SNAP Beneficiaries with School-Age Children to Receive Extra $120 from SUN Bucks Program
According to the report Newsweek, families with school-age children who get SNAP benefits might receive an extra $120 this month to help with grocery costs. This extra money comes from the SUN Bucks program, which helps during the summer months when children don’t get free meals from school. The benefits are added to electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards that can be used in grocery and general stores.
The SUN Bucks program is paid for by the federal government and managed by state and local authorities. Families can get this help if they already receive benefits like SNAP, the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. Families with children who go to schools offering free or reduced-price meals can also get this benefit. Most families will get the extra money automatically, but some may need to apply through their state provider.
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SUN Bucks Payments Distributed in August Across Multiple States, But 12 States Opt Out
This month, states like California, Connecticut, Illinois, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, and Virginia will give out SUN Bucks payments. More than 30 states, Washington, D.C., some tribal nations, and U.S. territories like American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands are part of the program. However, 12 states, including Alabama, Florida, and Texas, are not participating. Some states chose not to join because they have other summer feeding programs or disagree with continuing aid from the coronavirus pandemic. The SUN Bucks program started in March 2020 and became permanent in 2024.