The  Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) is encouraging eligible families who have not yet received their 2026 SUN Bucks benefit to apply online or by paper application by August 31. The federal Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer program, also known as SUN Bucks or Summer EBT, helps eligible families afford groceries during the summer months when their children don’t have access to free and reduced-price meals at school.

So far this summer, over $131 million in SUN Bucks benefits have been distributed to roughly one million children in Pennsylvania. Families can use the Eligibility Navigator to see if their children are automatically eligible or if they need to take action to apply by the August 31 deadline. SUN Bucks provides a one-time payment for households of $120 ($40 per summer month) per eligible child. An estimated 1.2 million children in Pennsylvania qualify for this program, which is paid for with federal funds.

Online Applications can be completed using the link on the SUN Bucks website and paper applications can be submitted to local County Assistance Offices. Applications received after August 31 will be held and considered for 2027 SUN Bucks benefits that will be issued in Summer 2027.

If families already have an EBT card, SUN Bucks benefits will be automatically added to their card, if possible. Families who do not have an EBT card will receive a Summer EBT card in the mail. Replacement cards must be requested by calling the Statewide Customer Service Center at 1-877-395-8930 or by visiting a County Assistance Office. Families can prevent their SUN Bucks benefit from being stolen by using the lock/unlock feature available on all EBT cards. This can be done through the ConnectEBT mobile app and client portal at www.connectebt.com.