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How to Get SUN Bucks

How to Get SUN Bucks

Phone number
(877) 328-9677
Category
Children
Food
Auto tags
Eligibility
Children who qualify for free or reduced-price school meals, or receive CalFresh, CalWORKs, or Medi-Cal at or below 185% FPL
Auto Summary
SUN Bucks is a California summer nutrition assistance program that provides $120 per eligible child, loaded onto an EBT card for food purchases. Most eligible children are automatically enrolled (streamlined certified) if they qualify for free or reduced-price school meals or receive CalFresh, CalWORKs, or Medi-Cal at or below 185% of the Federal Poverty Level. Others can apply through their school using a Universal Benefits Application. Benefits must be used within 122 days of being loaded.
Value
$120 per eligible child loaded onto an EBT card for summer food purchases
Espanol
Cómo Obtener SUN Bucks - Programa de asistencia nutricional de verano de California que proporciona $120 por niño elegible en una tarjeta EBT para compras de alimentos. Los niños que califican para comidas escolares gratuitas o reducidas, CalFresh, CalWORKs o Medi-Cal son inscritos automáticamente.
URL
https://www.cdss.ca.gov/sun-bucks/how-to-get-sun-bucks
Most eligible children are considered “streamlined certified” and do not have to apply for SUN Bucks. Children who qualify for free or reduced-price meals through a school meal application or Universal Benefits Application, or get CalFresh, CalWORKs, or Medi-Cal (certified at or below 185% of the Federal Poverty Level), are automatically enrolled.
However, children who have not previously qualified for free or reduced-price meals may also qualify for SUN Bucks. To check if your child is eligible, ask your child’s school for a school meal application or Universal Benefits Application. Click here to visit the California Department of Education webpage for downloading the Universal Benefits Application. Complete the form and return it to the school by September 2, 2025. They will evaluate the form and determine if your child is eligible for SUN Bucks based on household income requirements.

SUN Bucks Card Mailing Schedule

Most families will begin receiving their SUN Bucks cards from June through July. Due to the large volume of automatically eligible children (nearly 5 million), issuances will occur in two stages:
  • Stage 1: Automatically enrolled kids will begin receiving their cards in June through July. Cards will be mailed in alphabetical order by the child’s last name (A-Z).
Stage 1: Estimated Card Delivery by Month & Last Name for Automatically Enrolled Kids
Month
Last Name Starting Letter
Early June
A-C
Mid-June
D-F
Late June
G-L
Early July
M-Q
Mid-July
R-S
Late July
T-Z
  • Stage 2: Enrolled kids will begin getting their cards in August until mailing is complete. Enrolled kids will receive 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:
    • School meal applications,
    • Universal Benefits 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 eligible child.

SUN Bucks Card Expungement

You must use your SUN Bucks 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, or be expunged. 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.