Partner Resources > Summer Hunger

SUN Bucks

Also known as Summer EBT, this federal program provides eligible families with $120 for groceries over the summer months when school is out of session.

What are SUN Bucks?

Summer EBT, known as SUN Bucks in Washington, is a new federal program to support families who lose access to free school meals over the summer months. Families will receive $120 in food benefits for each eligible child. Similar to Basic Food (SNAP), SUN Bucks can be used to purchase food at retail locations like grocery stores, farmers markets, and corner stores. The SUN Bucks program works in tandem with the Free Summer Meals program to support families when school meals are unavailable.

Almost 550,000 children in Washington state received SUN Bucks benefits in summer 2025.

Who is Eligible?

SUN Bucks are available to school-aged children in Washington state each summer. Eligibility is determined by household income or participation in other public assistance programs. There are no citizenship requirements for SUN Bucks.

Income Verification

There are multiple ways that families can have their income verified for SUN Bucks eligibility. Expand the options below to learn more.

  • Children aged 8 through 17, who participate in one or more of the following programs, are automatically eligible and will receive SUN Bucks:

    - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

    - Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

  • Children of any age who have submitted a CNEEB form (Child Nutrition Eligibility and Education form) to their school demonstrating a qualifying household income will be automatically enrolled in SUN Bucks.

    Most families fill out a CNEEB at the beginning of the school year. If a family hasn’t filled out the CNEEB yet, the form for their school can be found online or at the school’s office.

  • For children who are not captured by the above eligibility methods, there is a statewide SUN Bucks application. Families who apply and meet the income requirements for free and reduced price meals will be eligible for SUN Bucks.

    SUN Bucks applications can be submitted online.

    Note: Income limits for SUN Bucks will increase on July 1, 2027. Eligibility is determined based on income limits at the date of application.

SUN Bucks Screening

Eligibility for SUN Bucks is confusing! Families can use the screening tool below to learn whether their child is eligible for benefits and whether they will need to apply. Please share this tool, which is available in 8 different languages, with the families you serve.

SUN Bucks Screening Tool

Applying for SUN Bucks

Families who are uncertain about their SUN Bucks eligibility are encouraged to submit an application.

This can be done online, or by mailing a paper application to:

DSHS Customer Service
PO Box 11699
Tacoma, WA 98411

SUN Bucks Benefits

Once a child is verified as eligible, their SUN Bucks card will be loaded with the $120 benefit. The date at which a child’s benefits become available will vary, depending on how the child is identified as eligible.

In 2026, all enrolled children will receive a new SUN Bucks card in the mail. DSHS plans to reuse these new cards each summer, so families should be sure to store it somewhere safe! To replace lost or discarded cards, call the SUN Bucks Contact Center at 833-543-3230.

SUN Bucks expire 4 months after the date of issuance. Once families receive their benefits, they have 122 days to spend down the funds before they will be invalid. Therefore, families should prioritize spending SUN Bucks before other funds like Basic Food (SNAP/EBT).

Spread the Word!

Make sure that families in your community are informed about SUN Bucks.

Access our outreach toolkit for digital flyers, social media graphics, template emails, and more! Need something you don’t see? Let us know.

SUN Bucks Outreach TOolkit

Free printed outreach materials are also available! From flyers to yard signs, help make SUN Bucks visible in your community.

Free Printed Materials

Frequently Asked Questions

  • No.

    SUN Bucks benefits will be loaded on to the same card each year, so families should hang on to their card(s) from summer to summer. In the event of a lost card, families can request a replacement by calling the SUN Bucks Contact Center at 833-543-3230 (TTY: 1-800-833-6348) between 8am and 5pm, Monday-Friday.

  • If a family loses a SUN Bucks card and needs to change their address, they can request a new one by calling the SUN Bucks Call Center at 833-543-3230 (TTY: 1-800-833-6348) between 8am and 5pm, Monday-Friday.

    If they do not need to change their address, they can order a replacement in the ebtEDGE.com app.

  • Income-eligible children who are enrolled in a school that operates the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or School Breakfast Program (SBP) are eligible for SUN Bucks, regardless of their age. This includes students of high school grade or under, including some pre-school age children, as well as students participating in a program for those with mental and physical disabilities.

    Children who do not attend a NSLP/SBP school must be aged 8 through 17 to be eligible for SUN Bucks and participate in either SNAP or TANF. This includes children who 'age in' or 'age out' during the year. For the 2024 SUN Bucks season, for example, eligible children had to be aged 8 through 17 at some point between July 1, 2023 and August 31st, 2024.

  • Maybe.

    Any child aged 8 through 17 who is enrolled in SNAP or TANF is eligible for SUN Bucks, regardless of where they attend school.

    For all other children (of any age), they must be enrolled in a school that operates the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) in order to qualify.

    You can use this screening tool to learn more about a child’s eligibility.

  • No. There is no citizenship requirement for this program.

    However, receiving SUN Bucks on or after September 18th, 2026 may count towards public charge rulings. If your family has immigration concerns, we suggest consulting an immigration attorney before applying for SUN Bucks.

  • Yes.

    Households without a permanent address should talk to the office at their child’s school. They will be able to have the card sent to the school or to a district office and pick it up from there.

  • Children who are enrolled in a qualifying public assistance program (SNAP or TANF) do not need to meet any additional income requirements.

    Similarly, children who are certified to receive free and reduced price school meals do not need to meet any additional income requirements.

    For all other children, the income threshold for SUN Bucks is 185% of the Federal Poverty Line.

    Note: these income limits will increase on July 1, 2027. Eligibility will be determined based on income limits at the date of application.

  • The SUN Bucks application will not ask for any documentation or verification of eligibility. It will include a self-attestation statement and must be signed by an adult member of the household. 3% of households receiving SUN Bucks will be randomly selected for auditing by DSHS. Selected households will need to provide proof of qualifying income.

  • Eligibility is determined on a per child basis.

    This could mean that some children in a family are eligible while others are not, especially for children of different ages or who attend different schools. Use the eligibility screening tool to check eligibility status for each child individually.

    Families receive one SUN Bucks card per eligible child, so households with multiple eligible children will receive multiple cards.

  • In Washington, SUN Bucks is administered by the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS).

  • Families will receive an approval letter in the mail about 7-10 days before their SUN Bucks card arrives.

    Families can also call the SUN Bucks Contact Center at 833-543-3230 (TTY: 1-800-833-6348) between 8am and 5pm, Monday-Friday for more information.

  • Yes!

    Families can use SUN Bucks and Basic Food (SNAP) together when shopping for food. SUN Bucks benefits should be used first, however, because these expire more quickly than Basic Food dollars. Additionally, each card qualifies for Fruit and Vegetable Incentives programs and both Basic Food and SUN Bucks benefits can be used for Market Match.

  • Families can call the SUN Bucks Contact Center year-round at 833-543-3230 (TTY: 1-800-833-6348) between 8am and 5pm, Monday-Friday.

    They can check their remaining SUN Bucks balance in the ebtEDGE.com app. They can also change their contact information SUN Bucks application portal.

Have more questions?

Call the SUN Bucks Contact Center at 833-543-3230 (TTY: 1-800-833-6348) between 8am and 5pm, Monday-Friday.