July 14, 2026 |Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA), Health & Wellness, News, Resources, State of MA, Youth

SUN Bucks (Summer EBT) Information

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Information courtesy of the MA Dept. of Transitional Assistance: SUN Bucks (Summer EBT) is a federal food benefit that helps low-income families with school-aged children buy food when schools are closed for the summer. The summer 2026 SUN Bucks application period is now open.

Households will receive a one-time, lump sum payment of $120 per eligible child. Benefits are for the summer months. Benefits for newly eligible families will continue to be issued throughout the Summer Operating Period as those families become eligible. Receiving SUN Bucks will not affect SSI benefits in any way.

SUN Bucks benefits expire if they are not used. Families have 122 days from the date the money is deposited on their card to use their SUN Bucks benefits. Benefits not used within 122 days will be removed from the card.

SUN Bucks Hotline: 855-425-8770

Hotline available May – December 2026. Agents can assist with questions related to eligibility, card activation, household composition, and Fair Hearings.

Who is eligible for SUN Bucks?

Students qualify for SUN Bucks if during the 2025-2026 school year (starting July 1, 2025) they:

• Got SNAP, DTA cash benefits, SSI with a relative caregiver, or certain types of MassHealth coverage, or were in foster care; AND
• Were enrolled in a National School Lunch Program (NSLP)/School Breakfast Program (SBP) school (click this link to see if your school participates).

OR

Got SNAP, DTA cash benefits, SSI with a relative caregiver, or certain types of MassHealth coverage, or were in foster care; AND

• They are not enrolled in an NSLP/SBP school; AND
• They are between the ages of 6 and 16.

OR

• They were approved for SUN Bucks or NSLP/SBP through an application.

_______________________________

Do I need to apply for SUN Bucks?

You may be eligible for SUN Bucks 2026 without needing a new application.

• If you received benefits last summer and used your card, your benefits have been issued to the same SUN Bucks card on June 1^st, 2026!  If you need a replacement card, visit DTAConnect.com and create an account to get a replacement SUN Bucks card, or contact the SUN Bucks hotline at 855-425-8770.
• If you received benefits last summer and did not use your card. DTA is sending you a new card in the mail. Watch out for the new SUN Bucks card in the upcoming weeks. Ordering a replacement card will deactivate the one in the mail.

Most eligible families in Massachusetts do not need to apply to get SUN Bucks. DTA issued SUN Bucks benefits automatically to most eligible families. 

For example, if during the 2025-2026 school year your child/children got SNAP, DTA cash benefits, certain types of MassHealth coverage, SSI with a relative caregiver, or were in foster care, you do not need to apply.

How will I get my benefits?

All SUN Bucks recipients receive a SUN Bucks EBT card. 

If you are currently a DTA client, who used SUN Bucks last year, the benefits were added to your existing SUN Bucks card from last year. If you didn’t use your card or are receiving SUN Bucks for the first time this year a new SUN Bucks card has been mailed to your listed address with DTA. SUN Bucks will not be paid on your SNAP EBT card. 

When will I get my benefits?

For new recipients, SUN Bucks cards will be mailed in late June 2026. Families who received SUN Bucks in 2025 and did not activate their card will also be sent a new SUN Bucks card for 2026.

For families that received SUN Bucks in 2025 and used their benefits, SUN Bucks 2026 benefits will be paid to the same card.

If eligible for SUN Bucks benefits, they will be paid to a SUN Bucks card in the name of the parent/guardian who completes the application. For eligible families on SNAP, DTA cash benefits or MassHealth, the SUN Bucks card will be in the name of the head of the household. If the student is in foster care, the SUN Bucks card will be in their name.

SUN Bucks benefits expire if they are not used. Families have 122 days from the date the money is deposited on their card to use their SUN Bucks benefits. Benefits not used within 122 days will be removed from the card.