SUN Bucks

Feeding Families When School is Out

Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer

The Summer 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. Qualifying families will receive $120 per eligible child after the last day of school. SUN Bucks does not affect a family's immigration status.

How SUN Bucks works

SUN Bucks will be loaded onto an Arizona EBT card, which works just like a debit card, and mailed to the address on file with your child's school. Please contact your school's front office if you need to update your information.

Do not discard the letter that comes with your card. It contains your case number, which will be needed to set up your card's PIN.

Families participating in SNAP or TANF will receive funds directly to their existing household’s Arizona EBT card.

If you have more than one eligible child, you will only get one card per household. For example, if you have two eligible kids, you will get one card with a total of $240.

SUN Bucks must be used within 122 days of the date when benefits are loaded onto the card. Unused benefits will be removed on day 123. 

SUN Bucks Income Graphic

Your child may be eligible if your family’s annual gross income for the 2023-24 school year was less than $36,482 for a family with two children, $45,991 with three children, $55,500 with four children, $65,009 with five or more children.

Program Eligibility

  • Children approved for free or reduced-price school meals.

  • Families who participated in SNAP or TANF.

  • Families who participated in AHCCCS and are certified at or under 185% of the Federal Poverty Level.

  • Children ages 6-16 who are unhoused, foster, runaway or migrant students.

Participating in SUN Bucks does not impact your ability to participate in the Summer Meals program. We encourage eligible families to utilize both programs.

Program Application

If your child doesn't meet the automatic qualification criteria, they may still be eligible to receive benefits.

If your child attends a school that operates the National School Lunch and/or School Breakfast Programs, and you have not already submitted a free or reduced-price meal application or alternate income form, complete the Arizona Department of Education application or call 833-648-4406 to see if you should apply.

Frequently Asked Questions

Glossary of Terms