Louisiana SUN Bucks provides $120 per eligible school-age child for summer grocery purchases. The program is administered by the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) and began issuing benefits on May 27, 2026 — one of the earliest distribution dates in the country. Most eligible children are automatically enrolled. Families not automatically enrolled can apply at louisiana.summerebtapp.com by August 20, 2026.
Louisiana’s SUN Bucks also has a distinctive card policy: prior recipients keep the same card year after year, and children enrolled in the same family may receive their cards separately.
Louisiana SUN Bucks 2026 — Key Facts
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Benefit amount | $120 per eligible child (one-time payment) |
| State agency | Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) |
| Official page | ldh.la.gov/page/sun-bucks |
| Apply online | louisiana.summerebtapp.com |
| Application deadline | August 20, 2026 |
| SUN Bucks helpline | 833-323-7482 |
| EBT card replacement | 888-997-1117 or LifeInCheckEBT.com or LifeInCheck EBT app |
| Auto-enrolled issuance | May 27 – June 2, 2026 |
| Application-approved issuance | Rolling — usually within 3 weeks of approval |
| Benefits expire | 122 days from issue date; cannot be reissued after expiration |
| Card delivery | Existing SNAP EBT card for SNAP households; same card as prior years for past recipients; new preloaded card mailed in child’s name for new non-SNAP participants |
| Cards per family | Children in the same family may receive cards separately |
Louisiana’s Age Window for 2026
Louisiana defines school-age children using a specific birth date range. For 2026, children must have been born between August 20, 2007, and July 1, 2020 to meet the school-age requirement — corresponding to the compulsory school attendance age range in Louisiana law.
Who Qualifies for Louisiana SUN Bucks
Automatically Enrolled — No Application Needed
Your child does NOT need to apply if they were born between August 20, 2007 and July 1, 2020, AND received any of the following at any time between July 1, 2025 and August 20, 2026:
- SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — food stamps)
- FITAP (Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program — Louisiana’s TANF/cash assistance program)
- KCSP (Kinship Care Subsidy Program — Louisiana’s kinship/relative caregiver assistance)
- Income-based Medicaid — Medicaid with household income below 185% FPL
Your child is also automatically enrolled if they attended an NSLP or SBP school and were individually approved to receive free or reduced-price school meals and the school provides this data to LDH.
Children who newly enroll in SNAP, FITAP, KCSP, or income-based Medicaid on or before August 20, 2026 also automatically qualify for SUN Bucks on a rolling basis.
Must Apply — CEP Schools and Income-Eligible Families
CEP school families without benefits: Children who attend a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) school — where all students receive free meals — and did not receive SNAP, FITAP, KCSP, or qualifying Medicaid, and did not complete an individual NSLP/SBP application, must apply.
Income-eligible families: Even if a child doesn’t fall into an automatic enrollment category, families may still be eligible based on household income. Apply at louisiana.summerebtapp.com by August 20, 2026.
Homeschooled and virtual school students: Must receive SNAP, FITAP, KCSP, or income-based Medicaid to be eligible. Louisiana does not provide an income-based application pathway for homeschooled students outside of these programs.
Louisiana SUN Bucks Income Limits 2026
For families applying based on household income (not auto-enrolled):
| 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 |
Based on 185% FPL. Confirm exact thresholds at ldh.la.gov/page/sun-bucks.
How Louisiana Delivers SUN Bucks
Louisiana’s card delivery system has three scenarios:
SNAP households: SUN Bucks are added directly to the household’s existing SNAP EBT card.
Prior SUN Bucks recipients (non-SNAP): Families who received SUN Bucks in 2024 or 2025 will have 2026 benefits loaded onto the same card they received in prior years. Keep your prior year SUN Bucks card.
New non-SNAP participants: Children not enrolled in SNAP who are newly eligible will receive a preloaded EBT card by mail in the child’s name, arriving in a white envelope. Watch for this — the envelope may look like junk mail.
Cards may arrive separately for siblings. In Louisiana, eligible children in the same family may receive their SUN Bucks cards or deposits separately — if you have three eligible children, benefits or cards for each child may arrive on different days.
For card replacement: call 888-997-1117, visit LifeInCheckEBT.com, or use the LifeInCheck EBT app.
How to Apply for Louisiana SUN Bucks
Step 1 — Confirm Auto-Enrollment First
If your child received SNAP, FITAP, KCSP, or qualifying Medicaid between July 1, 2025 and August 20, 2026, they are automatically enrolled. Check your EBT card balance after May 27 — if $120 appeared, your child was auto-enrolled.
In 2024, over 99% of Louisiana families who received SUN Bucks were automatically enrolled without applying. If you don’t see a deposit by mid-June, move to Step 2.
Step 2 — Apply at louisiana.summerebtapp.com
Visit louisiana.summerebtapp.com and complete the online application. This is Louisiana’s dedicated SUN Bucks application portal — separate from the general LDH benefits page.
Call the SUN Bucks helpline at 833-323-7482 for assistance with the application.
Step 3 — What You’ll Need
- Child’s name, date of birth, and Louisiana school
- The school’s NSLP participation status (confirm with your child’s school)
- Household size and monthly gross income
- SNAP, FITAP, KCSP, or Medicaid case number if applicable
- Mailing address for the child’s card
Step 4 — Approval Timeline
Application-approved children receive benefits on a rolling basis, usually within three weeks of approval. All applications must be submitted by August 20, 2026 — applications after this date are considered for summer 2026.
Louisiana’s SUN Bucks Specific Programs — FITAP and KCSP
Two Louisiana-specific benefit programs qualify families for automatic SUN Bucks enrollment:
FITAP (Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program) — Louisiana’s name for TANF cash assistance. FITAP recipients are auto-enrolled in SUN Bucks alongside SNAP households.
KCSP (Kinship Care Subsidy Program) — Louisiana’s support program for grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other relative caregivers raising children in their care. Louisiana has high rates of grandparent-headed households, particularly in rural parishes. KCSP recipients are automatically enrolled in SUN Bucks — an important pathway for kinship families who may not receive SNAP.
Louisiana SNAP Candy and Soda Ban
Louisiana families should also be aware that Louisiana has received a USDA Food Restriction Waiver banning certain SNAP purchases. Louisiana’s SNAP restrictions ban candy and soft drinks — effective in 2026. The same restrictions apply to SUN Bucks benefits in Louisiana.
For the full list of restricted items, see Louisiana SNAP candy and soft drinks ban.
Where to Use Louisiana SUN Bucks
Louisiana SUN Bucks work at any authorized SNAP retailer statewide:
- Major grocery chains — Winn-Dixie, Rouses Markets, Walmart, ALDI, Piggly Wiggly, Brookshire’s (northwest Louisiana)
- Farmers’ markets that accept SNAP/EBT
- Convenience stores with SNAP authorization
- Online grocery ordering at Walmart and Amazon Fresh where EBT is accepted
Louisiana SUN Bucks follow SNAP food rules — with the added candy and soda restrictions noted above. See the full SNAP-eligible food guide for what qualifies.
Additional Resources for Louisiana Families
Louisiana SNAP: Administered by the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). Check Louisiana SNAP income limits and see how to apply for food stamps in Louisiana.
WIC: For families with a pregnant woman, breastfeeding mother, or child under 5. Check WIC income guidelines for Louisiana.
SUN Meals / SFSP: Free hot meals for all children 18 and under. Use the USDA SUN Programs site finder at fns.usda.gov/summer/sitefinder or dial 211.
LIHEAP: Louisiana SNAP households automatically meet LIHEAP income requirements for energy assistance. Louisiana summers are among the hottest in the country — cooling assistance is significant. See the LIHEAP energy assistance guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who qualifies for Louisiana SUN Bucks?
Children born between August 20, 2007 and July 1, 2020 who received SNAP, FITAP, KCSP, or income-based Medicaid between July 1, 2025 and August 20, 2026 are automatically enrolled. Children individually approved for free or reduced-price school meals through NSLP/SBP are also auto-enrolled. CEP school families without those benefits, and income-eligible families generally, must apply at louisiana.summerebtapp.com by August 20, 2026.
When did Louisiana SUN Bucks start issuing in 2026?
Louisiana began issuing SUN Bucks for auto-enrolled children on May 27, 2026, with all auto-enrolled benefits expected by June 2. Louisiana is one of the earliest-distributing states in the country.
Do I need to apply if I received SUN Bucks last year?
Not if you’re still enrolled in SNAP, FITAP, KCSP, or qualifying Medicaid. Your 2026 benefits will load to the same card as 2024 or 2025. If you no longer receive those programs, apply at louisiana.summerebtapp.com.
Can homeschooled children get Louisiana SUN Bucks?
Only if the household receives SNAP, FITAP, KCSP, or income-based Medicaid. Louisiana does not offer an income-based application pathway for homeschooled children outside of those programs.
My child attends a CEP school — do they automatically qualify?
Not automatically if they didn’t receive SNAP, FITAP, KCSP, or qualifying Medicaid. CEP school families without those programs need to apply at louisiana.summerebtapp.com.
What are FITAP and KCSP?
FITAP (Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program) is Louisiana’s TANF/cash assistance program. KCSP (Kinship Care Subsidy Program) is Louisiana’s support for relative caregivers — grandparents and other kin raising children. Both programs auto-qualify children for SUN Bucks.
For the national Summer EBT overview, see the SUN Bucks program guide. To check your Louisiana SNAP eligibility, use the food assistance eligibility estimator.