SUN Bucks, also known as Summer EBT (SEBT), is intended to help families buy food for their school-aged children during the summer.  Families will get $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 cards. Children who get SUN Bucks can still participate in other summer meal programs.

Your child will automatically get SUN Bucks if:

• They are age 6 – 18 years and get CalFresh, CalWORKS, or Medi-Cal (certified at or under 185% of the Federal Poverty Level); including homeschooled children; OR
• They are age 0 – 22 years, attending a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or School Breakfast Programs (SBP), AND are determined eligible for free or reduced price school meals based on a school meal application or Universal Benefits Application (UBA). Check with your child’s school to make sure your free or reduced-price school meal application or Universal Benefits Application is on file.

Children who are attending Head Start, experiencing homelessness, living in foster care or part of a migrant family are also automatically eligible.

If your child is not automatically enrolled in SUN Bucks, an application is needed.

• Children ages 0-22 years who are NOT determined eligible for free or reduced-price meals at school may also be eligible for SUN Bucks. Request and submit a school meal application or Universal Benefits Application (UBA) from your child’s school by September 1, 2025. To learn more and apply, please visit How to Get SUN Bucks.

Click here to visit the California Department of Education webpage for downloading the Universal Benefits Application. 

Eligible children will get SUN Bucks on an SEBT card mailed to their home. You will get one new SUN Bucks card for each eligible child. 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.

At some farmers markets, you can double your benefits with the California Market Match program. For example, a shopper who spends $10 of CalFresh or SUN Bucks at a farmers’ market will receive an additional $10 to spend on fresh produce!

SUN Bucks cannot be used for: hot foods, pet foods, cleaning or household supplies, personal hygiene items, or medicine. If you have any questions, please see the Frequently Asked Questions section below. More information can also be found on the USDA website.

If your household has received CalFresh Benefits between July 1, 2024 and today, your child should automatically be enrolled in the 2025 SUN Bucks program. You likely will not need to submit a 2025 SUN Bucks application.

If your household is not currently enrolled in CalFresh, or your income has changed recently and you believe you are eligible, we encourage you to apply for CalFresh benefits. Households enrolled in CalFresh should automatically receive SUN Bucks for their school aged children in summer 2025. Families can check their CalFresh eligibility online at mRelief.com and be connected to a local agency to help with the application.

• Orange County families can check their CalFresh eligibility by texting FOOD OC or COMIDA OC to 74544
• Riverside and San Bernardino County families can check their CalFresh eligibility by texting FOOD IE or COMIDA IE to 74544

If your household is not eligible for CalFresh and your child attends a school where all children automatically receive free and reduced price school meals (breakfast or lunch), ask your child’s school for a School Meal Application or a Universal Benefits Application. Submit the School Meal Application or Universal Benefits Application to your child’s school to see if you qualify based on household size and income. Completing these forms should help your child to be automatically enrolled in the 2025 SUN Bucks program.

We encourage families to keep your mailing address current to ensure SUN Bucks cards are sent to the right place!

• If you get CalFresh, CalWORKS, or Medi-Cal, change your address online at BenefitsCal.com, or call or visit your local county Department of Social Services office.
• If your child qualify for free or reduced-priced school meals, change your address at your child’s school of attendance. Not sure? Check with your child’s school.

To learn more and apply, please visit How to Get SUN Bucks. 

You must use their SUN Bucks benefits within 122 days of funds being loaded on the card. It is recommended to use SUN Bucks before CalFresh if your family receives both benefits.

Any unused money on your card after 122 days will expire. Expired benefits cannot be replaced or put back on your card!

To check your SUN Bucks card balance and claim status, visit the California EBT cardholder website. Families can also call the California SUN Bucks Helpline at 877-328-9677 to get information on their cards’ benefits balance and expiration date.

If you do not want your child to receive SUN Bucks, you can opt out by calling the SUN Bucks Helpline.