California families are starting to find some very welcome mail: SUN Bucks EBT cards loaded with $120 per eligible child to help cover summer grocery runs while school is out. The benefit is structured as $40 for each of June, July and August, and state officials say most eligible children are being enrolled automatically. Families whose kids are not automatically enrolled can still get in on it by applying through their school before the summer deadline.
In a press release via the Governor of California, Gov. Gavin Newsom and the California Department of Social Services announced that SUN Bucks cards are now in the mail and that the state expects the program to reach more than 3.5 million children in 2026. CDSS Director Jennifer Troia said the program has already helped families make hundreds of millions of dollars in food purchases, and the governor’s office framed the rollout as an effort to “connect eligible families with access to nutritious foods.”
How SUN Bucks cards arrive
According to the California Department of Social Services, cards are being mailed in two stages. Streamlined, automatically enrolled children are getting Stage 1 mailings from late May through July, sent out in alphabetical waves. Newly enrolled children will see Stage 2 mailings beginning in late July. Every SUN Bucks card arrives preloaded with the full $120 benefit, and the department recommends that families set up a PIN using the free ebtEDGE app as soon as the card lands in the mailbox. For the full mailing schedule and step-by-step instructions, CDSS directs families to its SUN Bucks guidance.
Who qualifies and how to apply
The governor's office says most children are automatically enrolled if they qualify for free or reduced-price school meals or receive CalFresh, CalWORKs, or Medi‑Cal, as long as they are certified at or below 185 percent of the federal poverty level. Schools can also flag students in foster care, experiencing homelessness or in migrant families. For kids who are not automatically enrolled, families must submit a school meal application or a Universal Benefits Application to their child’s school by August 31 to receive SUN Bucks for the summer. Local districts and county human services offices can help parents confirm eligibility and make sure mailing addresses are current.
What you can buy and how long funds last
The California Department of Social Services notes that SUN Bucks work much like a debit card and can be used at most grocery stores, farmers markets and approved online retailers. The funds cannot be spent on hot prepared foods, pet food, household goods or medicine. The department also warns that benefits must be used within 122 days from the date they are loaded on the card. Any remaining funds after that will expire and cannot be replaced. Families are urged to set up a PIN and check balances using the ebtEDGE app or the California EBT cardholder website so they can keep track of what is left.
Local help and outreach
Food banks and county social service agencies are urging families to double-check addresses with schools and county offices so cards do not go astray, and many have posted SUN Bucks flyers and explainers for parents. The California Association of Food Banks has a toolkit and FAQs that walk through eligibility and encourage families to submit a Universal Benefits Application if they believe they qualify but have not received a card. For county-specific details and the SUN Bucks helpline number, families are directed to their county human services page. For example, San Mateo County has posted a detailed FAQ and lists the helpline at (877) 328‑9677.
