How does it work?
Families receive $120 per eligible student for the summer months. These benefits work together with other nutrition assistance programs, such as summer meal sites, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) to support students with consistent access to nutritious meals when school is out.
Read our FAQ page for more information.
Who is eligible?
Students may be eligible through either automatic eligibility or by applying:
1. [Automatic Eligibility] Your student is automatically eligible for SUN Bucks and no further action is required to receive the benefits if they:
- Are between 5-18 years old and part of a household that participated in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP or food stamps), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF or cash assistance), or an income-eligible Medical Assistance program*; OR
- Are experiencing homelessness or in foster care; OR
- Submitted an application for free or reduced-price school meals during the current school year that was approved; OR
- Submitted a 2024 SUN Bucks application on July 1, 2024 or later, were approved, and are still attending a school that offers the National School Lunch Program (NSLP).
* Some children age 5-18 who participate in an income-eligible Medical Assistance program but are not enrolled in school will need to complete a brief Medicaid opt-in form to confirm if they are preapproved.
2. [Submitting a SUN Bucks Application] If your student does not get benefits automatically, you can apply to receive SUN Bucks if:
- They attend a school that offers the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or School Breakfast Program (SBP). This includes all DC Public Schools (DCPS) and public charter schools and a select number of private schools; AND
- Your household income is at or below 185 percent of the federal poverty level.
Why was SUN Bucks created?
The United States serves nearly 30 million students who participate in the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) school breakfast and lunch programs during the school year. However, many of the same students who lose access to these healthy meals during the summer months are at higher risk of food and nutrition insecurity. In December 2022, a bipartisan Congress created a new, permanent program to provide students of low-income families with additional food access over the summer months. This program will help close the summer hunger gap when students have less access to nutritious school meals.