SUN Bucks are Coming – Please Help us Spread the Word!

Summer is here, which means families across the state are starting to get their SUN Bucks cards, loaded with $120 per eligible child to buy groceries. We are grateful that California is operating SUN Bucks again in 2025, reaching an estimated 6 million children this summer! While the majority of children will receive their cards automatically in the mail, about 2 million children will need to apply for SUN Bucks. Help us spread the word about SUN Bucks to make sure all eligible children get their benefits this summer! 

Families who got CalFresh, CalWORKs, or, in most cases, Medi-Cal (certified at or under 185% of the Federal Poverty Level) at any point during the 2024-25 school year will automatically receive their SUN Bucks card in the mail beginning in June. SUN Bucks cards will be mailed in alphabetical order by last name. 

Kids who didn’t get these programs but still meet free/reduced price meal income guidelines are eligible for SUN Bucks, too, but families will need to make sure they have submitted a school meal application or Universal Benefits Application by September 2. Families can ask their school for information about where to get the form and how to submit it. Using SUN Bucks does not affect immigration status and is not considered under public charge. 

Please help us spread the word about this critical food assistance program. You can use the resources below to help educate families who need to apply for SUN Bucks:

• Kit de herramientas de mensajería para la divulgación de CAFB, which includes social media graphics and a newsletter/e-blast template.
• CAFB SUN Bucks flyers:
  • Inglés
  • Español
  • Chino
  • Arábica
  • Hmong
  • Coreano
  • Persian (Farsi)
  • Portugués
  • Punjabi
  • Ruso
  • Tagalo
  • Vietnamita
• Kit de herramientas de extensión del Departamento de Servicios Sociales de California, which includes flyers and infographics.

Kids can receive both SUN Bucks and summer meals. Families can find free nutritious meals for kids and teens at local summer meal sites; no sign-up or ID is required. 

Together, we can ensure that millions of children do not go to bed hungry this summer. If you have questions or need assistance accessing SUN Bucks, please call the California Department of Social Services’ statewide helpline at 877-328-9677.