Families can apply for grocery funds

Applications for the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer program, also known as SUN Bucks, are now open.

SUN Bucks is a new benefits program that provides families a one-time payment of $120 for each eligible school-aged child to help purchase groceries during the summer. It aims to ensure that students continue to have access to healthy meals beyond the school year. 

Children are eligible for the program if: 

• The student attends a school that offers the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), and the household income meets the requirements for free or reduced-price school meals, or
• The household already participates in SNAP, TANF or income-based Medicaid, or
• The student has been identified as a ward of the state (foster child), homeless or migrant

Benefits will be provided to eligible families on a separate EBT card and mailed directly to their home. They can be used at authorized retailers, like grocery stores and farmers markets, to purchase healthy foods, such as fruits, vegetables, meats and other protein sources, whole grains, and dairy.

These benefits are available in addition to free meals that children of all ages can get at SUN Meals sites in their communities. 

Most eligible families will receive these benefits automatically and local schools will communicate eligibility to parents and families. Some parents will need to apply:

• Households with children attending a school operating the Community Eligibility Provision, where all meals are free to students, and who have not been notified of automatic SUN Bucks eligibility.
• Households with children attending a school operating NSLP who were not approved for free or reduced meals during the school year. 
• Households with children that do not attend a school operating NSLP and who receive SNAP, TANF, certain levels of income-based Medicaid, or are foster, migrant or homeless.

SUN Bucks is funded by the state of Indiana and U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Visit the Indiana SUN Bucks webpage at in.gov/doe/nutrition/indiana-sun-bucks-summer-ebt/ to learn more about this new program and apply.