Skip to main content
Voice Recognition
X
 Select Language 
                      

Sun Bucks

SunBucks Program

NEW this summer: For eligible families who qualify for Free and Reduced Lunch, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has launched a new annual Summer-EBT program called SunBucks. 

Summer EBT benefits will either be loaded to a household’s Ohio Direction Card or a benefit card will be sent in the mail in a plain white envelope addressed to each eligible child. Eligible families will receive a one-time benefit of $120 for each eligible child and can use the money to buy food during the summer at grocery stores, farmers markets, and other authorized retailers.
SunBucks FAQ

What is SunBucks?

Sun Bucks, formally known as Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (S-EBT) Program, provides funds for families to buy food to replace meals normally eaten at school or child care settings. 

Who will receive summer EBT automatically?

All children between the ages of 6 to 18 participating in one or more of the following assistance
programs (on or after July 1, 2023) will receive Summer EBT automatically with no need to
apply:

• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• Ohio Works First (OWF)
• Medicaid (if income meets USDA Income Eligibility Guidelines for current program year)

Children of any age enrolled in a school participating in the National School Lunch Program
that are approved for free or reduced-price meals for school year 2023-2024 will also receive
Summer EBT automatically with no need to apply.

Community eligibility provision or provision 2 school requirements:

IF STUDENTS ATTEND A COMMUNITY ELIGIBILITY PROVISION OR PROVISION
2 SCHOOL AND RECEIVE NO COST MEALS, ARE ALL STUDENTS IN
ATTENDANCE GOING TO RECEIVE THE BENEFIT:

No, each student at a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) or Provision 2 school are not
automatically eligible for Summer EBT.

Households with children that participate in SNAP, OWF, Medicaid and are within the free or
reduced-price meal income level, or are homeless, migrant, runaway, or participate in
HeadStart will automatically get Summer EBT.

Households that are within 185% of the federal poverty level but do not participate in one of
these programs can submit a Summer EBT application via the Summer EBT web page at
sebt.ohio.gov.

Do I need to apply?

If you have been approved for the free or reduced-price lunch program through a meal application, alternate income form, or direct certification from participation in SNAP, TANF, Medicaid, Foster, or Head Start, you do not need to apply for Sun Bucks.

Eligible students are automatically enrolled to receive Sun Bucks.

Where can I use SunBucks?

SunBucks is accepted anywhere SNAP is accepted, including grocery stores, corner stores, farmer’s markets, and online retailers.

Please note, SunBucks 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. 

How will I get my SunBucks?

1. Households that currently receive SNAP benefits will see benefits for each eligible child
issued on their Ohio Direction Card.

2. Households that do not currently receive SNAP benefits will receive a new Summer EBT
card in the mail for each approved child. The card will be in a plain white envelope and
addressed to the child. Households should keep Summer EBT cards to potentially
receive future summer benefits.

When will SunBucks be available?

Households with children already participating in SNAP, OWF, Medicaid with household income within the free or reduced-price school meal guidelines, or certified for free or reduced-price school meals during the school year will receive their benefit by July 31. Check back regularly for updates.

Note: benefits will be issued over many days so children in the same household may receive their benefit on a different day from one another.

Households that become eligible for SNAP, OWF, or Medicaid during the summer, or apply for Summer EBT using the Summer EBT application will receive benefits within two months after being approved.

Will the Summer EBT benefits be on a new card or loaded to the P-EBT card?

Households with active SNAP accounts should have benefits loaded to their Ohio Direction Card. All other households will receive a new Summer EBT card in the mail for each eligible child. The card will arrive in a plain white envelope and be addressed to the child. Any past summer P-EBT cards can be thrown away.

How long will the funds be available?

Summer EBT funds will expire after 122 days after the benefit is issued. If the benefit is loaded on the Ohio Direction Card, the Summer EBT benefit will be used first the next time you visit a store. Save

Will graduating seniors, Preschool or Kindergarten students at childcare center receive benefits?

Graduating seniors of any age who are approved for free or reduced-price meals will receive Summer EBT.

Preschool and Kindergarten students under the age of 6 will only be included if they are approved for free or reduced-price meals, their school is on the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program, and they are being offered school breakfast and/or school lunch.

Preschool or Kindergarten students at a childcare center will not receive Summer EBT.

How will benefits be issued for a children that live in more than one household?

Student data submissions will only allow for one address per child. The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, Ohio Department of Medicaid, and Schools will provide the address for the primary guardian.

Can households participate in the summer meals program and also receive summer EBT?

Summer EBT and the Summer Food Service Program are meant to work together to address food insecurity during the summer months when children are not receiving school meals. Households can participate in both programs. Call 1-866-3-HUNGRY (486479) for a nearby location.

Can I give my Sun Bucks card to someone else to use to buy groceries for themselves?

SunBucks benefits are specific to the household and cannot be given to another person.

Who do I call with additional questions?

• General Summer EBT support questions: 1-866-244-0071, option 1
• Summer EBT card support: 1-866-386-3071
• Questions about Free or Reduced-Price meal eligibility: If the child attends a school on the National School Lunch Program, households should reach out to the child’s school first to discuss free or reduced-price meal eligibility questions.