Massachusetts SUN Bucks provides $120 per eligible school-age child for summer groceries, issued as a single payment on a dedicated SUN Bucks EBT card — separate from your SNAP EBT card. The program is administered by the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) in partnership with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).
Most eligible families are automatically enrolled by DTA. Others can apply at DTAConnect.com or by paper application. Benefits for 2026 are expected in early June.
Massachusetts stands out for its DTA-centered administration — the same agency that manages SNAP (called the “food assistance program” in Massachusetts) and cash benefits centrally processes SUN Bucks, and all recipients — including current SNAP/DTA clients — receive a separate SUN Bucks card rather than having benefits added to an existing card.
Massachusetts SUN Bucks 2026 — Key Facts
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Benefit amount | $120 per eligible child (one-time payment, equivalent to $40/month for 3 months) |
| State agency | Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) + DESE |
| Official page | mass.gov/massachusetts-sun-bucks-program |
| Apply online | DTAConnect.com |
| Mail application to | PB – SUN Bucks, P.O. Box 405, East Boston, MA 02128 |
| DTA/SUN Bucks phone | (855) 425-8770 |
| Card replacement | DTAConnect.com or (855) 425-8770 |
| Address update (DTA clients) | DTA Connect app or your DTA case manager |
| Address update (non-DTA clients) | DTAConnect.com or (855) 425-8770 |
| Benefits issued | Early June 2026 |
| Card delivery | Dedicated SUN Bucks EBT card (separate from SNAP) for all recipients |
| Returning recipients | Same card as [current_year-1] |
| New recipients | New SUN Bucks card mailed Spring 2026 |
| Benefits expire | 122 days from issue date |
| DTA Connect | Massachusetts’s benefits management platform; used for applications, address updates, case management |
Massachusetts’s Unique Card Policy — Everyone Gets a Separate SUN Bucks Card
Unlike most other states in this series, Massachusetts does not add SUN Bucks to your existing SNAP EBT card — even if you are a current SNAP/DTA client. All SUN Bucks recipients receive a dedicated SUN Bucks EBT card, separate from any other benefits.
This means:
- Current SNAP recipients receive both their regular SNAP EBT card and a separate SUN Bucks card
- The SUN Bucks card is in the name of the parent or guardian who completed the application (or for MassHealth/foster care recipients, the head of the household or the student)
- All eligible children in a household receive benefits on a single SUN Bucks card — not individual cards per child
- If you received SUN Bucks in [current_year-1], your 2026 benefits load to the same card
- New recipients receive a new SUN Bucks card by mail in Spring 2026
To activate your SUN Bucks card, you’ll need your DTA case number (beginning with the numbers 8 and 0) from your approval notice, and the birthday of the person whose name is on the card. For foster care students, use the student’s birthday.
Who Qualifies for Massachusetts SUN Bucks
Massachusetts uses ages 6 to 16 for the categorical (DTA program) auto-enrollment pathway.
Automatically Enrolled — No Application Needed
Your child is automatically enrolled by DTA if, during the 2025–2026 school year (starting July 1, 2025):
Ages 6–16 and received any of the following:
- SNAP (Massachusetts food assistance benefits through DTA)
- DTA cash benefits (Massachusetts TANF/cash assistance)
- SSI with a relative caregiver
- Certain types of MassHealth (Massachusetts Medicaid) — not all MassHealth programs qualify
- Foster care
Note: Children ages 6–16 receiving these benefits are eligible even if they do not attend an NSLP/SBP school.
Any age — approved for NSLP/SBP through an application: Students of any age at an NSLP or SBP participating school who were approved for free or reduced-price meals during 2025–2026 are also automatically enrolled.
Must Apply — If Not Auto-Enrolled
Families not automatically enrolled can apply if the student:
- Attends an NSLP or SBP participating school
- The household meets the income limits for school meals (185% FPL)
Apply at DTAConnect.com or mail a paper application (available in English, Simplified Chinese, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Spanish, and Vietnamese) to: PB – SUN Bucks, P.O. Box 405, East Boston, MA 02128.
Massachusetts SUN Bucks Income Limits 2026
Massachusetts uses two separate income tables — one for applications received before July 1, 2026 and one for applications received on or after July 1, 2026 (reflecting annual FPL updates). The figures below reflect the post-July 1 2026 income limits (the most current):
| Household Size | Annual Gross Income Limit |
|---|---|
| 2 | $39,128 |
| 3 | $49,303 |
| 4 | $59,478 |
| 5 | $69,653 |
| 6 | $79,828 |
| 7 | $90,003 |
| 8 | $100,178 |
Annual figures from the official 2026 Massachusetts SUN Bucks paper application. Confirm current thresholds at mass.gov/sunbucks.
Note: Massachusetts lists income limits starting at household size 2 in its official application — households of 1 are uncommon in the school-age context. For household size 1, apply and confirm directly with DTA.
How to Apply for Massachusetts SUN Bucks
Step 1 — Confirm Auto-Enrollment
If your household receives SNAP, DTA cash benefits, SSI (with relative caregiver), qualifying MassHealth, or your child is in foster care, you are automatically enrolled. Watch for your SUN Bucks card by mail in Spring 2026 (new recipients) or check your [current_year-1] card balance in early June (returning recipients).
Step 2 — Apply at DTAConnect.com or by Paper
If not auto-enrolled:
- Online: Visit DTAConnect.com — Massachusetts’s benefits management platform — and follow the SUN Bucks application steps
- Paper: Download the application from mass.gov/sunbucks (available in 6 languages) and mail to: PB – SUN Bucks, P.O. Box 405, East Boston, MA 02128
- Paper applications should also be available through your child’s school
Step 3 — What You’ll Need
- Child’s name, date of birth, and Massachusetts school
- School’s NSLP/SBP participation status
- Household size and total annual gross income
- DTA case number (if applicable, begins with 8 and 0)
Step 4 — Decision Notice
You will receive a confirmation letter, text message, and email when DTA receives your application. A separate decision notice is sent before the end of the school year. Clients whose applications are initially denied may be subsequently approved after an appeal or if they provide missing verification.
Step 5 — Application Deadline
Applications must be received by the last day of the summer period for the 2026 school year, as determined by DESE. In 2025, the summer period ran through September 1 — confirm the exact 2026 deadline at mass.gov/sunbucks.
When Do Massachusetts SUN Bucks Benefits Arrive?
Returning recipients (SUN Bucks in [current_year-1]): Benefits loaded to the same card in early June 2026.
New recipients: A new SUN Bucks card mailed in Spring 2026; benefits loaded in early June.
Application-approved: Benefits issued on a rolling basis as applications are processed. UMass staff and DTA eligibility staff can approve previously denied applications.
Unique Massachusetts Features
DTA-centered administration: Unlike most states where Summer EBT is split between an education department and a social services agency, Massachusetts has DTA as the primary lead agency, with DESE as a partner. DTA’s existing relationships with SNAP and cash assistance clients streamline auto-enrollment significantly.
DTA Connect platform: Massachusetts uses DTA Connect (DTAConnect.com) as its all-in-one platform for SNAP, cash assistance, SUN Bucks applications, card management, and address updates. DTA Connect is also available as a mobile app.
Multilingual paper applications: Massachusetts SUN Bucks paper applications are available in English, Simplified Chinese, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Spanish, and Vietnamese — reflecting Massachusetts’s significant immigrant communities, particularly in Boston, Lowell, Worcester, and New Bedford.
UMass staff approval authority: UMass Extension and DTA eligibility staff both have authority to approve previously denied SUN Bucks applications — an unusual dual-approval pathway.
Summer period determined by DESE: Massachusetts’s summer benefit period is set annually by DESE based on school calendars, not a fixed federal window.
Where to Use Massachusetts SUN Bucks
Massachusetts SUN Bucks work at any authorized SNAP retailer statewide:
- Major grocery chains — Stop & Shop, Market Basket, Hannaford, Shaw’s, Big Y, Whole Foods, Star Market, Trader Joe’s, DeMoulas Market Basket
- Farmers’ markets that accept SNAP/EBT across Massachusetts
- Convenience stores with SNAP authorization
- Online grocery ordering at Walmart and Amazon Fresh where EBT is accepted
Massachusetts SUN Bucks follow SNAP food rules — eligible for most groceries; not for hot food, alcohol, tobacco, vitamins, or non-food items.
Additional Resources for Massachusetts Families
Massachusetts SNAP: Apply through DTA at DTAConnect.com or call (877) 382-2363. Check Massachusetts SNAP income limits and see how to apply for food stamps in Massachusetts.
WIC: For families with a pregnant woman, breastfeeding mother, or child under 5. Check Massachusetts WIC income guidelines.
Summer Eats (SFSP): Free hot meals for all children 18 and under at community sites — called “Summer Eats” in Massachusetts (the state’s rebranding of SUN Meals/SFSP). Dial 211 or visit mass.gov for Summer Eats site locations.
LIHEAP: Massachusetts SNAP households automatically meet LIHEAP income requirements for heating and cooling assistance. See applying for LIHEAP energy assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who qualifies for Massachusetts SUN Bucks?
Children ages 6–16 who received SNAP, DTA cash benefits, qualifying MassHealth, SSI with a relative caregiver, or were in foster care during the 2025–2026 school year are automatically enrolled. Students of any age approved for free or reduced-price meals at NSLP/SBP schools are also auto-enrolled. Others may apply at DTAConnect.com if the household meets the income limits.
Does Massachusetts SUN Bucks go on my SNAP card?
No — Massachusetts issues all SUN Bucks benefits on a separate SUN Bucks EBT card, even for current SNAP/DTA clients. You will receive a SUN Bucks card in addition to your regular SNAP EBT card.
What card do I use to activate my SUN Bucks?
To activate or PIN your SUN Bucks card, you need your DTA case number (beginning with 8 and 0) from your approval notice and the birthday of the person whose name is on the card. See mass.gov/sunbucks for activation instructions.
When do Massachusetts SUN Bucks benefits arrive?
Benefits for 2026 are expected in early June for auto-enrolled families. New recipients receive their card by mail in Spring 2026. Returning recipients see benefits loaded to the same [current_year-1] card.
Does Massachusetts SUN Bucks apply to my MassHealth?
Only certain types of MassHealth qualify for auto-enrollment — not all MassHealth programs. If you’re unsure whether your MassHealth type qualifies, call DTA at (855) 425-8770 or check mass.gov/sunbucks.
For the complete Summer EBT national overview, see the SUN Bucks program guide. To check your Massachusetts SNAP eligibility, use the food assistance eligibility estimator.