Minnesota SUN Bucks provides $120 per eligible school-age child for summer grocery purchases. The program is administered jointly by the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) and the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE).
Minnesota expects the program to reduce food insecurity for more than 450,000 Minnesotan children in 2026. Most eligible children are automatically enrolled; others apply directly with MDE by August 31, 2026.
Minnesota issues a dedicated SUN Bucks EBT card per child — cards are mailed late May through September 2026. Families should keep the card after summer as it will be reused in future years.
Minnesota SUN Bucks 2026 — Key Facts
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Benefit amount | $120 per eligible child (one-time payment; equivalent to $40/month June–August) |
| State agencies | Minnesota DCYF + Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) |
| Official DCYF page | dcyf.mn.gov/sun-bucks |
| Official MDE page | education.mn.gov/MDE/dse/datasub/sebt |
| Apply (non-auto-enrolled) | MDE online application or paper to: 400 Stinson Blvd NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413 |
| Apply by email | SUNBucks.MDE@state.mn.us (questions only — not for submitting private student info) |
| Application deadline | August 31, 2026 |
| Cards mailed | Late May through September 2026 |
| Auto-enrolled issuance | Early June 2026 |
| EBT card | Dedicated SUN Bucks EBT card per child — reused in future years |
| Card replacement | ebtedge.com or (888) 997-2227 |
| Address changes | Address change form available mid-June; submit one request only |
| Benefits expire | 122 days from issue date |
| Minnesota SNAP called | SNAP (administered by DHS) |
| Minnesota TANF called | MFIP (Minnesota Family Investment Program) |
Minnesota’s Dual Administration — DCYF and MDE
Minnesota’s SUN Bucks program is administered by two agencies working together — unusual for this series:
- DCYF (Department of Children, Youth, and Families) — leads overall program administration and handles auto-enrollment of children in public assistance programs (SNAP, MFIP, etc.)
- MDE (Minnesota Department of Education) — handles school-based eligibility certification (free/reduced school meals) and processes income-based applications from families not auto-enrolled
Families applying because their child attends an NSLP school and meets income limits apply directly with MDE, not DCYF. The application goes to MDE’s office at 400 Stinson Blvd NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413.
Who Qualifies for Minnesota SUN Bucks
Minnesota’s categorical auto-enrollment age window is ages 7–17 — narrower than most states in this series.
Automatically Enrolled — No Application Needed
Your child is automatically enrolled if they are eligible at any point between July 1, 2025 and August 31, 2026, and meet any of the following:
Ages 7–17 and household receives:
- MFIP (Minnesota Family Investment Program — Minnesota’s TANF/cash assistance)
- SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)
- Tribal TANF (Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families)
- FDPIR (Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations)
- Medical Assistance (Medicaid) — must meet income requirements (185% FPL)
Also auto-enrolled:
- Children in foster care (ages 7–17 with the above programs; or in foster care status as determined by the county)
Auto-enrolled early June vs. later June:
- Children enrolled in MFIP, SNAP, Tribal TANF, FDPIR, Medical Assistance, or foster care before March 30, 2026 receive cards in early June
- Children enrolled on or after April 1, 2026 receive their cards later in the summer on a rolling basis
Any age — school meal certification: Students of any age enrolled in an NSLP or SBP school who were approved for free or reduced-price meals through an Application for Educational Benefits are automatically enrolled. Their information is forwarded to DCYF by their school.
Must Apply — Homeschoolers and School-Not-Applying Families
Homeschoolers and online school students are the only Minnesota children who need to apply directly with MDE. They cannot use the school application pathway. Homeschoolers may still qualify if their household receives SNAP, MFIP, or Medicaid — apply directly with MDE to document that.
Other children may need to apply if their school does not collect Educational Benefits Applications or if the family does not receive public assistance.
Apply at MDE’s online portal or mail the paper application to 400 Stinson Blvd NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413.
Minnesota SUN Bucks Income Limits 2026
For families applying based on income (not auto-enrolled through MFIP/SNAP/Medicaid):
| 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. Income guidelines effective July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026 per the official MDE paper application. Confirm current thresholds at education.mn.gov.
How to Apply for Minnesota SUN Bucks
Step 1 — Check if Your Child Is Auto-Enrolled
If your household receives SNAP, MFIP, Tribal TANF, FDPIR, or qualifying Medical Assistance, your child (ages 7–17) is automatically enrolled. If your child was approved for free or reduced-price school meals through an Educational Benefits Application, they are also auto-enrolled — their school forwards the information.
Step 2 — Apply with MDE (If Needed)
If your child is not auto-enrolled and you believe they qualify:
- Online: Apply through the MDE SUN Bucks online application at education.mn.gov/MDE/dse/datasub/sebt
- Paper: Download the MDE paper application, complete it, and mail to: 400 Stinson Blvd NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413
Email questions (do not send private student information) to SUNBucks.MDE@state.mn.us.
Notifications of approval or denial begin in spring of 2026 — check your email and mail.
Step 3 — What You’ll Need
- Child’s name, date of birth, and Minnesota school (if applicable)
- Household size and total gross income from all sources
- SNAP, MFIP, or Medicaid case number and name (if applicable)
- Military pay information (if applicable — handled separately on the MDE application)
- Mailing address for the SUN Bucks card
One application per household — the MDE application covers all children in the household on a single form.
Step 4 — Deadline
August 31, 2026 — the final deadline to apply for 2026 SUN Bucks through MDE.
How Minnesota Delivers SUN Bucks
Minnesota issues a dedicated SUN Bucks EBT card for each eligible child — separate from your regular SNAP/EBT card, even for SNAP households. This is similar to Massachusetts and Maine but different from states like Illinois and Michigan where SNAP households receive benefits on their existing card.
New SUN Bucks cards are mailed late May through September 2026:
- Auto-enrolled children (enrolled before March 30): cards arrive early June
- Auto-enrolled children (enrolled April 1 or later): cards arrive on a rolling basis through summer
- Application-approved children: cards arrive after approval
Returning recipients: After benefits are used, keep the card in a safe place — Minnesota plans to reuse the same SUN Bucks card in future years when the child remains eligible.
Address changes: Submit an address change request (form available mid-June at the Minnesota summerebt.org page). Submit only one request — multiple submissions may delay processing.
Card replacement: Visit ebtedge.com or call (888) 997-2227.
Minnesota’s SUN Bucks Scale — 450,000 Children
Minnesota’s SUN Bucks program serves more than 450,000 children — one of the larger programs in the Midwest. The state has strong auto-enrollment infrastructure through MFIP (TANF) and SNAP coordination with DCYF, and robust school meal certification through MDE.
Minnesota also has significant tribal communities. Tribal TANF is specifically named as a qualifying program — an important recognition for Minnesota’s 11 federally recognized tribes and their tribal nation members.
Where to Use Minnesota SUN Bucks
Minnesota SUN Bucks work at any authorized SNAP retailer statewide:
- Major grocery chains — Cub Foods, Hy-Vee, Lunds & Byerlys, Aldi, Walmart, Costco, Rainbow Foods
- Aldi’s expanding Minnesota footprint; Cub Foods as the dominant regional chain
- Farmers’ markets that accept SNAP/EBT — Minnesota has active SNAP farmers’ market authorization
- Convenience stores with SNAP authorization
- Online grocery ordering at Walmart and Amazon Fresh where EBT is accepted
Minnesota SUN Bucks follow SNAP food rules — eligible for most groceries; not for hot food, alcohol, tobacco, vitamins, or non-food items. See the SNAP-eligible groceries guide for what qualifies.
Additional Resources for Minnesota Families
Minnesota SNAP: Apply through DHS at MNbenefits.mn.gov or call your county human services office. Check Minnesota SNAP income limits and see how to apply for food stamps in Minnesota.
WIC: For families with a pregnant woman, breastfeeding mother, or child under 5. Check Minnesota WIC income eligibility.
SUN Meals / SFSP: Free hot meals for all children 18 and under at community sites. Dial 211 (Minnesota 211) or visit fns.usda.gov/meals/find-sites.
LIHEAP: Minnesota SNAP households automatically meet LIHEAP income requirements for energy assistance. Minnesota winters are among the harshest in the country; heating assistance is critical. See LIHEAP energy assistance for Minnesota.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who qualifies for Minnesota SUN Bucks?
Children ages 7–17 in households receiving MFIP, SNAP, Tribal TANF, FDPIR, or qualifying Medical Assistance (at or below 185% FPL) are automatically enrolled. Students of any age approved for free or reduced-price school meals through an Educational Benefits Application at an NSLP school are also auto-enrolled. Homeschoolers and others not auto-enrolled may apply with MDE by August 31.
Does Minnesota SUN Bucks go on my regular EBT card?
No — Minnesota issues a separate SUN Bucks EBT card for each eligible child, even for SNAP households. Keep the card after the summer — Minnesota reuses it in future years.
Who administers Minnesota SUN Bucks?
Two agencies co-administer the program: DCYF leads overall administration and public assistance auto-enrollment; MDE handles school-based certification and income-based applications. Applications from non-auto-enrolled families go to MDE.
What is MFIP?
MFIP (Minnesota Family Investment Program) is Minnesota’s TANF/cash assistance program. Households receiving MFIP are automatically enrolled in SUN Bucks.
When do Minnesota SUN Bucks cards arrive?
Cards for auto-enrolled children (enrolled before March 30) arrive in early June. Children enrolled April 1 or later receive cards on a rolling basis through summer. Application-approved children receive cards after their application is processed. Cards are mailed late May through September.
Can homeschooled children get Minnesota SUN Bucks?
Yes — but they are the only children who must apply directly with MDE. They cannot qualify through the school application pathway. If a homeschooled child’s household receives SNAP, MFIP, or qualifying Medical Assistance, they still qualify — apply with MDE to document that.
For the complete Summer EBT national program overview, see the SUN Bucks program guide. To check your Minnesota SNAP eligibility, use the food stamp benefit estimator.