SUN Bucks returns for 2026 with summer grocery benefits.

The USDA's SUN Bucks program will provide $120 in summer grocery benefits per eligible child in 2026; many children are automatically enrolled through school meal programs or certain assistance programs.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's SUN Bucks program is returning for 2026, the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina reported. The program issues $120 in grocery benefits per eligible child on a debit-like card for use during the summer when schools are not in session. Many children are automatically enrolled through participation in free or reduced-price school meals or other assistance programs. Other children who meet program income limits may apply through participating schools. Program details: - The benefit provides $120 per eligible child for summer grocery purchases. - Children enrolled in free or reduced-price school meals are automatically enrolled. - Children ages 7 to 16 participating in SNAP, Work First, Medicaid, foster care, McKinney-Vento services, or the Cherokee Tribal Food Distribution Program are also automatically eligible. - Children not automatically enrolled may be eligible if they attend a school in the Community Eligibility Provision or the National School Lunch Program and the household meets income limits. - SUN Bucks are accepted wherever SNAP/EBT is accepted, including grocery stores, farmers' markets, and some online retailers, and families can check eligibility through an online quiz; the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services has posted program details and a phone line (1-866-719-0141). Summary: The program aims to help families cover grocery needs during the summer by providing a one-time $120 card per eligible child. State officials have published eligibility criteria and enrollment pathways, including automatic enrollment through certain school and assistance programs, and details are available on the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services website and by phone.