SUN Bucks (also called Summer EBT) is a new permanent federal child nutrition program aimed at keeping kids fed during the summer months when they are not in school. Eligible children will receive an EBT card that can be used to purchase groceries.
The program will be run by the PA Department of Human Services, with support from the PA Department of Education. Below is information about how the program will run in Pennsylvania during the summer of 2024. We will provide updates as more information is available.
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FAQ SECTIONS (click to jump to that section):
- Who is Eligible for SUN Bucks?
- How Much Will I Receive and When?
- Do I need to apply for SUN Bucks?
- How to Use SUN Bucks
- Other Questions
Who is eligible for SUN Bucks?
The following children are eligible and automatically signed up to receive SUN Bucks:
- Any child ages 6-18 who received SNAP, TANF, or Medical Assistance with qualifying income during the school year or during the summer of 2024, including home schooled and cyber school students.
- Any child who attends a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program and either
- applies for and is approved for Free and Reduced Price School Meals during the school year;
- receives SNAP, TANF, or Medical Assistance with qualifying income at any time during the school year or summer; OR
- is directly certified for free school meals as a foster child, migrant, or someone experiencing homelessness.
The following children are eligible but may need to apply directly to receive SUN Bucks:
A child who attended a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program and whose family meets the income guidelines for SUN Bucks below, but was not automatically enrolled in SUN Bucks by being in any of the categories already listed above.
NOTE: Unlike the previous pandemic program (P-EBT), not all children who attend CEP schools (schools that provide free lunches to all students) will be eligible for SUN Bucks. You may need to apply for this benefit if you did not apply for free school meals, your child is not directly certified for free school meals, or does not receive SNAP, TANF, or Medical Assistance with qualifying income.
| Household Size | Monthly Gross Income Limit for SUN Bucks July 1, 2023- June 30, 2024 (same as Free/Reduced-Price School Meals) |
| 1 | $2,248 |
| 2 | $3,041 |
| 3 | $3,833 |
| 4 | $4,625 |
| 5 | $5,418 |
| Each additional family member | +$8,732 |
How much will I receive and when?
How Much: The benefit amount for summer of 2024 is $40 per summer month per child, $120 total.
When: Payments will be made as one payment of $120 by September 30, 2024 at the very latest. This timeline will be updated as DHS gets closer to implementing this new program.
How: Qualifying families who already receive SNAP benefits will see the benefit added to their SNAP card. If you do not receive SNAP benefits, a new EBT card will be mailed to you.
Please make sure that your school has your current mailing address. If you receive SNAP, TANF or Medical Assistance with a qualifying income, make sure that the Department of Human Services has your current address.
DHS cannot track when your EBT card is coming. You can use USPS’s informed delivery service to see what is coming in your mail.
Do I need to apply for SUN Bucks?
Most families will not need to submit an application for SUN Bucks. You do not need to apply if your child is automatically enrolled in SUN Bucks (See “Who is Eligible Section” for criteria)
Only children who attend a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) can directly apply for SUN Bucks. You may need to apply if your child attended an NSLP school, you meet the income guidelines, and:
Your child attends a “CEP school” that provides free lunches but your child is not directly certified as a foster child, migrant, or someone experiencing homelessness or does not receive SNAP, TANF, or income-based Medical Assistance.
OR
You either never applied for, or just became newly eligible for free/reduced-price school meals during the summer and do not receive SNAP, TANF, or income-based Medical Assistance. Income limits for SUN Bucks (and Free/Reduced-Price School Meals) will change on July 1, 2024.
If your child is between 6 and 18 attends a home school or cyber school, you cannot apply directly for SUN Bucks and should apply for SNAP, TANF or Medical Assistance.
The application for SUN Bucks will likely not be available until late in the summer of 2024. If you want to make sure that your child is signed up, consider applying for a benefit that automatically enrolls your child into SUN Bucks such as SNAP or Free/Reduced-Price School Meals.
Household Size |
Monthly Gross Income Limit |
|
| Free/Reduced-Price School Meals & SUN Bucks income limits SY 2023-24 | SNAP | |
| 1 | $2,248 | $2,430 |
| 2 | $3,041 | $3,288 |
| 3 | $3,833 | $4,144 |
| 4 | $4,625 | $5,000 |
| 5 | $5,418 | $5,858 |
| Each additional family member | +$8,732 | +$725 |
Many schools have a simple school meals application available. You can also apply for both the National School Lunch Program and for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) online through COMPASS, Pennsylvania’s online application system.
Curious about applying for SNAP? Learn more here.
How to Use SUN Bucks
How will I activate my EBT card?
- Call the Pennsylvania EBT Hotline: 1-888-EBT-PENN (1-888-328-7366)
- Select your language.
- Enter your EBT card number and follow the prompts
- Create a PIN.
How do I check my EBT card balance?
You can check your EBT balance by calling 1-888-EBT-PENN. (1-888-328-7366)
Or, you can check your balance online at www.ConnectEBT.com When checking the balance of your EBT card online, for the social security number enter 000-0X-XXXX with the X’s as the five digits of your zip code, and use your child’s date of birth.
How do I use my EBT card to buy food?
You can use your EBT card at any retailer that accepts SNAP benefits, like grocery stores or smaller corner stores. Some farmers markets also accept SNAP. Look for signs that say “WE ACCEPT EBT / SNAP HERE.”
You can use your benefits to purchase most fresh, canned, and frozen food items like:
- Fresh fruits and vegetables
- Meat, dairy, and eggs
- Rice, beans, and dry goods
- Seeds and seedlings to grow your own plants
Click here for a complete list of approved food items.
Pay with your card at the register.
- Swipe your card at the check-out counter like a debit card, but press the button for EBT.
- Some machines will give you the choice of “cash” or “food.” Select “food.”
- Enter your PIN # on the number pad.
- If you are also buying non-food items, you will be asked for a second payment method.
- Check your receipt to make sure that the amount on the receipt is the same as the amount of your purchase. Your receipt will also show your remaining balance.
You can use your EBT card, just like a SNAP EBT card, to buy groceries online from Aldi, Amazon, Fresh Grocer, Giant, Giant Eagle, ShopRite, and Walmart. However, like SNAP, you can’t use EBT to pay for delivery fees. Learn more here.
Other Questions about SUN Bucks
Should I keep my SUN Bucks Card?
At this time, we are unsure if the same cards will be used every year. We suggest that you keep your SUN Bucks cards after they are spent in case they are reloaded the following summer.
How can I protect my benefits from theft?
Congress has not provided funding to replace SUN Bucks that are stolen. These general tips can help you with keeping your benefits safe:
- Keep your EBT PIN a secret. Do not share your PIN with anyone outside your household. Cover the keypad when you enter your PIN on a machine.
- Check your EBT account regularly for unauthorized charges. If you see an unauthorized charge, change your EBT PIN immediately to stop the thief from making any new purchases. When you change the PIN this will restrict anyone attempting to gain access to the EBT account.
- Check card reading machines to make sure there’s nothing suspicious attached to the card swiper or keypad. The skimming device can be difficult to detect but is often bigger than the original machine and may hide parts of the machine.
Be suspicious of any text messages that suggest that your benefits have stopped or that your card has been deactivated.
- PA Dept. of Human Services does send text messages, but they always come from their phone number: 1-833-648-1964. Their text messages are never very specific, and will often refer you to check for notices on COMPASS. Text messages that appear to come from an email address are scams.
- Never enter your EBT card number or PIN when calling any phone number other than the EBT hotline, 1-888-EBT-PENN (1-888-328-7366). This number is on the back of your EBT card. You can also access your EBT balance using the MY COMPASS PA mobile app.
- When in doubt about the status of your benefits, call the customer service center at 1-877-395-8930. If you are in Philadelphia, call 215-560-7226.
- Please report text messaging scams to the PA Dept. of Human Services fraud tip line: 1-844-DHS-TIPS (1-844-347-8477)
- Read more about known scams on this DHS webpage.
How can I check my transaction history?
You can hear a listing of your last ten transactions by calling the EBT Hotline, 1-888-EBT-PENN (1-888-328-7366). You can also use any of these trusted online sources for viewing more of your transaction history:
- ConnectEBT mobile app ( Apple) (Android)
- Providers mobile app
- Connect EBT website
Will this impact my immigration status?
Using SUN Bucks does NOT impact you or your child’s immigration status. The public charge rule does NOT apply to SUN Bucks. Note: the public charge test also does NOT apply to getting SNAP benefits or school meals for an eligible family member.
Do I have to use all my EBT benefits when I get them?
No, but you must use them within four months after your benefits have been issued.
Will receiving SUN Bucks affect my eligibility for other benefits?
No, it will not, and receiving other benefits will not affect your eligibility for SUN Bucks.
We also use Summer Food. Can I still get SUN Bucks?
Yes! Your child can eat at a summer food site and you can still use SUN Bucks. SUN Bucks is meant to be a complimentary program.
I am automatically signed up for SUN Bucks, but I don’t want to use them. What should I do?
You can hold onto the card in case you need it months from now. Funds will expire after 4 months.
Federal rules don’t allow recipients to transfer this benefit to others, so you cannot use this benefit to buy food for others. But you can buy food for your kids using this card – and if this frees up money for you to help others, then you can donate the money you saved on groceries to charity or to help others in need if you wish.
In the future, there will be a way to opt out of receiving SUN Bucks.
