New SUN Bucks Program Pays SNAP Families $120 In Food Stamps. Learn About Benefits And Eligibility.

There is a brand new program from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA): Summer Grocery Benefit for Kids (SUN Bucks), which will help families this summer. This is carried out by the Food and Nutrition Service.

The intended purpose of this program is to assist SNAP users and other worthy families to purchase food during the summer by offering them financial support.

SUN Bucks Program

SUN Bucks are intended for HT families with school-going-age children in the United States who meet certain qualifications. Families in which the children in question qualify can benefit from a $120 payment to offset the cost of summer’s food.

Eligibility

As previously stated, a child will be eligible for SUN Bucks only if he or she is of school-going age (typically aged five to eighteen years). Your household must also meet one of the following criteria:

• Participation in Benefits: If your family is already getting SNAP, TANF, FDPIR or Medicaid for low-income families, your child will be enrolled in SUN Bucks right away.
• School Meal Programs: If your child attends a school participating in the National School Lunch Program or the School Breakfast Program and your family meets the income requirements to be on the School Meals Program, then your child is likely signed up.

Also Read: Direct $500 Stimulus Checks By States

In the case your household does not fall under any of the above categories, they will apply directly on their own. You or your household cannot earn more than a certain amount as determined by the number of people in your house. Specific income guidelines can be learned from the USDA website.

State Variations

Individual programs may also have different names and operating rules in each state. If you are a resident of California, then SNAP is referred to as CalFresh. Similarly, SUN Bucks may be called differently in different states where they may exist. Understand that the name may differ but the benefits and means of getting them will remain the same.

Duration and Distribution

SUN Bucks gives $120 of benefit per child per summer if the child is eligible, and the money is paid as a one-time payment. This particular advantage does not change with the time the child contracts the disability during the summer. Here are the key points:

• Issuance: In North Carolina, the first SUN Bucks payment was made around mid-June, in the year 2024. New benefits are issued every two weeks up to the end of September because more children are being approved for the program.
• Expiration: In North Carolina, the first SUN Bucks payment was issued in mid-June 2024. New benefits are issued every two weeks through the end of September as more children are deemed eligible.
• Application Deadline: Hoping to enjoy fresh sun, families in Washington State can send their applications to obtain SUN Bucks until the end of August 31, 2024.

Other Benefits

Recipients of SUN Bucks or SNAP can also participate in other summer feeding programs for their families. For example, the SUN Meals program currently still offers free meals, which may either be picked up via SUN Meals To-Go or picked up at a local meal site. This is useful in seeing that children are able to receive support in the necessary aspects of their diet throughout the summer holidays.

Additional Eligibility

Not on SNAP? Don’t worry. Thus, eligible families that receive WIC, TANF, or FDPIR services can also receive SUN Bucks. The organization has put practices in place so that summer grocery support is available to a maximum number of people.

SUN Bucks vs. SNAP

Although SUN Bucks is a summer benefit-only program, SNAP is a year-round program. Here’s how they differ:

• Duration: SUN Bucks is a one-time payment given in the summer, whereas SNAP is a monthly benefit.
• Eligibility: SUN Bucks is automatically available to children who received SNAP, TANF, FDPIR, or Medicaid during the school year or were approved for free or reduced-priced school lunches. Though some of them may require the family to apply for them individually,.
• Expiration: SUN Bucks benefits are badged and are only redeemable for 122 days and unused benefits are not carried forward to the next month like SNAP benefits.
• Usage: SUN Bucks are flexible and can be coordinated with other summer feeding projects, thus helping families.

SUN Bucks is a new program that is going to replace the Pandemic-EBT program that was available earlier. Regardless, not all of the children who received P-EBT will be eligible for SUN Bucks since the requirements are not the same.

Thus, the SUN Bucks program can be useful for families in need of additional assistance during the summer vacation. As the program ensures that children receive some financial aid for their groceries, it becomes possible for children to continue.

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