Details for Pennsylvania's Summer SUN Bucks Grocery Benefit Program

Summer is a time when many children may not have access to the free and reduced-price meals they get during the school year, and households might need a little extra help putting meals on the table. SUN Bucks, Pennsylvania’s Summer EBT program, is a new grocery benefits program that provides households with a one-time payment of $120 for each eligible child to buy food while school is out. Benefits can be used at local participating retailers to purchase groceries. Many children will get these benefits automatically, but some households will need to apply. The benefits will be added to an existing SNAP/TANF EBT card or a newly issued Summer EBT card.   Note: Benefits for Summer of 2025 will begin being issued to all eligible children in mid-July. Who is eligible for SUN Bucks?  There are several ways for a child to be eligible for SUN Bucks. Most children who will receive SUN Bucks are automatically eligible and do not need to apply. To determine if your child is eligible and whether you need to apply, use the Eligibility Navigator. A child will automatically be eligible to receive the $120 SUN Bucks benefit if:   The household received SNAP or TANF between July 1, 2024 and August 31, 2025 and the child is enrolled in a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program; OR  The household received SNAP or TANF between July 1, 2024 and August 31, 2025 and the child is not enrolled in a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program but is between ages 6-18 between July 1, 2024 and August 31, 2025; OR  The child received Medicaid with qualifying income for the National School Lunch Program between July 1, 2024 and August 31, 2025 and the child is enrolled in a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program; OR  The child received Medicaid with qualifying income for the National School Lunch Program between July 1, 2024 and August 31, 2025 and the child is not enrolled in a school that participates in the National School Lunch or School Breakfast Program but is between ages 6-18 between July 1, 2024 and August 31, 2025 ; OR The child is in Head Start, is homeless, in foster care, or is a runaway and the child is enrolled in a school that participates in the National School Program; OR The child applied for and was determined eligible for free or reduced-priced meals through the National School Lunch.  You may need to apply for SUN Bucks if: Your child attends an National School Lunch Programn school and does not qualify for free or reduced-price meals based on direct certification (SNAP, TANF, or Medicaid with qualifying income for NSLP), categorical eligibility (homeless, foster child, migrant, runaway, or Head Start), or a household application for free/reduced school meals during the 2024-2025 school year. Use the Eligibility Navigator to determine if your child is eligible for SUN Bucks and whether you need to apply. For more information, please visit the PA Department of Human Services website.