ALERT FROM NO KID HUNGRY CALIFORNIA: UNUSED SUMMER EBT BENEFITS WILL EXPIRE SOON
California families receiving $120 in benefits under federal Summer EBT program are encouraged to use them before they expire – so far only 70% of benefits have been spent
CONTACT: Laura Rice, Lrice@strength.org
SACRAMENTO, CA— (November 4, 2024) No Kid Hungry California today alerted families that food assistance benefits issued in August through the federal Summer EBT program will expire soon. Known as SUN Bucks in California, the program has provided eligible families with a one-time installment of $120 per child on an EBT card to help families pay for groceries during the summer months. The SUN Bucks program has provided over $466 million in food aid to over five million children throughout California since it began in June 2024. Benefits expire after 122 days, meaning that the last round of automatic benefits, which went out to families in August, is set to expire in the coming weeks.
“SUN Bucks has been a lifeline to millions of California families looking to keep healthy food on the table,” said No Kid Hungry California Director Kathy Saile. “As we hit the deadline to use those benefits, No Kid Hungry is reminding Californians: if you don’t use them, you’ll lose them. Food insecurity is on the rise in our state, and we are committed to making sure that families have the benefits, access and information they need to give their kids three healthy meals a day.”
Families can call the California SUN Bucks Helpline at 877-328-9677 to get information on their cards’ benefits balance and expiration date.
Families may have received their one-time installment through SUN Bucks as early as June 2024. SUN Bucks benefits are still being processed to families who submitted school meal applications by the August 31 deadline. Benefits will remain available on the SUN Bucks cards for 122 days after the date they are issued. All unused benefits are removed from the card after that time.
As of October 5, only 70% of SUN Bucks benefit dollars have been spent to purchase food in California.
SUN Bucks arrived at a critical time as food insecurity rose nationwide and rising prices at the supermarket continue to strain Californians’ budgets. According to recent USDA data, 1 in 5 children lived in food insecure households in 2023 – the second consecutive increase in food insecurity since 2021. Recent statewide polls conducted by No Kid Hungry in Florida, New York, Texas and Virginia show families are being forced to make difficult tradeoffs, from passing up on more nutritious grocery store options to deciding whether to buy groceries or cover other critical expenses like utilities or rent – ultimately causing many to face hunger.
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About No Kid Hungry
No child should go hungry in America. But millions of kids could face hunger this year. No Kid Hungry is working to end childhood hunger by helping launch and improve programs that give all kids the healthy food they need to thrive. This is a problem we know how to solve. No Kid Hungry is a campaign of Share Our Strength, an organization committed to ending hunger and poverty. Join us at NoKidHungry.org.
Last updated: October 30, 2024