Skip to main content

In 2023, Congress approved a huge investment in summer meals programs for kids, including a nationwide summer grocery benefit program called Summer EBT (SEBT), offering states the option to implement a crucial tool to ensure kids get the nutrition they need when school cafeterias close.

In California, we call it SUN Bucks! This new program provides eligible families with additional grocery benefits-$40 for June, July, and August ($120 total). SUN Bucks works together with existing food assistance programs like summer meals programs and rural non-congregate meal service. The impact is clear; it’s projected that Summer EBT was able to, nationally, reach 30 million kids last year.

We are focused on supporting the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) and California Department of Education (CDE) in building out the new program, as well as raising awareness and connecting eligible kids and families to this new program.

What is SUN Bucks (Summer EBT)?

SUN Bucks, also known as Summer EBT (SEBT), is a new program 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.

Will My Child Get SUN Bucks?

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.

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 from your child’s school. To learn more and apply, please visit How to Get SUN Bucks.

How Do SUN Bucks Work?

Eligible families will get SUN Bucks on an SEBT card mailed to their home. You do not need to fill out an application. 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.

If you have any questions, please see the Frequently Asked Questions section below. More information can also be found on the USDA website.

What You Can Do Today

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

Unused SUN Bucks Will Expire

Kids 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.

FAQs in English y en Español

When will families receive their SUN Bucks card?

CDSS will begin mailing cards in mid-June. SUN Bucks cards will be mailed through the end of the year, so cards may come at different times for each of your children. Keep an eye out!

Due to the large volume of automatically eligible children (nearly 5 million), issuances will occur in two stages:

  • Stage 1: Automatically enrolled kids began receiving their cards mid-June and continuing through August. Cards will be mailed in alphabetical order by the child’s last name (A-Z).
Month Last Name Starting Letter
Mid-June A – D
July E – L
August M – Z
  • Stage 2: Kids will get their cards in Stage 2 if they were: (1) not automatically enrolled in Stage 1, and (2) determined eligible after the start of Stage 1. This includes kids who were determined eligible based on:
    • Universal benefit application,
    • School meal applications, or
    • Getting CalWORKs, CalFresh, or Medi-Cal (below 185% FPL)

Regardless of when the card is received, every SUN Bucks card will be loaded with the full $120 per child.

When will families receive their SUN Bucks card?

To check your benefit balance and claim status, visit the California EBT cardholder website. You can also down the ebtEDGE mobile application from your devices app store.

Will children in school who are over the age of 18 be eligible for SUN Bucks?

Yes, they can be eligible if they were 18 during the school operational period and meet the eligibility requirements listed above.

I don't know if my child is certified for free and reduced priced meals. How do I find out more?

You will have to contact your child’s school to inquire about Free and Reduced price meal eligibility.

When is the last day to get approved for SUN Bucks?

The application period ends on September 1st, 2025.

Where will cards be sent if a family is experiencing homelessness and does not have a mailing address?

A child’s school or a local County Department of Social Services can receive the SUN Bucks card on behalf of eligible families experiencing homelessness.

If a family already has an EBT card, will SUN Bucks benefits be added onto an existing card?

No, each eligible child will receive their own SUN Bucks EBT card, which will have their name listed on the card. This card is separate from your existing EBT card.

Cuándo recibirán las familias su tarjeta SUN Bucks?

CDSS comenzará a enviar las tarjetas a mediados de junio. Las tarjetas SUN Bucks se enviarán hasta fin de año, por lo que podrían llegar en fechas diferentes para cada uno de sus hijos. ¡Esté atento!

Debido al gran número de niños automáticamente elegibles (casi 5 millones), la emisión se realizará en dos etapas:

  • Etapa 1: Los niños inscritos automáticamente comenzaron a recibir sus tarjetas a mediados de junio y continuarán hasta agosto. Las tarjetas se enviarán en orden alfabético por apellido (A-Z).
Mes Apellido Letra inicial
Mediados de Junio A – D
Julio E – L
Agosto M – Z
  • Etapa 2: Los niños recibirán sus tarjetas en la Etapa 2 si: (1) no fueron inscritos automáticamente en la Etapa 1 y (2) se determinó que eran elegibles después del inicio de la Etapa 1. Esto incluye a los niños que fueron determinados elegibles según:
    • Solicitud de beneficios universales,
    • Solicitudes de comidas escolares, o
    • La obtención de CalWORKs, CalFresh o Medi-Cal (por debajo del 185 % del nivel federal de pobreza).

Independientemente de cuándo se reciba la tarjeta, cada tarjeta SUN Bucks se cargará con los $120 completos por niño.

¿Qué puedo hacer para proteger mis beneficios de SUN Bucks contra el fraude/estafa de EBT?

Para consultar el saldo de sus beneficios y el estado de su solicitud, visite el sitio web para titulares de tarjetas EBT de California. También puede descargar la aplicación móvil ebtEDGE desde la tienda de aplicaciones de su dispositivo.

¿Los niños mayores de 18 años en la escuela serán elegibles para recibir SUN Bucks?

Sí, pueden ser elegibles si tenían 18 años durante el período operativo de la escuela y cumplen con los requisitos de elegibilidad enumerados anteriormente.

No sé si mi hijo está certificado para recibir comidas gratuitas o a precio reducido. ¿Cómo puedo saber más?

Comuníquese con la escuela de su hijo para consultar sobre la elegibilidad para recibir comidas gratuitas o a precio reducido.

¿Cuándo es el último día para obtener la aprobación para SUN Bucks?

El plazo de solicitud finaliza el 1 de septiembre de 2025.

¿A dónde se enviarán las tarjetas si una familia se encuentra sin hogar y no tiene una dirección postal?

La escuela de un niño o el Departamento de Servicios Sociales (CDSS) del condado local pueden recibir la tarjeta S-EBT en nombre de familias elegibles que se encuentran sin hogar.

¿A dónde se enviarán las tarjetas si una familia se encuentra sin hogar y no tiene una dirección postal?

No, cada niño elegible recibirá su propia tarjeta EBT de SUN Bucks, cuyo nombre aparecerá en la tarjeta. Esta tarjeta es independiente de su tarjeta EBT existente.

Last update: March 12, 2025