SUN Bucks: Nutritional Summer-Assistance for Qualified Families

May 23 2025

This summer, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) will offer their SUN Bucks program to qualifying families across the state.

What Are SUN Bucks?

SUN Bucks is a program to help families buy food for their school-aged children during the summer.

Families will receive $120 per eligible child. The funds will be deposited onto existing SUN Bucks cards starting the first week of June and mailed to newly eligible children beginning in mid-June.

Eligibility and Application Process

Some children will be automatically eligible for SUN Bucks, while others will need to submit an application.

Students may be automatically eligible for Summer EBT if they are either:

Attend a school that offers the National School Lunch or School Breakfast Program (NLSP or SBP) and is directly certified for free or reduced-price school meals, or meets income requirements reported through a Child Nutrition and Eligibility and Education Benefit Application.
Between the ages of 8 and 18, and are a member of a household that receives benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).

What If My Student Is Not Eligible?

Students who do not qualify automatically can apply by submitting a SUN Bucks application. To qualify for SUN Bucks, these students must both:

Be enrolled at a school that participates in the NSLP or SBP.
Live in a household that meets NSLP Income Eligibility Guidelines to qualify for free or reduced-price meals.

Application and Deadline

Applications will be accepted through Friday, August 29, 2025.

SUN Bucks Application (English)

SUN Bucks Application (Spanish)

Questions and Support

Families who need to apply or have other questions about SUN Bucks Benefits can call its contact center between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday (except observed holidays):