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WHAT ARE SUN BUCKS?
Louisiana SUN Bucks provides families with a ONE-TIME payment of $120 for each eligible school-aged child (5 to 18 years old) to buy groceries during the summer break.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR SUN BUCKS?
Most eligible children will get SUN Bucks automatically.
You do not need to apply if:
- Your child was born between August 8, 2006 and July 1, 2019 and received Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Family Independence Temporary Assistance (FITAP), Kinship Care Subsidy Program (KCSP) or income-based Medicaid benefits (household income below 185% of the federal poverty level) anytime between July 1, 2024, and August 8, 2025.
- Your child attends a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or School Breakfast Program (SBP) and was individually approved to receive free or reduced-price school meals.
Some families will need to apply for SUN Bucks.
You will need to apply if:
- Your child attends a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) school where all students receive free or reduced-price lunch but did not complete an application for NSLP or SBP.
Even if your child doesn’t fall into one of the above categories, they may still be eligible for SUN Bucks based on your household income.
APPLICATIONS
Most eligible children will receive SUN Bucks automatically and do not need to apply. Families of students without automatic eligibility can apply at louisiana.summerebtapp.com.
HOW ARE SUN BUCKS ISSUED?
Eligible children will receive a ONE-TIME $120 SUN Bucks benefit for summer nutrition support in mid-May 2025.
Distribution Schedule
- For children enrolled automatically: Benefits start going out mid-May.
- For children whose applications are approved: Benefits will be issued on a rolling basis, usually within three weeks of being approved.
- For children newly qualifying for automatic enrollment: When a child’s family enrolls in SNAP, FITAP, KCSP, or income-based Medicaid benefits during the summer, the child will automatically receive SUN Bucks based on the time of enrollment.
How Benefits Will Arrive
- SNAP households and households that received SUN Bucks last summer: Benefits will be added to your existing SNAP or SUN Bucks EBT card.
- All other households: Benefits will arrive on a preloaded EBT card in a plain white envelope addressed to your child.
Important Note: If you have multiple children, their cards may arrive separately.
WHAT DO FAMILIES NEED TO DO?
Families should make sure their mailing address is correct on their child’s Medicaid, FITAP, or KCSP case, and with their child’s school. EBT cards will be sent to the mailing address that is on file. Starting May 1, you can call the SUN Bucks helpline at 1-833-323-7482 or email sunbucks@la.gov for help updating your mailing address.
CARD ACTIVATION:
Activate your child’s SUN Bucks card using one of the following options:
- Download the LifeInCheck app
- Call 1-888-997-1117
- Visit LifeInCheckEBT.com
How do I activate my child’s SUN Bucks card?
To activate your child’s SUN Bucks card, call the EBT customer service line at 1-888-997-1117 and enter the 16-digit card number. To authenticate the card you will need the last four digits of the child’s Social Security number, the child’s date of birth in DD/MM/YYYY format, and the child’s mailing address zip code.
If the child’s Social Security number is not on file, you will need to call the SUN Bucks helpline at 1-833-323-7482 for the number needed to activate the SUN Bucks card.
PIN Options (enter each digit slowly):
Please note that PINs selected with any of the below patterns are not allowed:
- Identical digits (1111, 2222, 3333, etc.)
- Consecutive digits (1234, 2345, 3456, etc.)
- Numbers that start with one or more zeroes (0657, 0051, 0001, etc.)
- The last four digits of the cardholder’s Social Security number
- The cardholder’s birthdate
- The cardholder’s year of birth (e.g., 1984)
My child’s SUN Bucks card has a $0 balance when I call. What’s going on?
This could happen for a couple of reasons:
- The balance will show $0 until you activate your child’s card. The automated system will not tell you the balance on the card until it has been activated. For information on how to activate your card, read “How do I activate my child’s SUN Bucks card?”
- If you have an EBT card for another program (such as a card from an old or denied SNAP case), make sure you enter the 16-digit card number from your child’s SUN Bucks card and use your child’s identification information. Phase 2 and 3 SUN Bucks cards are in your child’s name. If you enter a parent’s personal information (SSN, DOB, ZIP), the system may pull up an old SNAP account instead of the SUN Bucks account.
If you are still having trouble activating your child’s card, please call the SUN Bucks helpline at 1-833-323-7482.
The LifeInCheck mobile app for iOS and Android smartphones provides direct access to account information, such as:
- SUN Bucks Card Balances
- Report Lost or Stolen Cards
- Request Replacement Cards
- PIN Selection
- Recent Transaction History
Download the app today!
Source: https://dcfs.louisiana.gov/page/sun-bucks
