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Summer Benefits

2026 SUMMER SUNBUCKS

SUN bucks

The Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (Summer EBT) program—also known as SUN Bucks— supports children who lose access to free and reduced-price school meals during the summer months. Students only receive SUN Bucks automatically if they individually qualify for free or reduced meals through direct certification or completing a Child Nutrition Eligibility and Education Benefit (CNEEB) application.

We want to help eligible students access the $120 SUN Bucks benefit by encouraging families to apply for Free and Reduced Meals in our district. Below are helpful outreach resources:

Questions? Please email the Summer EBT inbox.

Summer EBT SUN Bucks Help Center at 1-833-543-3230 (Monday - Friday 8:00 am to 3:00 pm) or Toll Free at 1-800-833-6348.   #1 to Apply,  #3 Eligibility, #4 Lost Card/Address Change, #5 Pin Set-Up/Activation, #9 Customer Service 

To Text DSHS for Q/A visit: https://textsunbucks.dshs.wa.gov/  Sign up for text messages and get SUN Bucks updates. It’s free, there’s nothing to download and you can cancel anytime.

Visit dshs.wa.gov/sunbucks to learn more! or https://www.hungerfreewa.org/partners/sunbucks

Learn more - click on this link for an informative flyer

Who is eligible?

  • All active LSSD students that are Free and Reduced eligible during the 2025-26 school year (by the last day of schoo) will qualify for the WA State Summer EBT funds of $120.00 per child, preloaded on a card.   
  • Child who lives in a household that already receives assistance program benefits (SNAP, TANF, FDPIR)
  • Family submits a Summer EBT application, click here to submit a SUN Bucks application

Who funds this program?

This is a nationwide federally- funded grocery benefits program on new or existing Electronic Benefit Transfer cards to help supplement summer meal sites for children who are eligible for free or reduced-price meals during the school year. 

How does it work?

Through this new program, families can use the money to buy food at grocery stores, farmers markets or other authorized retailers – similar to how SNAP benefits are used.

When are funds distributed?

Summer 2026 (June through August).  Look for your approval letter and new SUN Bucks card in the mail in June.   If you did not receive a SUN Bucks card, you can still apply during the summer at sunbucks.dshs.wa.gov 

Other important things to know:

  • New cards and benefit letters willl be distributed
  • If you had a card last summer, new benefits will be loaded on that card. If this card is lost or misplaced, please call 1(833)543-3230.
  • Every eligible student receives a card, they are not combined as a family
  • SUB Bucks benefits expire 122 days from issuance.   Unlike SNAP EBT, SUN Bucks are removed regardless of usage. Once benefits are removed from an EBT card, they cannot be replaced. (So use these benefits first!)
Free and reduced students may qualify for summer EBT

 

Lake Stevens Food Services:  Please call our Nutrition Office at 425-335-1561 or Email: foodservices@lkstevens.wednet.edu 

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.