Summer EBT 2026 (SUN Bucks): $120 per Child
Summer EBT — also called SUN Bucks — is the permanent federal program providing $120 per eligible child per summer (FY26) to replace school meals lost during the break. About 21 million children are served each summer.
1. Benefit amount
- $120 per eligible child (FY26 summer — inflation-adjusted yearly)
- One-time delivery — not monthly. Loaded to existing EBT card (if you have SNAP) or new card mailed.
- Window: 122 days from load date, then unused benefits expire.
- Participating tribes may load as a food box instead of EBT (Tribal Food Box option).
2. Who qualifies?
School-age children (typically 5-18) who meet ONE of these:
- Categorically eligible — household receives SNAP, TANF, FDPIR, or Medicaid (in expansion states)
- Eligible for school meals — free (130% FPL) or reduced-price (185% FPL) school meals during the school year
- CEP school students — all students at Community Eligibility Provision schools auto-qualify
- Migrant / Homeless / Foster — identified by school McKinney-Vento liaison; auto-eligible
3. How to apply?
Most households do NOT need to apply — states auto-match against SNAP/TANF/Medicaid databases + school meal accounts.
- If your kid eats free school meals during the school year, they\u0027re auto-enrolled.
- If your kid does NOT eat school meals (e.g., homeschool, charter without federal system), parents may need to manually apply — contact state SEBT agency.
- Find agency: fns.usda.gov/sebt/state-agencies
4. Load dates
States vary — typically loaded May-July. Some load immediately at end of school; others in batches in July. Check with state agency.
5. What you can buy?
Same items as SNAP — groceries to prepare at home. Fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, grains, bread, seeds/plants to grow food. Does NOT include: hot food, alcohol, tobacco, paper goods, pet products.
Full SNAP EBT eligible items list →
6. FY26 states
Updated list at fns.usda.gov/sebt/state-agencies. States that have opted out of Summer EBT 2026 include Tennessee and others — verify for sure.
Tribes may operate Summer EBT independently of state. Participating tribes: fns.usda.gov/sebt/itos.
7. Stack with other programs
- SFSP — Summer Food Service Program. Hot meals prepared at sites. Compatible with Summer EBT — kids can get BOTH.
- SNAP — Summer EBT does NOT affect SNAP benefits — separate.
- WIC — WIC children under 5 do NOT qualify for Summer EBT (Summer EBT is 5-18 school-age). School-age siblings DO qualify.
Related resources
Last updated 2026-04-30. Feed America Inc. (EIN 92-1761881).