SUN Bucks
SUN Bucks is a grocery benefits program to help families buy food during the summer when schools are closed. Families get $120 for each eligible school-age child. Children who get these benefits can still participate in other summer meal programs.
How does SUN Bucks work?
In Washington, SUN Bucks benefits are loaded onto SUN Bucks EBT cards for each eligible child and mailed to your home. SUN Bucks benefits can be used to buy food like fruits, vegetables, meat, whole grains and dairy at grocery stores, farmers markets and other places that accept Women, Infants and Children (WIC) or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) EBT benefits. SUN Bucks is a convenient way to help children get the nutrition they need when schools are closed.
Is my child eligible for SUN Bucks?
Your child is eligible for SUN Bucks if:
- Your household already participates in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or SNAP and your child is age 8-18 years old.
OR - Your child attends a school that offers the National School Lunch or School Breakfast Program and your household income meets the requirements for free or reduced-price school meals. You can submit a Child Nutrition Eligibility and Education Benefit Application at your child’s school to find out whether your child qualifies for free or reduced-price meals.
How do I enroll my child in SUN Bucks?
Many families get SUN Bucks automatically if they are getting other benefits, but some families might need to apply.
Do I need to fill out an application?
If your household already participates in TANF or SNAP, your child will be automatically enrolled in SUN Bucks and you will not need to fill out an application.
Children enrolled in a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program and individually qualify for free or reduced-price meals for the current school year will be automatically issued SUN Bucks benefits. If your child is automatically eligible, watch for the SUN Bucks EBT card in the mail*.
*SUN Bucks benefits are mailed to either the address on file with DSHS or your child’s school. Make sure your address is up to date, so your SUN Bucks benefits are sent to the right place!
If your child’s school offers meals at no cost to all students, and you have not been notified of your free or reduced-price meal eligibility, you might need to submit a Child Nutrition Eligibility and Education Benefit Application to your child’s school district or apply for SUN Bucks using the application listed below under How do I apply for SUN Bucks?
If you are not automatically enrolled and you believe your child is eligible, you can apply for SUN Bucks.
How do I apply for SUN Bucks?
Visit sunbucks.dshs.wa.gov to apply.
When applying, you will be asked to provide your child’s name, school, date of birth and address and your household income. You will not need to provide any other documents or information at the time you apply. But you might have to provide more information before benefits can be issued.
Where do I learn more?
Families may call the SUN Bucks Call Center with questions at 1-833-543-3230. More information can be found on the SUN Bucks webpage: https://sunbucks.dshs.wa.gov/en/
If you have questions about your Free/Reduced Price Meal status in the Monroe School District, please call Rachel Rathgeber at (360) 804-2510 or email fiscal@monroe.wednet.edu.
You can sign up for text message updates to receive SUN Bucks information right to your phone at textsunbucks.dshs.wa.gov