Maine SUN Bucks provides $120 per eligible school-age child for summer grocery purchases. The program is administered by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) through the Office for Family Independence (OFI). Families who are automatically enrolled — called “streamline certified” in Maine — will receive a notification letter and benefits between June 1 and June 15, 2026. Families not automatically enrolled can apply by August 15, 2026 through the OFI website.
Maine’s SUN Bucks stands out for its Pine Tree EBT card — issued to new participants who don’t already have a Maine EBT card — and for the Maine Harvest Bucks program, which allows families to double their SUN Bucks at participating farmers’ markets, farm stands, and co-ops across the state.
Maine SUN Bucks 2026 — Key Facts
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Benefit amount | $120 per eligible student (one-time payment) |
| State agency | Maine DHHS, Office for Family Independence (OFI) |
| Official page | maine.gov/dhhs/ofi/programs-services/food-supplement/sun_bucks |
| Apply | maine.gov/dhhs/ofi/programs-services/food-supplement |
| Application deadline | August 15, 2026 |
| Auto-enrolled issuance | June 1 – June 15, 2026 |
| New info after June 15 | Benefits within 15 days of automatic enrollment |
| Application-approved issuance | End of the month application was approved |
| EBT card name | Pine Tree EBT card (Maine’s branded EBT card) |
| EBT card replacement | Maine EBT Online Portal or 1-800-477-7428 |
| Benefits expire | 122 days from issue date |
| Card activation | New cards must be activated within 45 days of receipt |
| Opt-out option | Families may opt out by checking the box on the enrollment letter and mailing to OFI |
Who Qualifies for Maine SUN Bucks
Maine uses ages 6 to 16 for its automatic enrollment pathway — narrower than many other states in this series.
Streamline Certified (Auto-Enrolled) — No Application Needed
Your student will be automatically enrolled (“streamline certified”) if they are:
Ages 6–16 and part of a household that already participates in:
- SNAP (Food Supplement Program — Maine’s name for SNAP)
- TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families)
- FDPIR (Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations)
- MaineCare (Maine’s Medicaid program) — at or below 185% FPL only
- Identified as foster, homeless, or migrant by OFI or the Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS)
Any age — approved for free or reduced-price school meals: Students of any age attending an NSLP or SBP school who were approved for free or reduced-price meals through a school meal application are automatically enrolled, regardless of the 6–16 age restriction.
Automatically enrolled families will receive a notification letter in late spring and benefits between June 1 and June 15, 2026.
No notification letter by mid-June? Apply manually if your child attends an NSLP or SBP school and the household meets income eligibility guidelines.
Must Apply — If Not Streamline Certified
Families who did not receive an enrollment letter and believe their child may be eligible should apply if:
- Their child attends an NSLP or SBP school
- The household meets income requirements for free or reduced-price school meals (185% FPL)
Apply at maine.gov/dhhs/ofi/programs-services/food-supplement beginning June 1.
Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) Schools
Students at CEP schools who are not part of a household that receives SNAP, FDPIR, TANF, or qualifying MaineCare, and are not identified as foster, homeless, or migrant, will need to apply through OFI.
Maine SUN Bucks Income Limits 2026
For families applying based on household income:
| 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 thresholds at maine.gov/dhhs/ofi.
Maine’s Pine Tree EBT Card
Maine has a distinctive branded EBT card called the Pine Tree EBT card — issued to all Maine EBT cardholders including SUN Bucks recipients who don’t already have a Maine EBT card.
If you already have a Pine Tree EBT card (from SNAP or a prior year of SUN Bucks): your 2026 SUN Bucks benefit will be added directly to that card.
If you have never had a Maine EBT card: A new Pine Tree EBT card will be issued for your eligible child and mailed to your address on file. New cards must be activated within 45 days of receipt.
Important: New cards in prior years were sometimes mailed without a benefit attached, with the SUN Bucks balance loaded shortly after arrival. Check your card balance rather than assuming an unactivated card is empty.
To replace a lost Pine Tree EBT card: visit the Maine EBT Online Portal or call 1-800-477-7428.
Maine Harvest Bucks — Double Your SUN Bucks at Farmers’ Markets
Maine has an exceptional program that doubles the value of SNAP and SUN Bucks spending on fresh fruits and vegetables:
Maine Harvest Bucks — and its partner programs Farm Fresh Rewards — match your SUN Bucks spending dollar-for-dollar on fresh produce at participating farmers’ markets, farm stands, and food co-ops across Maine.
This means a family spending their $120 in SUN Bucks on fresh produce at a participating market effectively gets $240 in fresh fruits and vegetables. Maine Harvest Bucks is administered by Full Plates Full Potential and operated through the Maine Farmland Trust.
Find participating markets at maineharvest bucks.org or through the Maine DOE summer food information page.
This program is unique to Maine in this series — no other state covered so far has an equivalent match program that directly doubles SUN Bucks value.
When Do Maine SUN Bucks Benefits Arrive?
- Streamline-certified (auto-enrolled) students: Benefits issued June 1–15, 2026
- New automatic enrollments after June 15: Benefits within 15 days of enrollment
- Application-approved students: Benefits at the end of the month in which the application is approved
The application deadline is August 15, 2026. Applications received after August 15 will not be considered for 2026 benefits.
Opting Out of Maine SUN Bucks
Maine is the only state in this series that explicitly provides an opt-out mechanism. Families who do not wish to receive SUN Bucks can check the opt-out box on their enrollment letter and mail it to:
Maine DHHS, Office for Family Independence, SUN Bucks Program 114 Corn Shop Ln, Farmington, ME 04938
This is rarely used but worth knowing — it ensures families know participation is not mandatory.
Where to Use Maine SUN Bucks
Maine SUN Bucks work at any authorized SNAP retailer statewide:
- Major grocery chains — Hannaford (headquartered in Scarborough, ME), Shaw’s, Walmart, Market Basket, Reny’s
- Farmers’ markets that accept SNAP/EBT — Maine has extensive farmers’ market participation; use Maine Harvest Bucks here to double your value
- Food co-ops — Whole Foods Co-op (Bangor), Belfast Co-op, and others
- Convenience stores with SNAP authorization
- Online grocery ordering at Walmart and Amazon Fresh where EBT is accepted
Maine SUN Bucks follow SNAP food rules — eligible for most groceries, plus seeds and seedlings that produce food (an important provision for Maine’s active home gardening community). Not for hot prepared food, alcohol, tobacco, or non-food items.
Additional Resources for Maine Families
Maine SNAP (Food Supplement Program): Apply through OFI at maine.gov/dhhs/ofi or call Maine’s SNAP line. Check Maine SNAP income limits and see how to apply for food stamps in Maine.
WIC: For families with a pregnant woman, breastfeeding mother, or child under 5. Check Maine WIC income eligibility.
SUN Meals / SFSP: Free hot meals for all children 18 and under at community sites. Text “Summer Meals” to (914) 342-7744 or visit maine.gov/doe/hotlunchsummer. Many Maine rural communities offer SUN Meals To-Go pickup or delivery.
LIHEAP: Maine SNAP households automatically meet LIHEAP income requirements. Maine winters are harsh and LIHEAP heating assistance is particularly significant. See the LIHEAP application overview.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who qualifies for Maine SUN Bucks?
Children ages 6–16 in households receiving SNAP, TANF, FDPIR, or qualifying MaineCare (at 185% FPL or below), or identified as foster, homeless, or migrant, are automatically enrolled. Students of any age who were approved for free or reduced-price school meals through their NSLP school are also auto-enrolled. Others may apply by August 15 if the household meets income guidelines.
What is the Pine Tree EBT card?
The Pine Tree EBT card is Maine’s branded name for its EBT card — the same card used for SNAP, TANF, and SUN Bucks benefits in Maine. New SUN Bucks participants who don’t already have a Maine EBT card receive a new Pine Tree card by mail, which must be activated within 45 days.
When do Maine SUN Bucks benefits arrive?
Auto-enrolled students receive benefits June 1–15, 2026. Application-approved students receive benefits at the end of the month their application is approved. The application deadline is August 15.
Can I double my SUN Bucks at a farmers’ market?
Yes — Maine’s Harvest Bucks program matches SUN Bucks spending dollar-for-dollar on fresh produce at participating farmers’ markets, farm stands, and co-ops across Maine. This is one of the best ways to maximize the $120 SUN Bucks benefit.
Does MaineCare qualify for SUN Bucks?
Only income-based MaineCare at or below 185% FPL qualifies for automatic enrollment. Other MaineCare programs may not qualify for automatic enrollment — apply if you’re unsure.
For the complete Summer EBT national overview, see the SUN Bucks program guide. To check your Maine SNAP eligibility, use the food stamp eligibility calculator.