Votre enfant peut être admissible au programme SUN Bucks de deux façons:

1. [Approbation préalable] Votre enfant est préautorisé à recevoir des prestations du programme SUN Bucks en 2024 et aucune autre mesure n'est requise pour cela s’il:

• est âgé de 5 à 18 ans et a bénéficié des prestations du programme d’aide nutritionnelle supplémentaire (SNAP ou coupons alimentaires) ou au programme d'assistance temporaire aux familles nécessiteuses (TANF ou assistance en espèces);
• est sans abri ou placé en famille d’accueil;
• a présenté une demande de repas scolaires gratuits ou à prix réduit au cours de l’année scolaire 2023-24 qui a été approuvée.

2. [Soumettre une demande pour le programme SUN Bucks]. Si votre enfant ne satisfait pas aux critères d’approbation préalable énoncés ci-dessus, vous pouvez demander à recevoir des prestations SUN Bucks dans les cas suivants:

Les étudiants préapprouvés peuvent changer d’adresse postale ou abandonner.

Si votre enfant n’est pas préapprouvé, veuillez en faire la demande.

185 % du seuil de pauvreté fédéral - Année scolaire 2023-24

No. You do not need to be a US citizen. Receiving SUN Bucks does not affect your student or your family’s immigration status.

No, receiving SUN Bucks will not affect your ability to receive other government benefits.

Eligibility for SUN Bucks is determined for each student individually, not the household. This means it is possible to have both eligible and ineligible students in your household.

Your homeschooled student is eligible for SUN Bucks if they are between 5-18 years old and received SNAP or TANF at any point between July 1, 2023 – March 22, 2024.

Yes, if they attend DC Public Schools (DCPS), a DC public charter school, or a DC private school that participates in the National School Lunch Program, and your household income is at or below 185 percent of the federal poverty level.

Yes, if your household income is at or below 185 percent of the federal poverty level and your student attends a DC private school that offers the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or School Breakfast Program (Washington Middle School for Girls, San Miguel School, Covenant of the Protestant, or Bishop John T. Walker School for Boys).

Yes, if a student is enrolled in a NSLP participating school at any time during the 2023-24 school year, they are eligible. If they do not meet the preapproval criteria above, they need to apply.

Yes, if a student is enrolled in a NSLP participating school at any time during the 2023-24 school year they are eligible. If they do not meet the preapproval criteria above, they need to apply.

Yes, participating in a summer educational program does not affect a student’s eligibility for SUN Bucks.

Yes, your student’s SUN Bucks card will be issued by DC if your student is eligible in DC. SUN Bucks cards can be used at any retailer that accepts SNAP in any state.

SNAP and SUN Bucks are different programs with different eligibility requirements. It is possible for a student to be eligible for SUN Bucks and not eligible for SNAP. You can check if your household is eligible for SNAP here. SUN Bucks can be used at retailers that accept SNAP.

Your student can receive free meals at DC Youth Meals sites between June and August. The program is open to all students age 18 and younger. There is no application, no sign-up and no ID required. You can find a site near you here or by texting “Food” to 304304. You can also find your nearest food bank here.

You can apply for SUN Bucks online at SUNBucks.dc.gov starting June 3, 2024. It takes about 15 minutes to complete. Parents and guardians can complete one application for all the eligible students in their household.

You can apply for SUNBucks.dc.gov online starting Monday, June 3, 2024. Check back here at the SUN Bucks “Apply Now” link for the application. It takes about 15 minutes to complete. Parents and guardians can complete one application for all the eligible students in their household.

The application will remain open until Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024.

The application will ask about all the members of your household, your contact information and household income. You do not need to attach any documentation.

If your student received a preapproval notice, no action is required. Your student will get a card loaded with $120 for groceries. If you’d like the card mailed to a different address or to opt out of SUN Bucks you can do so online until May 20, 2024.

Notices were sent to some students we believe are eligible for SUN Bucks based on information we have in our school records. If you received one of these notices, please follow the QR code in your letter to the opt-in form. It takes 3-5 minutes to complete. You must complete the form to receive benefits. There are many other students who are eligible who did not receive a notice; those students should apply online here.

Please submit an online application starting June 3, 2024.

It depends. Attending a CEP school does not automatically qualify you for SUN Bucks. Your student may be preapproved for SUN Bucks if they meet the preapproval criteria above. If your student did not receive a preapproval notice in the mail, then you can submit an online application starting June 3, 2024.

If your student is preapproved based on their participation in SNAP or TANF we will mail the SUN Bucks card to the address on file with the Department of Human Services.

If your student is preapproved, and you wish to opt out of SUN Bucks for summer 2024, you can fill out a short form online before May 20, 2024. If you’ve already received your card in the mail, you can simply cut it up.

It depends. Eligibility for SUN Bucks is reassessed every year. If your student meets preapproval criteria in 2025, you will not need to apply. We will provide more information about eligibility for summer 2025 in spring 2025.

To save residents time applying, DC Government securely uses data we have from District programs that share eligibility requirements with SUN Bucks. For example, if your student receives SNAP, then we already know your family’s income is within the allowable limit to receive SUN Bucks.

Your student will receive their SUN Bucks card by mail in a plain white envelope addressed from Fidelity Information Services (FIS).

No, P-EBT has ended and P-EBT cards cannot be used for other programs. For more information about P-EBT you can visit the P-EBT homepage. SUN Bucks is a new program and eligible students will receive a new EBT card in the mail pre-loaded with food benefits.

No, the SUN Bucks program requires a separate EBT card.

No, SUN Bucks EBT cards can only be mailed to eligible students. If you did not receive an EBT card in the mail you can update your address at sunbucksdc.gov to have another card reissued and mailed to you.

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The benefits will become available to spend whenever you receive the card in the mail. Unused benefits will expire approximately four months after you receive your benefits. You will receive a notification about a month before the benefits expire with the specific date so your family can plan.

Each eligible student will receive a card in their name. For example, if you have three eligible students, your household will receive three cards.

SUN Bucks can be used to purchase the same foods approved for SNAP, including fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, dairy products, breads, cereals, snacks and non-alcoholic beverages. SUN Bucks cannot be used for hot foods, pet foods, alcohol and non-food items such as cleaning supplies, personal hygiene items and medicine.

SUN Bucks are accepted at retailers authorized to accept SNAP, including most grocery stores, some farmers’ markets, corner stores and big box stores. You can use the Retail Locator to find a store near you.

Yes, you can use SUN Bucks to purchase eligible food items online for delivery to your residence at Amazon Fresh, Giant, Safeway (varies by location) and Instacart. Benefits cannot be used to pay for fees or the delivery charge.

No, you do not need to spend the $120 all at once.

Yes, we encourage you to use SUN Bucks first because SUN Bucks will expire approximately four months after you receive your benefits. DC Government will send you a notice with the date when your student’s benefits will expire.

No, your student does not need to be present when SUN Bucks are used.