Some children in California may be eligible for SUN Bucks. One way to know if your children qualify for SUN Bucks is if you receive CalFresh (SNAP), Medi-Cal or CalWORKS.
SUN Bucks work like CalFresh (SNAP), but they are only for the summer months of June, July, and August. So, you could get $40 per month which amounts to $120 from the Summer EBT program. Most eligible families receive reduced or free meals at school. You must be certified at 185% or under the Federal Poverty Level.
When will CalFresh (SNAP) recipients get SUN Buck cards?
The California Department of Social Services claims that SUN Buck cards will start to be delivered by mid-June. However, there are over 5 million eligible children who are automatically enrolled.
Consequently, Summer EBT card issuances will occur in 2 different stages. DSC said that most SUN Bucks will be sent through August 2024. The thing is cards will be sent in alphabetical order. Stage 1:
- Last name starting letter is A-D: SUN Bucks card in mid-June.
- Last name starting letter is E-L: SUN Bucks card in July.
- Last name starting letter is M-Z: SUN Bucks card in August.
Eligible children for SUN Bucks but not CalFresh (SNAP) recipients
Some children may not be automatically enrolled because their families do not receive CalFresh (SNAP), Medi-Cal, or CalWORKS. Therefore, they will receive Summer EBT cards on stage 2.
Other children may be determined eligible after Stage 1 has begun. These kids could become eligible because of Alternative Income Forms, School meal applications, CalWORKs, Medi-Cal, or CalFresh (SNAP). Anyway, it does not affect the payment amount.
All eligible children for the SUN Bucks program will receive $120. As it is 120 dollars per child, the more eligible children you have, the higher your summer EBT card amount will be. If you applied for this program and you have a concern with the decision DSS made, ask for a review. Apply for SNAP if you have a low income.
