SUN Bucks: Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (Summer-EBT)

Sun Bucks LogoSummer Electronic Benefit Transfer Program (Summer-EBT/SUN Bucks) provides grocery-buying benefits to low-income families with school-aged children who lose access to free or reduced-price school meals when schools are closed for the summer.

 

 

Most children in Arizona will receive SUN Bucks automatically without needing to apply. To see whether your child will receive benefits automatically, please review the criteria below.  

If you are unsure whether your child's school participates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or School Breakfast Program (SBP), please refer to the below search tool or this list of participating schools.

Criteria for automatically receiving SUN Bucks without applying:

If your child attended a National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or School Breakfast Program (SBP) school in Arizona between July 1, 2024- June 30, 2025:

Your child must also meet ONE or more of the following requirements between July 1, 2024- August 5, 2025: 

  • Individually approved for free or reduced-price meals because you submitted an NSLP household application OR
  • Participated for any amount of time in SNAP, TANF, FDPIR, or Head Start (NSLP/SBP participating Head Start); OR
  • Enrolled in Medicaid for any amount of time, with a household income at or below 185% of the federal poverty level (before deductions); OR
  • Foster children, children certified for the Migrant Education Program or Homeless Education Program 

If your child meets ANY of the criteria above and attended an NSLP or SBP school for at least one day during the 2024-25 instructional school year, they will be automatically issued SUN Bucks benefits in the summer of 2025. You do not need to apply or take further action to receive benefits.  

If your child attends a school that participates in NSLP or SBP but does not meet the above requirements, you can apply for SUN Bucks (please refer to the How do I apply for SUN Bucks section).

If your child did NOT attend a National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or School Breakfast Program  (SBP) school in Arizona between July 1, 2024- June 30, 2025:

Your child must: 

  • Be between 6 and 16 years old from July 1, 2024- June 30, 2025.
  • Meet ONE or more of the following requirements for at least one day between July 1, 2024- August 5, 2025:
    • Participate in SNAP, TANF, or FDPIR; OR
    • Receive Medicaid with a household income at or below 185% of the federal poverty level (before deductions); OR
    • Foster children, children certified for the Migrant Education Program or Homeless Education Program 

If your child meets BOTH of the criteria above, your child will be automatically issued SUN Bucks benefits in the summer of 2025. You do not need to take further action to receive benefits.  

If your child does NOT meet the criteria above, your child would not be eligible to apply for SUN Bucks. 

Special provision schools (Community Eligibility Provision and Provision 2/3 participation)

If my child's school serves all free meals, will they automatically get SUN Bucks? No. This is different from Pandemic EBT (P-EBT). In order to be eligible for SUN Bucks benefits, children must be individually determined to be eligible for free or reduced-price school meals during the instructional year immediately preceding the summer operational period or during the summer. Please see the above criteria.

Most children in Arizona will automatically receive benefits and do not need to apply. 

Do You Need to Apply? Before applying for SUN Bucks, please review the information in the “Will my child automatically get SUN Bucks?” section on this page or complete the SUN Bucks Eligibility Screener Guide (English or Spanish version) to determine if your child will receive benefits automatically. Completion of the eligibility screener will provide the link to the SUN Bucks household application if applicable.  

You must submit an application by August 5, 2025. 

A one-time summer benefit amount of $120 will be issued for each eligible child. 

In most cases: If you have multiple eligible children in the same household, the benefits for all children will be issued on one card. For households who currently participate in SNAP or TANF, the benefit will be placed on that case. For households that received the SUN Bucks benefit for Summer 2024, DES will add the 2025 benefit to the same card from 2024.  

In some cases: Each eligible child in a household might receive a separate card. Additionally, there may be instances when a new card will be mailed even if you received benefits last year. For example, if the eldest child who received the SUN Bucks card for 2024 is no longer eligible and there are other eligible children in the household, a new SUN Bucks EBT card will be mailed.  

The benefits will be issued on a SUN Bucks card that looks like one of the below: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Starting in 2025, newly eligible children will see a card that looks like this.

Using Your SUN Bucks Benefits:

  • Use your SUN Bucks before they expire: SUN Bucks benefits expire 122 days from the date the benefits are made available on your SUN Bucks card. Federal regulations do not allow benefits to be replaced after they have been expired/expunged. 
  • Setting up Your SUN Bucks card: Once you receive your card in the mail, you will need to call 1-888-997-9333 to set up the PIN for your EBT card. You will need the 16-digit card number you received, the date of birth of the person named on the card, and the 8-digit case number on the letter from DES. 
  • Using your benefits to buy food: Once the funds are available on your card, you can buy eligible food at grocery stores, farmers' markets, and other authorized SNAP retailers. To locate participating retailers, you may visit www.fns.usda.gov/snap/retailer-locator. 
  • Can I give my SUN Bucks card to someone else to use to buy groceries for themselves? SUN Bucks benefits are specific to the household and cannot be given to another person. 
  • Replacing your SUN Bucks card or changing your PIN: To check your SUN Bucks card balance, change your PIN, or to request a replacement EBT card call 1-888-997-9333. 
  • For more information about using your Arizona EBT Card: Please view DES' How to Use Your Arizona EBT Card brochure (English) (Spanish). 

How do I decline SUN Bucks benefits? You may opt out of 2025 SUN Bucks benefits by clicking here. 

What should I do if I received a SUN Bucks card in error? If you received a SUN Bucks card, but your child is not certified for free or reduced-price school meals, and you believe you are not eligible for these benefits, please do not use the card. If you received the card in error, please destroy the card. 

What should I do if I suspect my benefits were used fraudulently or stolen? Federal regulations do not allow for the replacement of stolen SUN Bucks benefits. If you have lost your card or your card has been stolen, call 1-888-997-9333 (TTY: 1-800-367-8939) IMMEDIATELY, and don't hang up until they have deactivated your card.

If you have questions on the topics listed below, please contact the SUN Bucks hotline: 1-833-648-4406 

  • Assistance with SUN Bucks case number
  • Date(s) of benefit issuance. Report a change of address
  • Child missing on your SUN Bucks case
  • Information on SUN Bucks eligibility, to apply, or to file an appeal
  • How to opt-out
  • Frequently Asked Questions

 

If you have questions on topics listed below please contact the EBT card customer service line at 1-888-997-9333. 

  • Activating your card 
  • Checking card balances 
  • Changing your PIN 
  • Reporting a lost, stolen, or damaged card 
  • Requesting a replacement card 

 

Please only contact your child's school if you have questions about the following: 

  • Your child's free or reduced-price eligibility status
  • The date of birth listed for your child 

 

Please only contact your child's school if you need to make updates to the following: 

  • Custodial parent or guardian
  • Mailing address

Appealing My Benefits Decision: If you disagree with the decision that the state of Arizona made about your SUN Bucks benefits, you have the right to appeal. Appeal submissions for 2024 Summer EBT (SUN Bucks) benefits are closed. Appeal submissions for the 2025 SUN Bucks will open in the coming months.