Welcome to the DSHS SUN Bucks website! SUN Bucks is a new food benefit available to an estimated 550,000 children in Washington state. Families with eligible school-aged children will get $120 per child to buy groceries during the summer while free and reduced-price meals aren’t available in schools.
How to enroll in SUN Bucks
Most children will be automatically enrolled without having to apply if, between July 1, 2023, and Aug. 31, 2024, they were:
- Enrolled at a school that offers the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program AND individually approved for free or reduced-price meals at school OR
- Age 8-18 and a member of a household that receives benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Food Assistance Program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or State-Funded Assistance.
Children who automatically receive free or reduced-price meals at Community Eligibility Provision or Provision 2 schools will need to submit a meal application or Family Income Survey to their school for automatic enrollment.
Students who are not automatically enrolled may qualify by submitting a SUN Bucks application if they are:
- Enrolled at an NSLP or SBP participating school AND
- Living in a household with income that meets NSLP Income Eligibility Guidelines to qualify for free or reduced-price meals.
Applications will be available primarily online at sunbucks.dshs.wa.gov starting early July through Aug. 31, 2024. More information will be released soon!
How will I know my child has been enrolled into SUN Bucks?
Sign up for text messaging to be notified if you have been automatically enrolled, the status of your application and other general SUN Bucks information.
What else should I know about SUN Bucks?
SUN Bucks cards can be used at any authorized retailers nationwide where EBT is accepted on uncooked: fruits, veggies, meat, dairy products, breads and cereals, snack foods, non-alcoholic beverages, seeds and plants that produce food.
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