Good news arrived this week for millions of families with school-age children who receive SNAP. The SUN Bucks 2026 program — also known as Summer EBT — began issuing benefits this week in several states across the country. The program provides $120 in grocery benefits per eligible child to help families cover meals during the summer months, when schools close and free or reduced-price school meals are no longer available.
In Louisiana, the State Department of Health confirmed on May 27, 2026 that automatically enrolled children will see SUN Bucks benefits added to their EBT card between Wednesday, May 27 and Tuesday, June 2. Other states including Alabama, California, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, and Maryland have confirmed their first payments will arrive throughout June.
Who receives the $120 and how
Most eligible families will receive the benefits automatically — no application needed. Your child will be automatically enrolled if they meet any of the following conditions: they receive SNAP, TANF, or income-based Medicaid, or they attend a school participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or School Breakfast Program (SBP) and have been individually approved for free or reduced-price meals.
Depending on the state, the $120 may arrive in two different ways: loaded directly onto the SNAP EBT card you already use each month, or on a new SUN Bucks card mailed to your home address pre-loaded with the benefit. In states like California, the benefit is split into $40 monthly payments issued in June, July, and August rather than a single $120 lump sum.
If your state is mailing a new card, make sure your postal address is up to date both at your county SNAP office and at your child’s school. If you have moved since last summer, update it now to ensure the card reaches the right address.
How long you have to use the benefits
SUN Bucks benefits are not permanent — they have an expiration date. Once loaded onto your card, you have 122 days from the deposit date to use them. After that window closes, any unused funds are automatically removed. This means that if benefits arrive in June, you will need to spend them before mid-October.
SUN Bucks benefits can be used at any supermarket or retailer authorized to accept EBT payments — exactly like regular SNAP benefits. They can also be used on authorized online shopping platforms such as Amazon Fresh or Walmart.com if your state permits EBT online purchases.
What if your child is not automatically enrolled
If your child does not meet the automatic enrollment criteria but you believe they may be eligible, you can apply manually through your state’s SUN Bucks application portal. Deadlines vary: most states close applications between mid-August and early September 2026. Do not wait until the last minute — the sooner you complete the application, the sooner the benefits will arrive.
To find your state’s application portal, visit the USDA Food and Nutrition Service website and select your state in the SUN Bucks section. If you are unsure whether your child qualifies, you can also call your county SNAP agency directly.
At a time when SNAP cuts are generating uncertainty for many families, SUN Bucks is one of the few genuinely positive stories of the summer: more money for food, no extra paperwork for most, and a direct impact on children’s nutrition during the months when school meals are gone and family budgets are stretched.