SUN Bucks: Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (Summer-EBT)
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.
Arizona Department of Education (ADE) continues to send additional student records who are eligible for SUN Bucks to the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES). As of July 25th, this is a list of school districts where student records are still being processed. If your eligible child has not received their SUN Bucks benefit and they attended or are attending a school in one of these districts, we are still processing these districts records and anticipate households who have not already received the benefit to see the benefit sometime in August.
ADE is reviewing and processing Summer 2024 Applications for the Arizona Summer EBT (SUN Bucks) Benefits that were submitted by July 31. Eligible applicants will have their applications sent to DES to issue the SUN Bucks benefit. Applications for summer 2024 benefits closed on July 31, 2024.
Children enrolled in an Arizona school participating in the National School Lunch Program must:
1. Be enrolled for at least one instructional school day between July 1, 2023-June 30, 2024
2. Meet one of the following eligibility requirements:
Be certified free or reduced-price eligible for the NSLP or
Participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Medicaid and meeting the federal income eligibility guidelines for free or reduced-price meals
Foster
Participating in the federal Head Start Program
Indicator 1 or Indicator 2 via ESEA (Title I) Income Eligibility
If you are unsure if your child’s school participates in the NSLP, please review this list of NSLP participating schools:
The Summer 2024 Application for the Arizona Summer EBT (SUN Bucks) Benefits closed on July 31, 2024. Any applications submitted after July 31, 2024 will not be accepted.
ADE is currently reviewing all applications submitted on or before July 31, 2024. Households who submitted will receive a letter from the Arizona Department of Education or Arizona Department of Economic Security if denied or approved for benefits.
If you submitted the Summer 2024 Application for the Arizona Summer EBT (SUN Bucks) Benefits on or before July 31, 2024, your application is currently being reviewed and processed by ADE. You will receive a Notice of Eligibility in the mail after it has been processed.
If your application was denied, the notice will state the reason for the denial.
If you feel there was an error regarding the 2024 SUN Bucks benefit determination, you may request an appeal directly to ADE. The appeal period is 90-days from the end of the covered Summer-EBT period, which ends July 31, 2024. Appeals postmarked by October 29, 2024, will be accepted. Any appeals received after October 29, 2024, will not be processed and will be considered untimely.
If you wish to proceed with submitting an appeal request, please click on the link and follow the instructions provided to submit your request to ADE.
A one-time summer benefit amount of $120 will be issued to each eligible child on a SUN Bucks card. Benefit cards will be mailed to eligible children at the address provided by the school beginning in early July. Once mailed, it may take a few weeks to reach your address. Please confirm your mailing address with your school district.
Once SUN Bucks benefits have been issued, households will receive a letter, similar to the ones linked below, from DES:
Sample Letter to Households Receiving SUN Bucks Benefits (English) (Spanish)
To check your SUN Bucks card balance, change your PIN, or to request a replacement EBT card call 1-888-997-9333.
To set up the PIN for your EBT card call 1-888-997-9333. 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.
For additional information please go to the Arizona Department of Economic Security’s Nutrition Assistance webpage or call 1-888-997-9333.
The card can be used to purchase eligible food items at any store (in-person or online) that accepts SNAP. To find a SNAP retailer near you, or to learn more about eligible food items or how to use your SUN Bucks card, visit the Arizona Department of Economic Security’s (DES) Nutrition Assistance webpage.
Please note, SUN Bucks benefits must be used within 122 days from the day the benefits were added to your SUN Bucks account. Any benefits remaining on the card after 122 days will expire. Lost or stolen benefits cannot be replaced.
How do I decline SUN Bucks benefits?
You may opt out of SUN Bucks benefits by clicking here.
Is there a number to call if I have questions about SUN Bucks?
The SUN Bucks hotline is 833-648-4406.
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.
I received a SUN Bucks card in error. What should I do?
If you received a SUN Bucks card, but your child does not receive 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.
How long will my SUN Bucks benefits be available?
SUN Bucks benefits are available for four months. SUN Bucks benefits expire/expunge 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.
Are there any resources available with information about using my Arizona EBT Card?
For more information about using your Arizona EBT Card, please view DES' How to Use Your Arizona EBT Card brochure (English) (Spanish).
Summer EBT hotline/phone number: 833-648-4406
Please contact the Arizona Department of Economic Security’s Nutrition Assistance Customer Service Team at 1-888-997-9333 if you have questions about any of the following:
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 your child’s eligibility status, the address where your card was mailed, or the date of birth listed for your child.
The Summer 2024 Farm Fresh Challenge is an HNS initiative designed to empower CNP operators to cultivate excitement around fresh and locally sourced foods. Participating operators must complete challenges that promote participants' tasting, teaching, and connection to foods local to Arizona within the month of June.
The Arizona Department of Education Health and Nutrition Services (HNS) is pleased to announce the availability of the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) during summer 2024.
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.