What is SUN Bucks?
SUN Bucks (Summer EBT) provides grocery-buying benefits to low-income families with school-aged children when schools are closed for the summer. Through SUN Bucks, eligible school children receive a $120 grocery benefit that families can use to purchase groceries.
These benefits work alongside other FNS nutrition programs including SNAP, WIC, and Summer Meals to ensure every child has equitable access to nutrition over the summer months.
Who Is Eligible for SUN Bucks?
Students are eligible for SunBucks if they:
- Attend a District of Columbia Public School, a DC Charter School, or a DC private school participating in the National School Lunch Program;,
- Are enrolled in a PreK, elementary, middle, or high school, or are an adult learner; AND
- Live in a household with an annual income less than or equal to 185 percent of the federal poverty level. For example, for a family of 4, that’s $57,720.
Your student is automatically eligible if they are between 5 and 18 years old and received Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) during school year 2024–2025 (as of July 1, 2025). If a child age 5–18 participates in a qualifying Medicaid program but was NOT enrolled in a D.C. school for the 2024–2025 school year, they’ll need to complete a brief Medicaid Opt-In form to confirm their eligibility and receive benefits if pre-approved.
If your child is not automatically eligible, you can fill out the SunBucks application when it becomes available the last week in June 2025. Sign up to get an alert when the application opens here.
How To Apply for SUN Bucks?
If your child is not automatically eligible, you can fill out the SUN Bucks application opening the last week of June 2025. Sign up to get an alert when the application opens here.
SUN Bucks Contact Information
- For assistance with SUN Bucks, please call the DC SUN Bucks Call Center starting Wednesday, May 28 at 202-888-4834. The Call Center will be open 7 days/week from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- D.C. Hunger Solutions help line: 202-640-1088.
- D.C. Hunger Solutions email: info@dchunger.org