SUN Bucks (Summer EBT/S-EBT): Information for Parents

Sun Bucks LogoThe 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.

 

 

Some 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.

Criteria for automatically receiving SUN Bucks without applying:

If your child was enrolled and attended an Arizona school that participated in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or School Breakfast Program (SBP) and had access to a meal service between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026 (if unsure, click here): 
 

Your child must also have met at least ONE of the following requirements between July 1, 2025 and August 3, 2026:  
 

  • Individually certified for free or reduced-price meals because you submitted an NSLP household application; OR
  • Received benefits for any amount of time under SNAP, TANF, FDPIR, or an NSLP/SBP participating Head Start program; OR 
  • Received benefits from an income based Medicaid program which meets NSLP free or reduced-price income eligibility guidelines for any amount of time; OR
  • In Foster Care; OR
  • Certified as homeless or as an unaccompanied youth under the McKinney Vento Homeless Assistance Act; OR
  • Certified under the Migrant Education Program.

If your child met ANY of the criteria above, and was enrolled and attended an Arizona NSLP or SBP school for at least one day during the 2025-26 instructional school year, they will automatically be issued SUN Bucks benefits in the summer of 2026. You do not need to apply or take further action to receive benefits.

If your child was enrolled and attended an Arizona 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 was NOT enrolled and did NOT attend an Arizona school that participated in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or School Breakfast Program (SBP) between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026 (if unsure, click here):

 

Your child must meet BOTH the age and program eligibility criteria below:

  • The age range requirement for the child: must be six years old by August 3, 2026, or less than sixteen years old before July 1, 2025,

AND

  • Meet at least ONE of the program eligibility criteria below for at least one day between July 1, 2025 and August 3, 2026: 
    • Received benefits for any amount of time under SNAP, TANF, or FDPIR; OR 
    • Received benefits from an income based Medicaid program which meets NSLP free or reduced-price income eligibility guidelines for any amount of time; OR
    • In Foster Care; OR
    • Certified as homeless or as an unaccompanied youth under the McKinney Vento Homeless Assistance Act; OR
    • Certified under the Migrant Education Program.

If your child meets BOTH the age requirement and the program eligibility criteria above, your child will automatically be issued SUN Bucks benefits in the summer of 2026. You do not need to take further action to receive benefits.  

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

No. However, if your child was enrolled and attended a school that participated in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) or Provision 2/3 (if unsure, click here) and met at least ONE of the following requirements below between July 1, 2025 and August 3, 2026, they will automatically be eligible for SUN Bucks:

  • Received benefits for any amount of time under SNAP, TANF, FDPIR, or Head Start (NSLP/SBP participating Head Start); OR
  • Received benefits from an income based Medicaid program which meets NSLP income guidelines for any amount of time; OR
  • In Foster Care; OR
  • Certified as homeless or as an unaccompanied youth under the McKinney Vento Homeless Assistance Act; OR
  • Certified under the Migrant Education Program.

If your child does not meet any of the above criteria and attended a CEP or Provision 2/3 school, you can apply for SUN Bucks (please refer to the "How do I apply for SUN Bucks" section).

To qualify automatically for SUN Bucks based on participation in AHCCCS/Medicaid, your child’s eligibility is based on household income you provided to AHCCCS, and that income must meet NSLP guidelines for free or reduced-price meals (at or below the 185 percent of the federal poverty level). 

Please consider applying for SUN Bucks if your child receives AHCCCS through SSI Cash, Adoption Subsidy, or Foster Care as eligibility is not based on income and your child is not automatically eligible for SUN Bucks.

If your child is enrolled in KidsCare, your household income is above 185% of the federal poverty level and your child is not automatically eligible for SUN Bucks.

If you are unsure if your child's participation in AHCCCS/Medicaid will automatically qualify for them for SUN Bucks, we strongly recommend you apply. Please refer to the "How do I apply for SUN Bucks" section.

Some 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 3, 2026.

To mail in an application, please print, sign, and mail this completed form to ADE at the address below. 
 
SUN Bucks English Paper Application
SUN Bucks Spanish Paper Application
 
Attn: HNS SUN Bucks  
Arizona Department of Education, 
1535 W. Jefferson St. Bin #7 
Phoenix AZ 85007 

A one-time summer benefit amount of $120 will be issued for each eligible child. The eligibility notification letter and the SUN Bucks card (if receiving a new card) will be sent in two separate mailings to the address on file. Ensure mailing address is up-to-date with schools and the Department of Economic Security (DES). 

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 who received the SUN Bucks benefit for Summer 2024 or 2025, DES will add the 2026 benefit to the most recent card received.
  

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 2025 is no longer eligible and there were other eligible children in the household, a new card 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:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SUN Bucks cards that were issued in Summer 2024 looked like this:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Benefit cards will be mailed to eligible children at the address provided by the school beginning in summer 2026. 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 from DES in the mail, similar to the ones linked below. Please make sure to review and keep this letter.

  • Sample letter to households currently receiving SNAP/TANF benefits (English)/(Spanish)
  • Sample letter to households who previously received SUN Bucks (English)/(Spanish)
  • Sample letter to households receiving SUN Bucks benefits (new case builds) (English)/(Spanish)
  • Sample envelope to the household regarding SUN Bucks benefits (Envelope) 

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 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 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? To opt out of 2026 SUN Bucks benefits, complete the parent and student information in the SUN Bucks application. At the top of the "Student" page, check the box labeled “I would like to opt out of receiving SUN Bucks benefits.” Click here to begin the opt out process.

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 at 1-833-648-4406.

  • Assistance with the 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, how to apply, or how to file an appeal
  • How to opt out
  • Frequently Asked Questions

 

If you have questions on the 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 made about your SUN Bucks benefits by the State of Arizona, you have the right to appeal. Appeal submissions for 2025 Summer EBT (SUN Bucks) benefits are closed. Appeal submissions for 2026 SUN Bucks will open in the coming months.