State officials have announced the second and final round of initial summer 2026 food assistance benefits under the SUN Bucks program.
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The federally funded program provides families with a $120 one-time benefit — equal to $40 per summer month — to help purchase fresh food and groceries while schools are closed.
The latest payout covers automatically eligible children who were not included in the first round of payments issued in June, which served roughly 860,000 automatically enrolled students.
An estimated 1.3 million children in Pennsylvania are expected to qualify for the program during summer 2026.
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The SUN Bucks program operates similarly to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
Most eligible students are enrolled automatically and do not need to submit an application, including those who receive free or reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program during the academic year. Children also automatically qualify if they receive SNAP, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), or Medicaid with income levels meeting school lunch program standards.
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For households already possessing an EBT card, benefits will be loaded directly onto the card when possible.
Families without an existing card will receive a Summer EBT card by mail. Those needing a replacement for a lost or discarded card from a previous summer can request one by calling the Customer Service Center at 1-877-395-8930, or 1-215-560-7226 for Philadelphia residents.
“Food insecurity is not limited to just certain months a year, and the Shapiro Administration is committed to helping parents have the resources they need to keep their children fed every day,” Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh said in a statement. “The SUN Bucks program provides eligible households with critical dollars to help bridge the gap during the summer break and ensure that children have enough to eat.”
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Families who are not automatically enrolled have until Aug. 31 to submit an application for summer 2026 benefits.
Applications can be completed online, sent by mail, or submitted in person at a local County Assistance Office. Benefits for approved applicants will be distributed on a rolling basis later this summer. Any applications received after the Aug. 31 deadline will be processed for the summer 2027 benefit period.
State officials encourage families to use the online SUN Bucks Eligibility Navigator to verify whether their children are automatically enrolled or if an application is required.
