Department of Human Services Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh encouraged eligible families who have not yet applied for and received the 2024 SUN Bucks benefit to complete a paper application by Saturday.

The new nationwide Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer program, also known as SUN Bucks or Summer EBT, helps families who qualify manage increased food costs during the summer months when their children don’t have access to free and reduced-price meals at school.

Because this is the first year of the program, benefits were issued beginning in mid-August for Summer 2024. If families already have an EBT card, SUN Bucks benefits will be automatically added to this card, if possible. Families who do not have an EBT card will receive a Summer EBT card in the mail.

All 2024 SUN Bucks benefits will be issued by the end of October. Applications can be printed from the SUN Bucks website or are available at local County Assistance Offices. Families can also use the Sun Bucks Eligibility Navigator to see if they are eligible for this benefit.

This year, Pennsylvania opted in to the new nationwide Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer program. SUN Bucks will provide a one-time payment for households of $40 per summer month ($120 maximum) per eligible child. An estimated 1.2 million children in Pennsylvania qualify for this new program, a benefit that is paid for by federal funds.

Families whose children are not automatically eligible, including those who attend a school where all students receive free or reduced-price school meals under the Community Eligibility Provision but the family does not meet the automatic eligibility criteria, will need to complete a paper SUN Bucks application.

Find more information about SUN Bucks benefits and start an application at the state Department of Human Services website.