SUMMER 2026 SUN BUCKS INFORMATION
Families should contact DHS with their specific SUN Bucks benefit questions at 877-395-8930
Students are automatically eligible for SUN Bucks and do not need to apply if they:
• Attended an NSLP/SBP-participating school any time during the 2025-2026 school year or summer 2026 (7/1/2025-8/31/2026) and qualified for free or reduced-price meals based on:
✓ Direct Certification (SNAP, TANF, or Medicaid with qualifying income), or
✓ DC by extension within the household (known as “Sibling Matches” in PA-SES), or
✓ Other categorical eligibility (foster, homeless, migrant, runaway, Head Start), or
✓ 2025-2026 Free and Reduced Price School Meals application
• Did not attend an NSLP/SBP-participating school during the 2025-2026 school year or summer 2026 but received SNAP, TANF, or Medicaid with qualifying income during that period and were of compulsory age (6-18 years).
Families whose children are not automatically eligible may apply for SUN Bucks using the online fillable PDF application on the DHS SUN Bucks webpage: dhs.pa.gov/sunbucks. Paper applications are also available upon request at the County Assistance Office (CAO).
How do families receive SUN Bucks benefits?
DHS will issue the benefit to the family’s state EBT card, a previously issued SUN Bucks card, or a new SUN Bucks card depending on how a student is qualified and what cards may be available to the family. There are several things that schools can advise families of regarding issuance of SUN Bucks benefits:
1. Families should save previously issued SUN Bucks cards.
2. DHS follows this overall benefit issuance hierarchy:
• Benefit is applied to the family’s state EBT card if one is available
• If unavailable, benefit is applied to a previously issued SUN Bucks card
• If unavailable, benefit is applied to a new SUN Bucks card. DHS issues SUN Bucks benefits at the household level, so if a household has three eligible children, all three children’s benefits will be loaded onto a single card if possible.
DHS SUN Bucks resources available:
✓ DHS SUN Bucks webpage: dhs.pa.gov/sunbucks
✓ DHS Statewide Customer Service Center: 877-395-8930.
✓ CAO locator: https://www.dhs.pa.gov/services/assistance/pages/cao-contact.aspx
✓ Summer EBT Income Eligibility Guidelines: https://bestpractices.nokidhungry.org/resource/sebtincome-eligibility-guidelines
✓ DHS Pre-recorded FAQ line for families: 877-762-1575
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the State or local Agency that administers the program or contact USDA through the Telecommunications Relay Service at 711 (voice and TTY). Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
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