Food Stamps/SNAP Applications

Summer Food Program Renewed for 2025

California is launching a summer food program, SUN Bucks, also called Summer-EBT. The program works like CalFresh but provides benefits for the summer months. 

SUN Bucks is a new permanent program that helps families with school-age children, ages 6 to 18, buy groceries during the summer when kids may not have access to school meals.

Children who qualify for free or reduced-price school meals through a school meal application or an Alternative Income Form or receive CalFresh, CalWORKs, or Medi-Cal are automatically enrolled. 

There are two ways for children to receive SUN Bucks automatically:

• Children ages 6-18 years who get CalFresh, CalWORKs, or Medi-Cal (certified at or under 185% of the Federal Poverty Level).

• Families with children ages 0-22 who qualify for free or reduced-price meals and do not get CalFresh, CalWORKs, or Medi-Cal (certified at or below 185% of the Federal Poverty Level) can submit a school meal application or Universal Benefits Application at their school by September 2, 2025 to see if they qualify for SUN Bucks in 2025 based on household size and income

To download a Universal Benefits Application , visit California Department of Education webpage

For additional information about SUN Bucks, visit: https://cdss.ca.gov/sun-bucks

For FAQs, visit: https://cdss.ca.gov/sun-bucks/faq

Families with inquiries about the program, or to update their address, or report a card lost or stolen, contact the SUN Bucks Customer Service Helpline at (877) 328-9677, Monday through Friday from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm.