their mailing address must be current to prevent the non-delivery of their EBT cards.

The SUN Bucks program fills the food assistance gap during summer times for these families because, during the school year, kids rely on meal programs at schools. With an application deadline of August 31, 2024, families need to hurry if they want to be able to take advantage of the benefits. It is really important for them to know eligibility requirements and the ways in which they can apply in order to help them get the nutrition that will assist their child throughout the summer months.