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SUN Bucks (Summer EBT, $120 per child for summer food): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens next

SUN Bucks is California's Summer EBT: $120 per eligible child on a card to buy food in the summer. Children on CalFresh or CalWORKs, on Medi-Cal at or below 185% of poverty, or approved for free or reduced-price school meals get it automatically; others apply with a school meal application or Universal Benefits Application at their school by 31 August.

What SUN Bucks is, in one paragraph

SUN Bucks is California's Summer EBT. CDSS loads $120 for each eligible child on a SUN Bucks card to buy food in the summer, when school meals stop (rule:benefit_120, rule:definition). Most eligible children get it without doing anything; the rest qualify through a school meal application at their school (rule:apply_at_school). The money must be spent within 122 days of loading (rule:expire_122).

$120 per child
each eligible child, once per summer (CDSS, rule:benefit_120)

Who may qualify

Automatic (no application):

  • children ages 6 to 18 who get CalFresh or CalWORKs (rule:streamlined_6_18);
  • children on Medi-Cal certified at or below 185% of the federal poverty level (rule:medi_cal_185);
  • children approved for free or reduced-price school meals, or identified by their school as foster, homeless or migrant (rule:automatic_school_groups).

By application: children ages 0 to 22 at a school in the school lunch or breakfast program, certified under the income guidelines through a school meal application or Universal Benefits Application (rule:application_0_22). Children on SSI/SSP or Adoption Assistance but not on CalFresh or CalWORKs should apply (rule:ssi_aap_apply). Free meals under California Universal Meals do not count by themselves (rule:universal_meals_not_enough).

The income guidelines are the school meal scales. The reduced-price scale, the higher line, for school year 2026-27 (rule:income_scale):

Household sizeMonthlyYearly
1$2,461$29,526
2$3,337$40,034
3$4,212$50,542
4$5,088$61,050
5$5,964$71,558
6$6,839$82,066
7$7,715$92,574
8$8,591$103,082
Each additional person+$876+$10,508

No asset test is stated (rule:no_asset_test). CDSS states that SUN Bucks does not affect a family's immigration status (rule:immigration).

How to apply, and what happens after

Children certified automatically need do nothing; the card comes by mail (rule:cards_may). For every other child, ask the school for a school meal application or Universal Benefits Application and hand it to the school (rule:apply_at_school). Do not send it to CDE or CDSS (rule:not_to_state).

StageWhat happensDeadlineWhat loses people the benefit
ApplyApplication at the school for each non-automatic child31 August 2026 for SUN Bucks 2026 (rule:deadline_aug31); later counts for 2027 (rule:late_next_year)Thinking free school meals are enough
CardMailed from late May (automatic) or late July (applications) (rule:cards_may, rule:cards_july)No card by September: call the helpline (rule:no_card_by_sept)Old address on file (rule:address_change)
UseSet a PIN (rule:pin); buy food, not hot food or household goods (rule:what_buy)122 days from loading (rule:expire_122)Money expiring unused
DisputeCall the helpline for a review (rule:dispute)No deadline statedNot calling

One child, one state, one $120 benefit a year (rule:one_benefit). A family without an address gets the card at the county office or the school (rule:no_address). Food lost in a disaster may be partly replaced (rule:food_loss).

The procedure, stage by stage, as data
JSONThe procedure, stage by stage, as data
10 items
10 keys
"id""stage:discover"
"order"1
"name""Discover"
"what_happens""Family learns each eligible school-age child gets summer food money on a card"
"who_acts""Family / school / county"
"timeline""Before the 31 August application deadline (rule:deadline_aug31)"
"evidence""None"
"failure_mode""Thinking free school meals already cover it"
"model_role""State rule:universal_meals_not_enough and rule:benefit_120"
"automation_class""A"
10 keys
"id""stage:screen_eligibility"
"order"2
"name""Screen eligibility"
"what_happens""Per child: on CalFresh or CalWORKs (ages 6-18), Medi-Cal at or below 185%, approved for free or reduced-price meals, foster, homeless or migrant? Otherwise, under the school meal scale?"
"who_acts""Model + family"
"timeline""Minutes"
"evidence""Benefits received, child's age, school, household income"
"failure_mode""Missing the children who are not automatic"
"model_role""Sort each child into automatic or must-apply"
"automation_class""A"
10 keys
"id""stage:complete_application"
"order"3
"name""Complete application"
"what_happens""School meal application or Universal Benefits Application for each child not certified automatically"
"who_acts""Family"
"timeline""Before 31 August"
"evidence""Household size, income"
"failure_mode""No application filed"
"model_role""Pre-fill the form from stated facts"
"automation_class""B"
10 keys
"id""stage:submit"
"order"4
"name""Submit"
"what_happens""Hand it to the child's school (rule:apply_at_school, rule:not_to_state)"
"who_acts""Family"
"timeline""By 31 August for this year (rule:deadline_aug31); later counts for next year (rule:late_next_year)"
"evidence""Copy of the form"
"failure_mode""Sending it to CDE or CDSS"
"model_role""Name the school or district as the place"
"automation_class""B"
10 keys
"id""stage:decision"
"order"5
"name""Decision"
"what_happens""School certifies; CDSS issues the card"
"who_acts""School / CDSS"
"timeline""Cards from late May (automatic) and late July (applications) (rule:cards_may, rule:cards_july)"
"evidence""Card in the mail"
"failure_mode""No card by September (rule:no_card_by_sept)"
"model_role""Track the expected mailing"
"automation_class""C"
10 keys
"id""stage:issuance_use"
"order"6
"name""Issuance / use"
"what_happens""Card arrives loaded; set a PIN; buy food"
"who_acts""Family"
"timeline""Use within 122 days (rule:expire_122)"
"evidence""Card + PIN"
"failure_mode""Benefits expiring unused"
"model_role""Calendar the 122-day date"
"automation_class""D"
10 keys
"id""stage:report_changes"
"order"7
"name""Report changes"
"what_happens""Address changes to county and school; food lost in a disaster to the helpline"
"who_acts""Family"
"timeline""As soon as possible"
"evidence""None"
"failure_mode""Card mailed to an old address"
"model_role""Remind to update the address"
"automation_class""A"
10 keys
"id""stage:renew_recertify"
"order"8
"name""Renew / recertify"
"what_happens""A new SUN Bucks year each summer (rule:annual_cycle)"
"who_acts""Family / school"
"timeline""Each school year's application"
"evidence""Application"
"failure_mode""Assuming last year's eligibility carries over"
"model_role""Remind before the deadline"
"automation_class""B"
10 keys
"id""stage:appeal_fair_hearing"
"order"9
"name""Dispute"
"what_happens""Call the helpline to ask for a review (rule:dispute)"
"who_acts""Family"
"timeline""No deadline stated"
"evidence""Notice, school letter"
"failure_mode""Not disputing"
"model_role""Prepare the facts for the call"
"automation_class""C"
10 keys
"id""stage:overpayment_exit"
"order"10
"name""Overpayment / exit"
"what_happens""Duplicate cards reported and destroyed; misuse may be repaid (rule:misuse_repay, rule:one_benefit)"
"who_acts""Family / CDSS"
"timeline""On discovery"
"evidence""Card"
"failure_mode""Using a duplicate card"
"model_role""Explain the one-card rule"
"automation_class""D"

The same facts open other programs

SUN Bucks asks which benefits each child gets and the household's income. The same facts open:

These edges are read from the California benefits graph.

What this article shares with the graph
JSONWhat this article shares with the graph
6 keys
"program_id""B005"
"graph""california-benefits-graph"
"related_program_ids" 9 items
"B004"
"B001"
"B021"
"B011"
"B003"
"B023"
"B031"
"B006"
"B067"
"related_programs" 9 keys
"B004""California Universal Meals (school meals)"
"B001""CalFresh (SNAP)"
"B021""CalWORKs (California TANF)"
"B011""Medi-Cal (Medicaid)"
"B003""WIC (Women, Infants & Children)"
"B023""SSI + California SSP"
"B031""Foster care, Adoption Assistance (AAP), Kin-GAP"
"B006""TEFAP + food bank network (Emergency Food Assistance)"
"B067""211 (navigation infrastructure)"
"triggered_by_events" 1 item
"event:child_starts_school_turns_5"
"shares_facts_with" 6 keys
"household.size" 6 items
"B001"
"B003"
"B011"
"B021"
"B045"
"B049"
"household.income.monthly_gross" 8 items
"B001"
"B003"
"B011"
"B021"
"B043"
"B044"
"B045"
"B060"
"person.address.residential.postal_code" 5 items
"B001"
"B035"
"B043"
"B045"
"B058"
"person.identity.date_of_birth" 5 items
"B001"
"B011"
"B013"
"B023"
"B063"
"education.enrollment.status" 3 items
"B001"
"B056"
"B057"
"benefits.currently_receiving[]" 4 items
"B001"
"B009"
"B043"
"B047"

Official addresses

Related pages
Beside
California Universal Meals (free breakfast and lunch for every public school student): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens nextCalFresh (California food benefits): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens nextCalWORKs (California cash aid for families with children): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens nextMedi-Cal (California Medicaid health coverage): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens nextWIC (Women, Infants & Children) (California food, nutrition and breastfeeding support for pregnancy and children under 5): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens nextSSI and California SSP (monthly cash for people 65 or older, blind or disabled with very low income): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens nextFoster care, Kin-GAP and Adoption Assistance (California monthly payments for children in foster care, guardianship and adoption): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens nextTEFAP and California food banks (free emergency groceries): who qualifies, what you get, how to get it, and what happens next211 (navigation infrastructure) (the free, confidential phone number for local help, open 24 hours): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens next
References (30)
  1. SUN Bucks — California Department of Social Services“provides $120 per eligible child to help families buy food during the summer when school is out.”
  2. SUN Bucks: immigration status — California Department of Social Services“Getting and using SUN Bucks does not affect a family”
  3. SUN Bucks: helpline — California Department of Social Services“For cardholder assistance, the SUN Bucks helpline is available at (877) 328-9677.”
  4. What are SUN Bucks? — California Department of Social Services“is a permanent program that helps families with school-aged children buy food during summer months.”
  5. What are SUN Bucks? Background — California Department of Social Services“The California Department of Social Services is the lead agency implementing the program, in partnership with the California Department of Education.”
  6. SUN Bucks expire after 122 days — California Department of Social Services“Families must use SUN Bucks within 122 days of funds being loaded to the card.”
  7. What SUN Bucks cannot buy — California Department of Social Services“SUN Bucks cannot be used for hot foods, pet foods, cleaning or household supplies, personal hygiene items, or medicine.”
  8. SUN Bucks: the PIN — California Department of Social Services“You must set up a PIN before using your SUN Bucks.”
  9. SUN Bucks: Who is Eligible? — California Department of Social Services“Children ages 6-18 years who get CalFresh or CalWORKs are streamline certified to be eligible for SUN Bucks.”
  10. SUN Bucks: eligibility by application — California Department of Social Services“Children ages 0-22 years who attend a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or the School Breakfast Program (SBP) are also eligible for SUN Bucks if they are certified to meet the income eligibility guidelines”
  11. SUN Bucks: SSI/SSP and Adoption Assistance — California Department of Social Services“Children who get Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Payment (SSI/SSP) or participate in the Adoption Assistance Program, but do not participate in CalFresh or CalWORKs.”
  12. How to Get SUN Bucks — California Department of Social Services“For SUN Bucks 2026, families must submit their applications by August 31, 2026.”
  13. How to Get SUN Bucks: the application — California Department of Social Services“Families can apply by submitting a Universal Benefits Application (UBA) or School Meal Application at their child's school.”
  14. How to Get SUN Bucks: automatic cards — California Department of Social Services“They will automatically get their SUN Bucks 2026 cards in the mail, beginning in late May 2026.”
  15. How to Get SUN Bucks: approved applications — California Department of Social Services“Families with approved applications will get their SUN Bucks 2026 cards in the mail, beginning in late July 2026.”
  16. How to Submit a Dispute — California Department of Social Services“To submit a benefit dispute, call the SUN Bucks Helpline at (877) 328-9677.”
  17. SUN Bucks FAQ: who is eligible — California Department of Social Services“They get CalFresh, CalWORKs, or Medi-Cal (certified at or below 185% of the Federal Poverty Level), including homeschooled children ages 6”
  18. SUN Bucks FAQ: automatic groups — California Department of Social Services“children receiving free or reduced-price school meals, or identified by their school as in foster care, homeless, or migrants, will also automatically get SUN Bucks.”
  19. SUN Bucks FAQ: free school meals alone — California Department of Social Services“Without an approved school meal application, getting free school meals alone does not qualify your child for SUN Bucks.”
  20. SUN Bucks FAQ: late applications — California Department of Social Services“Applications turned in after August 31 will only be considered for SUN Bucks 2027.”
  21. SUN Bucks FAQ: one benefit a year — California Department of Social Services“Each eligible child can only get SUN Bucks from one state and only get one $120 benefit during the same year.”
  22. SUN Bucks FAQ: card not received — California Department of Social Services“but you do not get a SUN Bucks card by September 2026, you may call the SUN Bucks helpline at (877) 328-9677 to ask about the status of your card.”
  23. SUN Bucks FAQ: no address — California Department of Social Services“For families without an address, your card will arrive at your local county office or your child”
  24. SUN Bucks FAQ: address change — California Department of Social Services“to update the address as soon as possible.”
  25. SUN Bucks FAQ: food lost in a disaster — California Department of Social Services“you may be eligible for a replacement of some of your SUN Bucks benefits.”
  26. SUN Bucks FAQ: misuse — California Department of Social Services“If you misuse SUN Bucks benefits on purpose, you may be responsible for repaying the benefits”
  27. SUN Bucks FAQ: where the application goes — California Department of Social Services“Do not submit Universal Benefits Applications directly to the Department of Education or Department of Social Services.”
  28. SUN Bucks FAQ: other programs — California Department of Social Services“children who get SUN Bucks can still participate in other food assistance programs, such as CalFresh and summer meal programs.”
  29. Child Nutrition Programs: Income Eligibility Guidelines (Federal Register document 2026-06842) — USDA Food and Nutrition Service“Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) benefits for the period from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027.”
  30. Income Eligibility Scales for School Year 2026-27: reduced-price scale — California Department of Education“Reduced-price Eligibility Scale”