Food Help > Free Summer Food

Sun Bucks

Get grocery help this summer with SUN Bucks!

Each summer, eligible families will get a boost in their grocery budget when school is out of session.

What are SUN Bucks?

SUN Bucks, also known as Summer EBT, is a federal program that supports families who lose access to free school meals over the summer months. Families will receive an allotment of $120 for each eligible child to help cover the cost of groceries when school is out of session. Similar to SNAP (Basic Food), SUN Bucks can be used to buy food at grocery stores, farmers markets, and other locations.

SUN Bucks works in tandem with the Free Summer Meals program to support families when school meals are unavailable.

Is my child eligible?

Eligibility for SUN Bucks is based primarily on participation in public assistance programs like SNAP, TANF, or free school meals. Families can also qualify based on household income. There is no citizenship requirement, and SUN Bucks is not considered under the public charge rule.

There are multiple ways to qualify for SUN Bucks. Most eligible families will be automatically enrolled and do not need to submit a SUN Bucks application.

Use our screening tool below to learn whether you need to submit a SUN Bucks application.

Applying for SUN Bucks

If you believe your child is eligible but you have not received their SUN Bucks card or confirmation letter in the mail, you should submit an application through DSHS.

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.

Newly eligible children will receive a SUN Bucks card in the mail. Children who previously received SUN Bucks will have their benefits loaded onto their existing card. 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 SNAP (Basic Food/EBT).

SUN Bucks Updates - Right To Your Phone!

By signing up for SUN Bucks texts, you will receive specific information on your child’s eligibility, updates on your household’s benefits, and support resources when questions arise.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • No.

    SUN Bucks benefits will be loaded on to the same card each year, so you should hang on to your card from summer to summer.

    If you lose a SUN Bucks card, you 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.

  • Yes.

    1. If your child is enrolled in a school that operates the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or School Breakfast Program (SBP): Any child aged 18 or younger can be eligible if they also meet income requirements. This includes students at public pre-schools, elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, and programs for students with disabilities.

    2. If your child does not attend a NSLP or SBP school: To be eligible, children must be between the ages of 8 and 18, and participate in government assistance (SNAP, TANF, or Medicaid). This includes children who “age in” or “age out” during the year. For example, eligible children had to be between the ages of 8 and 18 at some point between July 1, 2023 through August 31st, 2024.

  • No!

    There is no citizenship requirement for this program, and SUN Bucks is not included in “public charge” tests. Receiving SUN Bucks will not affect your family’s ability to remain in the United States, get a Green Card, or become U.S. Citizens.

  • Yes.

    Households without a permanent address can receive SUN Bucks.

    If you have your child’s SUN Bucks card from last year, benefits will be automatically loaded onto it when your child is approved for benefits.

    If you are new to SUN Bucks or you lost the card, ask your child’s school about your options. You may be able to use the school or district office address, and pick the card up there.

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

    Children who are individually approved to receive free and reduced price school meals do not need to meet any additional income requirements.

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

    Note: these income limits increased on July 1, 2025. Eligibility is determined by income limits on the date of application.

  • Maybe. Use our screening tool to learn whether you will need to apply.

    If your child participates in SNAP, TANF, or Medicaid, they will be automatically enrolled. You do not need to apply for SUN Bucks.

    If your child is individually approved to receive free or reduced price meals at school, they will be automatically enrolled. You do not need to apply for SUN Bucks.

    If your child was not automatically enrolled, but you believe they are eligible, you will need to submit a SUN Bucks application. The SUN Bucks application is open until August 29, 2025.

    Reminder: SUN Bucks eligibility is determined individually by child. If your household has multiple children with different circumstances, you may need to submit an application for one child, but not another.

  • 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.

  • Eligibility is determined for each child. Each child needs to meet the eligibility requirements individually in order to receive SUN Bucks.

    This means that some children in your family might be eligible while others are not, especially for children who attend different schools. Use the eligibility screening tool to check the eligibility status for each child individually.

  • Maybe.

    Any child aged 8-18 who is enrolled in SNAP, TANF, or Medicaid is eligible for SUN Bucks, regardless of where they attend school.

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

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

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

  • You will receive an approval letter in the mail about 7-10 business days before your SUN Bucks card arrives. This letter will also be printed with the issuance date for the SUN Bucks benefits. Benefits expire 122 days after the issuance date.

    You 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!

    You can use SUN Bucks and SNAP together when shopping for food. Use your SUN Bucks benefits first because these expire sooner than SNAP dollars.

    Also, each card qualifies for Fruit and Vegetable Incentives programs and you can use both SNAP and SUN Bucks benefits for Market Match.

  • Yes!

    SUN Bucks are eligible for Market Match, which can double your SUN Bucks dollars and help you buy more delicious summer produce when you shop at many farmers markets across the state.

Have more questions?

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