SUN Bucks

SUN Bucks

SUN Bucks (also known as Summer EBT) is a federal grocery benefit for students that eligible families receive once a year during school summer vacation. Most students will be determined eligible for SUN Bucks based on their eligibility for other programs. Those students are automatically enrolled by the Office for Family Independence (OFI) and their families will be notified before June 15, 2025.

Do I need to apply for SUN Bucks?

Most eligible families will be automatically enrolled (called Streamline Certified) and will receive SUN Bucks benefits without applying! Students will be automatically enrolled in SUN Bucks for Summer 2025 if:

  • They are individually certified for free or reduced-price meals through their school or
  • They are school aged (6 to 16) and were enrolled in: 
    • The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP),
    • Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF),
    • Food Distribution on Indian Reservations (FDPIR),
    • MaineCare if the household income is below 185% of the federal poverty level (FPL),
    • Foster Care.
  • Or are school age (6-16) and known to DHHS to be:
    • homeless, or
    • part of a family engaged in migrant agricultural work.

Families will be notified by June 15th if they are automatically enrolled. 

Who should apply for SUN Bucks?

Families only need to apply manually if one or more of their children do not meet the criteria listed above for automatic enrollment and they haven't received a letter of eligibility from us by June 15th.

To qualify through manual application, children must:

  • Be enrolled in a National School Lunch Program participating school.
  • Be individually eligible for federally funded Free or Reduced-price Meals.
  • Not receive SUN Bucks from another state, territory, or indigenous tribal organization.

The deadline to apply for the current/upcoming summer is August 15. Applications received after that date will be considered for the following summer.

How will I receive the SUN Bucks benefit?

Families will receive a one-time benefit of $120 per child who qualifies for SUN Bucks.

  • If your family receives SNAP, SUN Bucks will be loaded onto your Pine Tree EBT card.
  • If your child does not receive SNAP but received Pandemic-EBT (P-EBT) or SUN Bucks previously, the benefit will be loaded onto that card.* Families that received separate cards for each child will have SUN Bucks loaded onto individual cards.
  • If your family has not received any of these benefits before, you will be issued a new Pine Tree EBT card for each eligible child and receive instructions on how to use it. It is important to confirm that your mailing address is up to date with your school/Indian Tribal Organization and OFI so that your card is sent to the right place.

*If you lost a card and need a replacement, you can request one using the Maine EBT Online Portal or by calling (800) 477-7428.

SUN Bucks Frequently Asked Questions

When can I expect to receive the SUN Bucks benefit?

Benefits for students who are automatically enrolled will be issued between June 1 and June 15, 2025. If automatic enrollment occurs based on new information after June 15th, benefits will be available within 15 days. If a new card is needed, allow additional time for mailing. 

Manual applicants will be notified of their eligibility within 15 days of application for SUN Bucks and benefits will be issued by June 15, 2025 or within 15 days of application, whichever is later.

I don't think my child qualifies for automatic enrollment but may be eligible. How do I apply for SUN Bucks?

You can apply online through My Maine Connection.

Where can I use an EBT card?

You can use an EBT card, known as a Pine Tree card, at any retailer that participates in the SNAP program, including grocery stores and farmers markets. You can use it to purchase healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables, meats, and other protein sources, whole grains, and dairy for your family.

  • In Person Purchasing:
    • Most stores that accept EBT will display a SNAP or Quest logo.
    • You can also find a store near you that accepts SNAP by entering your zip code in the USDA SNAP Retail Locator.
  • Online Purchasing:
Will I receive more funding on this card or receive another card in the future?

Each eligible child will receive SUN Bucks only once each summer.

It is important to save the card SUN Bucks was loaded on after using the annual benefit. If the child is eligible for future years of SUN Bucks or other benefits such as SNAP or TANF, those benefits may be issued to the same card.

I didn't ask for SUN Bucks and I do not want it. What do I do with the card?

If you do not wish to use the card, you can simply cut up and discard it. Unused benefits will be returned to the U.S.D.A 122 days after the issuance, regardless of spending activity. SUN Bucks may not be used to purchase food for anyone outside of your child's household.

How do I set up a pin for the EBT card?

Call the number on the back of the card, (800) 477-7428. You will need to enter the child's date of birth and the last four digits of their Social Security Number (SS#). If the child does not have an SS# or it was not provided to OFI, you will need to enter 9999.

How do I check the EBT card balance?

You can check the balance by calling the number on the back of the card, (800) 477-7428. You will need to provide the card number and the card holder's name and date of birth.

What happens if I lost the card?

If you no longer have the card, you can request a new one using the Maine EBT Online Portal or by calling (800) 477-7428.

Why did I receive multiple cards?

Cards are issued for each eligible child not receiving SNAP. If your children were not already receiving monthly SNAP benefits, you received a card for each eligible child.

Do homeschooled children, children attending fully virtual schools, and children attending non-NSLP schools qualify for SUN Bucks?

Children who are home schooled, attending a fully virtual school, or enrolled in a school that does not participate in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) may be automatically enrolled for SUN Bucks if they meet the criteria above, but are not eligible through manual application.

To qualify through manual application, a child must be enrolled in an NSLP-participating school. 

My kids got free meals at school, will they receive SUN Bucks?

Students who only receive free meals because everyone at their school received free meals are not automatically eligible for SUN Bucks unless they are found eligible in another way. If you haven't done so already, you may want to complete the Free and Reduced-price Meals application with your school or at https://www.nlappscloud.com/.

If my child received SUN Bucks benefits before, do they automatically qualify this year?

No, SUN Bucks eligibility is re-determined each year.

My children were automatically enrolled in SUN Bucks this year. How long do I have to spend the SUN Bucks?

Cards must be activated within 45 days of receipt. Unused SUN Bucks benefits will be removed from the EBT card 122 days after issuance, regardless of spending activity.

Non-discrimination Statement

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

1. mail:

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

1400 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or

2. fax:

(833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or 

3. email:

Program.Intake@usda.gov

The Maine Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination because of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, religion, ancestry or national origin.

Complaints of discrimination must be filed at the office of the Maine Human Rights Commission, 51 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04333-0051. If you wish to file a discrimination complaint electronically, visit the Human Rights Commission website and complete an intake questionnaire.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.