New expansion of SUN Bucks program will provide additional assistance to families during summer months
This summer brings good news for families with school-age children receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. A permanent expansion of the SNAP program, known as SUN Bucks or Summer EBT, will provide an additional $120 per eligible child to help cover the cost of food during the summer months. This initiative is intended to offset the additional expenses families face when children are not receiving meals at school.
Five states, California, New Jersey, North Dakota, Washington and Wisconsin, have confirmed that they will begin distributing these benefits in June. However, in total, more than 30 states, plus Washington, DC, certain tribal nations and U.S. territories such as American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, will participate in this expansion of the SNAP program.
Benefit Sharing
Each state has flexibility in implementing this policy, ensuring that no family is left unattended. For example, California will begin distributing benefits to EBT cards in June, starting with children whose last names begin with A, B, C and D. Ohio, on the other hand, has not specified exact dates, but has guaranteed that all payments will be completed by July 31. Other states have not yet released their schedules, but have assured that benefits will be distributed in time for the summer months.
Eligibility Requirements
Families may qualify for SUN Bucks under two conditions:
- Their children are of school age.
- The household already receives benefits such as SNAP, FDPIR or TANF, or if their child attends a school that offers the National School Lunch or School Breakfast Program and the household income qualifies for free or reduced-price meals.
Families who meet these requirements will receive benefits automatically, without the need to apply. However, if there are questions about eligibility, it is recommended that the local SNAP office be contacted for state-specific information.
Participating States
States and territories that will participate in the SUN Bucks program include: American Samoa, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Guam, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, North Mariana Islands, Ohio, certain tribes within Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, U.S. Virgin Islands, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Washington, DC.
Controversies and Policy Decisions
Some states have opted out of the program for a variety of reasons. Some have existing programs to support children in need of additional financial assistance, while others disagree with continuing programs initiated during the coronavirus pandemic under the Biden administration.
Interestingly, some states initially decided not to participate, but later reversed their decisions. For example, Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen initially declined to participate, but reconsidered his decision after talking with low-income families and recognizing the need for better assistance in his state.
Tom Vilsack, head of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, criticized states that opted out. «There is no real political reason not to do this. That’s unfortunate. I think it’s possible that the governors didn’t take the time or make the effort to understand what this program is and what it is not.»
This expansion of the SNAP program promises to ease the financial burden on many families during the summer months by ensuring that eligible children continue to receive needed nutritional support.