The USDA has created a new summer program to help families buy groceries during the summer when kids are out of school. Maryland Department of Human Services is overseeing this program. SUN Bucks will be providing eligible school-aged children with $120 per child to help buy groceries.
Who qualifies?
- Children from households that participate in SNAP, Temporary Cash Assistance, or Medicaid.
- Children who are homeless, migrants, runaways, or foster children
- Students who are eligible for free and reduced meals based on household income..
These families will automatically qualify and will not need to do anything to receive the full benefit. Please ensure your address on file with the school system is accurate.
Who Needs to Apply?
- Those children that are enrolled at a school that offers free meals to all students through the Community Eligible Program (CEP), but do not meet direct certification eligibility will need to apply for SUN Bucks.
- To qualify, families must meet the income requirements found here.
- Paper or online applications can be accessed around June 17th at: https://mymdthink.maryland.gov/home/#/.
- Applications will be available beginning in late June. Stay tuned to our Facebook and Instagram pages as SNAP-Ed will let you know when applications are available. :
- Application will need to be submitted by August 31, 2024 to receive the 2024 summer benefits.
- For families that apply this year, they will be eligible for benefits for the summer of 2024 and 2025.
How Will I Get My Benefits?
- If you already participate in SNAP, benefits for children in your household will be uploaded to your current EBT card.
- For children who are not in a SNAP household a card will be mailed to you with benefits loaded. This card will say “Maryland SUN Bucks”. Benefits for children in the same household will be grouped onto one card.
- Hang on to your card as it will also be used to load SUN Bucks next summer too!
- $40 per month will be loaded onto the card toward the end of the month in June, July, and August. If you apply later in the summer, you will receive any benefits already issued.
Additional Information:
- SUN Bucks can be spent anywhere SNAP is accepted - look for signs at grocery stores, farm stands, and farmers markets indicating they accept SNAP/EBT! Or just ask. Use your SUN Bucks card just like a Maryland SNAP/EBT Independence card with any store or farmer that accepts SNAP.
- Use your SUN Bucks to buy MyPlate foods! Fruits and veggies, grains, proteins, and dairy. Remember that you can’t buy hot prepared foods, alcoholic beverages, or non-food items.
- SUN Bucks will only be good for 122 days, so don’t forget to spend the benefits!
- When you spend money from your regular EBT card, SUN Bucks will automatically be spent before your regular EBT benefits so they don’t expire.
Visit the Maryland Sun Bucks website for more information!!!!
