BATON ROUGE, Louisiana — This summer, Louisiana families with school-aged children may have a reason to celebrate, as the state will once again implement the SUN Bucks program. The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) has confirmed that eligible children will receive a one-time grocery benefit of 0, aimed at alleviating food insecurity during the summer months.
Eligibility Criteria for SUN Bucks
The SUN Bucks initiative is designed primarily for families whose children qualify for free or reduced-price school meals. To be eligible for this benefit, children must meet specific criteria:
1. Age Range: Students must have been born between August 8, 2006, and July 1, 2019.
2. Benefit Recipients: They should have received Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program (FITAP), Kinship Care Subsidy Program (KCSP), or income-based Medicaid benefits at any point from July 1, 2024, to August 8, 2025, with household income below 185% of the federal poverty level.
3. National School Lunch Program: Additionally, children who individually applied and were approved for free or reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) qualify.
For children attending Community Eligibility Provision schools—schools that provide free meals to all students regardless of income—parents must submit an application to determine eligibility if they have not previously applied for NSLP or received other specified benefits. Applications can be made online at louisiana.summerebtapp.com.
Automatic Enrollment and Communication
In most cases, families will not need to take any action to receive the SUN Bucks benefit. Sammy Guillory, the Assistant Secretary for Family Support at DCFS, noted that a majority of eligible children are automatically enrolled. In the previous year, approximately 670,000 children received over million in benefits, with only about 1,500 needing to apply to be deemed eligible.
Distribution of Benefits
Families will receive their SUN Bucks benefits in different ways based on their current enrollment status in SNAP:
– Families already enrolled in SNAP will see the SUN Bucks added to their existing Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards.
– Those who received benefits in the previous year will have their new benefits loaded onto the same card.
– New participants who are not enrolled in SNAP will receive a new EBT card preloaded with the benefit by mail.
In instances where families lose their EBT or SUN Bucks cards, they can request replacements through various means, including calling the hotline at 1-888-997-1117 or visiting LifeInCheckEBT.com.
Additional Information
For further details on the SUN Bucks program, including answers to frequently asked questions, families can visit the official website at sunbucks.la.gov.
This initiative not only aims to bolster nutrition among Louisiana’s youth over the summer months but also supports families in managing their grocery budgets, a significant concern in the current economic climate. The SUN Bucks program reflects the state’s commitment to improving food security and ensuring that children have access to vital nutrition during school breaks.
