Summer is a time when many Pennsylvania children may not have access to the free and reduced-price meals they get during the school year, and families might need a little extra help putting food on the table. SUN Bucks is a federal program that provides eligible children and families with a SNAP-like benefit to purchase food for the summer months when school is not in session. SUN Bucks provides a one-time payment of $40 per summer month ($120 total) per eligible child. Most eligible children will receive the benefit automatically and do not need to apply. Children are automatically eligible for SUN Bucks if:
- Their family already qualifies for SNAP or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF),
- Their family qualifies for Medicaid with qualifying income for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), or
- They applied for and are eligible to receive free or reduced-price school meals.
Households that need to apply to receive SUN Bucks benefits for Summer 2026 can find the online application and application forms on the SUN Bucks webpage. Families can use the SUN Bucks Eligibility Navigator to see if they need to complete an application. The deadline to apply for Summer 2026 SUN Bucks benefits is August 31, 2026. Applications received after this date will be considered for SUN Bucks 2027 next summer.