Pennsylvania’s SUN Bucks program, the state’s Summer EBT benefit, gives eligible families $120 per school-age child in grocery money each summer, loaded onto an EBT card while school is out. Many children are enrolled automatically based on benefits their household already receives. Everyone else can apply through the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services.
Who Is Automatically Enrolled
If your household already receives certain benefits, your child is signed up without an application:
- Children in households that get SNAP or TANF.1Department of Human Services. SUN Bucks – Pennsylvania’s Summer EBT Program
- Most children on Medical Assistance (Medicaid), because Medicaid income limits generally fall under the SUN Bucks threshold.
- Children in foster care, and children identified by their school district as homeless or runaway, as long as they attend a participating school.
Two Medicaid-related exceptions trip families up. Children covered under the Children with Special Needs category (PH 95) and children enrolled in CHIP are not automatic — those families have to apply.1Department of Human Services. SUN Bucks – Pennsylvania’s Summer EBT Program
Who Needs to Apply
A child qualifies if they attend a school in the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program and household income is at or below 185 percent of the federal poverty level. For 2026, that’s $61,050 for a family of four, with the cutoff lower for smaller households and higher for larger ones.2HHS ASPE. 2026 Poverty Guidelines – Detailed Tables
Children at Community Eligibility Provision Schools
Attending a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) school, where every student eats free, does not by itself qualify a child for SUN Bucks. Kids at CEP schools who have been individually certified for free or reduced-price meals (through a household application, direct certification, or categorical eligibility) get SUN Bucks automatically. Everyone else at a CEP school has to apply and show household income within the 185 percent limit.3Food and Nutrition Service. SUN Bucks (Summer EBT)
Private School and Homeschool Families
Children who don’t attend a school in the federal meal programs, including many private school and homeschooled kids, can still qualify if they are between 6 and 18. Automatic eligibility applies when the household received SNAP or TANF between July 1, 2024 and August 31, 2025, or when the child was on Medicaid with income low enough to meet the school lunch standard during that window.1Department of Human Services. SUN Bucks – Pennsylvania’s Summer EBT Program If your family doesn’t fit those categories, the “Eligibility Navigator” tool on the DHS website will tell you whether to apply.
How to Apply
Applications go through the DHS online SUN Bucks portal, and a paper version can be mailed to your local County Assistance Office if you’d rather not use the website.1Department of Human Services. SUN Bucks – Pennsylvania’s Summer EBT Program You’ll need:
- Your child’s name, date of birth, and the school they attended
- Your home address and household size
- Social Security numbers for each household member (the form has an alternative option if someone doesn’t have one)
- Proof of gross household income at or below 185 percent of the poverty line: pay stubs, tax returns, or benefit award letters3Food and Nutrition Service. SUN Bucks (Summer EBT)
Timing for Summer 2026
Applications submitted after August 31, 2025 are held and evaluated for summer 2026 once school enrollment data becomes available.1Department of Human Services. SUN Bucks – Pennsylvania’s Summer EBT Program DHS has not posted a firm closing date for the 2026 window, so check the SUN Bucks portal as summer approaches. Applying early gives the state time to fix any problems before benefits go out.
How You Receive the $120
Once eligibility is confirmed, Pennsylvania authorizes a one-time $120 per eligible child.3Food and Nutrition Service. SUN Bucks (Summer EBT) How it reaches you depends on your situation:
- If your household already has an active SNAP or TANF EBT card, the $120 is loaded onto that card. No new card comes in the mail.1Department of Human Services. SUN Bucks – Pennsylvania’s Summer EBT Program
- If you’re new to EBT, a separate SUN Bucks card is mailed to the address on your application, usually within 10 to 15 business days after approval. Follow the enclosed instructions to activate the card and set a PIN.
If you’ve moved since applying, update your address with DHS before benefits are issued. Cards sent to the wrong address are hard to recover. Lost or stolen cards can be reported to the EBT recipient helpline at 1-888-328-7366 for a replacement.
What You Can Buy
SUN Bucks follows SNAP rules. Use the card at any SNAP-authorized retailer, which covers most grocery stores, many farmers’ markets, and some convenience stores. Eligible items include:4Food and Nutrition Service. What Can SNAP Buy?
- Fruits and vegetables
- Meat, poultry, and fish
- Dairy products
- Breads and cereals
- Snack foods and non-alcoholic beverages
- Seeds and plants that produce food for the household
You can’t use the card for alcohol, tobacco, vitamins or supplements, hot prepared foods, or non-food items like cleaning supplies and pet food. At checkout, it works like a debit card: swipe, enter the PIN, and your remaining balance prints on the receipt.
Online Grocery Shopping
Pennsylvania allows EBT for online grocery orders at participating retailers.5Department of Human Services. SNAP Online Purchasing Amazon, Walmart, and ShopRite have all accepted EBT online in the state, though the list of participating stores changes over time; the USDA’s retailer list linked from the PA DHS page has the current version. The same eligible-item rules apply. Hot prepared foods and non-food items still don’t qualify, delivery or not.
Use the Money Before It Expires
SUN Bucks funds don’t stay on the card forever. Federal rules require states to remove unused Summer EBT benefits after a set period following issuance, generally around 122 days. Once they expire, they’re gone and can’t be restored. Plan to spend the $120 within a few months of it appearing on the card rather than saving it for later.
If Your Application Is Denied
You have the right to appeal a denial or a benefit amount you disagree with. The written notice from DHS explains the reason for the decision and includes the deadline and instructions for filing an appeal.6Department of Human Services. Request a Hearing or Appeal from DHS Most appeals must be filed in writing with the DHS office that made the decision, though food assistance disputes can be filed orally. Hearings are usually held by phone, and in-person hearings are available on request. If the hearing goes against you, you can ask the Secretary of Human Services to reconsider within 15 days, or appeal to Commonwealth Court within 30 days.
Most denials come from incomplete applications, so before you submit, check every field. Fixing a form up front is much faster than winning an appeal.