California SUN Bucks provides $120 per eligible child to purchase groceries during the summer when school meals are unavailable. For 2026, more than 3.5 million eligible children in California will be automatically enrolled — the largest SUN Bucks program in the nation. The program is administered by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) in partnership with the California Department of Education (CDE).
Families who receive CalFresh, CalWORKs, or qualifying Medi-Cal are automatically enrolled. Families who don’t receive those benefits may apply at their child’s school by August 31, 2026.
California SUN Bucks 2026 — Key Facts
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Benefit amount | $120 per eligible child (one-time payment) |
| Who administers it | California CDSS + California Department of Education |
| Auto-enrolled children | 3.5 million+ in 2026 |
| Application deadline | August 31, 2026 |
| Where to apply | At your child’s school (school meal application or Universal Benefits Application) |
| SUN Bucks Helpline | (877) 328-9677 (multilingual; 24/7 automated; live agents M–F 6 AM–8 PM) |
| Card delivery | Mailed by CDSS; auto-enrolled children receive cards beginning late May |
| Benefits expire | 122 days from issue date |
| California SNAP name | CalFresh |
Who Qualifies for California SUN Bucks
California uses two pathways to qualify children: streamlined certification (automatic enrollment) and application.
Pathway 1 — Streamlined Certification (Auto-Enrolled)
Your child is automatically enrolled — called “streamlined certification” in California — without any action needed if they meet one of the following:
Ages 6–18 and household receives:
- CalFresh (California’s SNAP/food stamps program)
- CalWORKs (California’s TANF program)
- Medi-Cal certified at or below 185% FPL — important: children who receive Medi-Cal where household income is above 185% FPL are NOT automatically eligible and must apply
Also auto-enrolled regardless of income-based benefits:
- Children identified as in foster care
- Children identified as experiencing homelessness
- Children who are migrant farmworker family members
- Children enrolled in Head Start
Automatically enrolled families should receive a SUN Bucks EBT card in the mail from CDSS by July 31, 2026. Cards for auto-enrolled children begin arriving in late May 2026.
Check your CalFresh balance to confirm your CalFresh enrollment is active before cards are mailed.
Pathway 2 — Application (School-Based)
If your child is not auto-enrolled through the above pathways, they may still qualify for SUN Bucks if:
- They are ages 0–22 years old
- They attend a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or School Breakfast Program (SBP)
- The household qualifies for free or reduced-price school meals (income at or below 185% FPL)
To apply: ask your child’s school for a school meal application or Universal Benefits Application (UBA) and submit it by August 31, 2026.
Applications received after August 31, 2026 will be considered for [next_year] SUN Bucks, not 2026.
California SUN Bucks Income Limits 2026
For families applying through the school-based pathway (not auto-enrolled through CalFresh/CalWORKs/Medi-Cal), household income must be at or below 185% of the Federal Poverty Level — the same threshold used for free and reduced-price school meals:
| Household Size | Monthly Gross Income Limit | Annual Gross Income Limit |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2,248 | $26,973 |
| 2 | $3,041 | $36,482 |
| 3 | $3,834 | $46,006 |
| 4 | $4,628 | $55,530 |
| 5 | $5,421 | $65,052 |
| 6 | $6,214 | $74,574 |
| 7 | $7,008 | $84,098 |
| 8 | $7,801 | $93,608 |
| Each additional | +$794/month | +$9,524/year |
Medi-Cal note: If your household receives Medi-Cal but your income is above 185% FPL, your child is not automatically eligible. You must apply through your child’s school to verify income-based eligibility.
How to Apply for California SUN Bucks
For Auto-Enrolled Families — No Action Required
If your household receives CalFresh, CalWORKs, or qualifying Medi-Cal, your children are automatically enrolled. A SUN Bucks card will be mailed to the address on file with your school district. Update your address with your child’s school and your county social services office to ensure the card reaches you.
For Families Who Need to Apply
Step 1 — Contact your child’s school Ask the front office or nutrition services staff for a school meal application or Universal Benefits Application (UBA). These are available at the school directly — there is no statewide online application portal for income-based applicants.
Step 2 — Complete the application You will need:
- Names and dates of birth of all children in the household
- Names of all household members
- Income information for all household members
- CalFresh, CalWORKs, TANF, or FDPIR case numbers if applicable
Step 3 — Submit to the school by August 31, 2026 Submit the completed application directly to your child’s school by August 31, 2026. Applications submitted after this date will be considered for 2026 benefits only if they can be processed before the program closes — otherwise they roll to [next_year].
Step 4 — Watch for your SUN Bucks card If approved, a California SUN Bucks EBT card will be mailed to you from CDSS. The card will be mailed to the address on file with your child’s school district.
When Do California SUN Bucks Benefits Arrive?
Stage 1 (auto-enrolled children): Cards begin arriving in late May 2026, distributed through July 2026. California distributes cards in two stages — Stage 1 covers automatically enrolled children.
Stage 2 (newly eligible/application-based): Children approved through school applications receive cards starting in September 2026.
California distributes more than 3.5 million SUN Bucks cards — distribution is staggered and may take several weeks for all cards to arrive. In prior years, cards were mailed in alphabetical order by child’s last name.
Card Delivery and Replacement
California SUN Bucks benefits are loaded onto a new SUN Bucks EBT card mailed from CDSS — they are not added to your existing CalFresh EBT card.
If your card doesn’t arrive: Call the SUN Bucks Helpline at (877) 328-9677. Live agents are available Monday–Friday 6 AM–8 PM. Automated support is available 24/7.
To replace a lost or damaged card: Call (877) 328-9677 to request a replacement card from CDSS.
To check your SUN Bucks balance: Call (877) 328-9677, visit the California EBT cardholder website at ebt.ca.gov, or check your balance at the grocery store register.
For card activation steps, see how to activate your SUN Bucks card.
Where to Use California SUN Bucks
California SUN Bucks work like a standard SNAP EBT card at any authorized SNAP retailer in California:
- Major grocery chains — Vons, Ralphs, Safeway, Albertsons, Food 4 Less, Walmart, Target, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, 99 Ranch Market, Northgate González Market
- Farmers’ markets that accept SNAP/EBT (very common throughout California)
- Online grocery ordering at Walmart and Amazon Fresh
- Convenience stores with SNAP authorization
California SUN Bucks follow CalFresh food rules — eligible for most SNAP-eligible groceries; not for hot prepared foods, alcohol, tobacco, vitamins, or non-food items.
California also participates in the SNAP Restaurant Meals Program (RMP) statewide, which allows elderly, disabled, and homeless CalFresh recipients to use EBT at authorized restaurants. SUN Bucks are grocery benefits and are separate from the RMP. See restaurants that accept EBT in California for RMP details.
Important: Impact of H.R. 1 (One Big Beautiful Bill) on CalFresh in 2026
A significant change to CalFresh took effect in 2026 under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act:
- Lawfully present immigrants: The law eliminated CalFresh eligibility for most lawfully present immigrants. Current recipients who are non-citizens should renew before their deadline to protect their benefits.
- Work requirements: More CalFresh recipients are now subject to work requirements.
Participation in SUN Bucks does not affect immigration status. Receiving SUN Bucks will not count against any immigration determination. This is confirmed by the California Governor’s office.
Does California SUN Bucks Affect Other Benefits?
No — participation in SUN Bucks will have no bearing on eligibility for CalFresh or any other public benefit program. It does not affect immigration status. Children who receive SUN Bucks may still participate in other summer meal options such as SUN Meals (free hot meals at community sites). These are two separate, stackable programs.
Additional Resources for California Families
CalFresh (SNAP) — California’s food stamp program. Check eligibility with the food stamp benefits tool or see how to check your CalFresh application status. Apply through your county social services or at BenefitsCal.com.
WIC — For families with a pregnant woman, breastfeeding mother, or child under 5. Check California WIC income guidelines.
SUN Meals — Free hot meals for all children 18 and under at community sites throughout California. No application or EBT card required. Find locations at fns.usda.gov/meals/find-sites or dial 211.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who qualifies for California SUN Bucks?
Children ages 6–18 whose household receives CalFresh, CalWORKs, or qualifying Medi-Cal (at or below 185% FPL) are automatically enrolled. Children in foster care, experiencing homelessness, in Head Start, or in migrant families are also auto-enrolled. Children ages 0–22 who don’t receive those benefits may qualify if their school certifies them for free or reduced-price meals based on household income.
Do I need to apply for California SUN Bucks?
Only if your child is not automatically enrolled. If your household receives CalFresh, CalWORKs, or qualifying Medi-Cal, a card will be mailed automatically. If your child doesn’t qualify through those programs, contact your child’s school for a school meal application or Universal Benefits Application by August 31, 2026.
When do California SUN Bucks cards arrive?
Auto-enrolled children receive cards beginning in late May 2026 through July. Application-based approvals are distributed beginning in September. If you haven’t received a card by July 31 and believe your child is auto-enrolled, call (877) 328-9677.
How do I replace a lost California SUN Bucks card?
Call the SUN Bucks Helpline at (877) 328-9677. Live agents are available Monday–Friday 6 AM–8 PM. Automated support is available 24/7.
Does California SUN Bucks go on my CalFresh card?
No — California SUN Bucks benefits are loaded onto a separate SUN Bucks EBT card, not your existing CalFresh EBT card.
Will my child get SUN Bucks if they have Medi-Cal but our income is above 185% FPL?
No — children with Medi-Cal where household income is above 185% FPL are not automatically eligible. You must apply through your child’s school to determine income-based eligibility.
For the complete Summer EBT program overview and all participating states, see the Summer EBT program overview. To check your CalFresh eligibility, use the EBT eligibility checker.