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More than 577,000 Washington children are expected to receive SUN Bucks this summer, providing a one-time $120 benefit to help families buy food while school is out of session.
The federally funded Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer program, administered by the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services in partnership with the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, will begin distributing benefits on new SUN Bucks cards in early June. More than 550,000 Washington children received the benefit last summer.
“Combined with our summer meal programs, SUN Bucks helps ensure students continue to access food during the summer months when they are not in school,” State Superintendent Chris Reykdal said in a news release.
Some children qualify automatically, including those in households receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families benefits and eligible students who receive free or reduced-price school meals.
Other families may apply if they meet income requirements and their child attends a school participating in the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program and is directly certified for free or reduced-price school meals or meets income requirements reported through a Child Nutrition and Eligibility and Education Benefit Application.
Parents and guardians of students who do not qualify automatically can apply by submitting a SUN Bucks application. To qualify for SUN Bucks by application, students must both:
- Be enrolled at a school that participates in the NSLP or SBP.
- Live in a household that meets NSLP Income Eligibility Guidelines to qualify for free or reduced-price meals.
Applications for summer 2026 benefits must be received by Sept. 4.
In addition to SUN Bucks, families can access free meals through summer nutrition programs, including SUN Meals and SUN Meals to Go.
For information about SUN Bucks eligibility or applications, families can contact the SUN Bucks Contact Center at 833-543-3230.
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