West Chester, Pa (June 10, 2026) – The families of about 860,000 Pennsylvania children will begin receiving food assistance this week to help cover the cost of groceries while schools are closed for the summer, state Senator Carolyn Comitta said.
Now in its third year, SUN Bucks (also known as Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer program or Summer EBT) is a federal program that provides a one-time, seasonal benefit to families with children who receive free or reduced-price meals during the school year.
An estimated 1.3 million Pennsylvania children qualify for the program, which provides $40 per month per eligible child to cover the three summer months – June, July, and August – issued as a single $120 benefit.
“With rising inflation and cuts to SNAP and other important food assistance programs, accessing fresh, healthy meals is a growing problem for Pennsylvania families and children. And hunger does not take a summer vacation,” said Comitta, who serves on the Senate Education Committee. “When kids miss out on free or breakfast or school lunch programs over the summer, SUN Bucks can help families bridge the gap, ensuring young people get the nutrition they need to grow and thrive.”
In Pennsylvania, 1 in 6 children experience food insecurity. When school is not in session they may miss out on free breakfast and lunch programs,” said state Senator Carolyn Comitta, who serves on the Senate Education Committee. “Sun Bucks provides important support to help families bridge the gap during the summer, so children maintain access to the nutrition they need to grow, thrive, and return to school ready to learn.”
Most eligible children will receive the benefit automatically and do not need to apply. This includes children who already receive free and reduced-price school meals through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) during the school year.
Families can use the SUN Bucks Eligibility Navigator to see if they need to complete an application. Households that need to apply to receive a benefit for Summer 2026 can apply using the application online or through their county assistance office.
Applications can be submitted anytime throughout the year, but the deadline to apply for Summer 2026 is August 31. Applications received after this date will be considered for next summer.
“The Shapiro Administration is committed to helping parents have the resources they need to keep their children fed so they can grow and thrive. The SUN Bucks program provides eligible households with critical dollars to help bridge the gap during the summer break and ensure that children have enough to eat,” said PA Department of Human Services (PA DHS) Secretary Val Arkoosh. “Be on the lookout for benefits and if your family did not get SUN Bucks last year, use our Eligibility Navigator to see if your family is automatically eligible or if you need to apply for SUN Bucks for this summer’s benefit.”
About $103 million in total food benefits are expected to be issued through SUN Bucks in Pennsylvania this summer. Additional issuances above the initial $103 million in benefits will occur on a rolling basis from July through September depending on when PA DHS receives individual applications and information on eligible families from school districts.
“Summer should be a season of opportunity for children: a time for reading programs at the library, camps, family experiences, summer jobs, and continued learning in every form. But kids can’t fully engage in those opportunities when they’re hungry,” said Secretary of Education Dr. Carrie Rowe. “SUN Bucks makes it possible for families to stretch their grocery budgets when school meals aren’t available and for children to absorb every learning opportunity this summer offers.”
If families already have an EBT card, SUN Bucks benefits will be automatically added to this card, if possible. Families who do not have an EBT card will receive a Summer EBT card in the mail. If families lost or got rid of an EBT card from a previous summer and need a replacement, they can get one by calling the Customer Service Center at 1-877-395-8930 or 1-215-560-7226 in Philadelphia.
There are several ways for a child to be automatically eligible for SUN Bucks without needing to apply, including:
- Qualifying for SNAP or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF);
- Qualifying for Medicaid with qualifying income for NSLP; or,
- Being eligible for free or reduced-priced school meals.
For more information, call the SUN Bucks FAQ Line at 1-877-762-1575.
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