Is P-EBT still available in 2026?

No. P-EBT (Pandemic EBT) was a temporary COVID-19 program and has ended. It has been replaced by Summer EBT, branded as SUN Bucks, which is a permanent USDA program that pays about $120 per eligible child each summer. Some states issued final catch-up P-EBT payments for prior school years, but no new pandemic P-EBT is issued for the current school year.

How much is Summer EBT / SUN Bucks per child?

The standard benefit is about $40 per month per eligible child during the summer, totaling roughly $120 per child for a three-month summer. A family with three eligible children receives about $360. The exact per-month amount is set each year by USDA. Benefits are loaded onto an EBT card and spent at SNAP-accepting stores.

Do I need to apply for SUN Bucks?

Usually no. Most eligible children are enrolled automatically (direct certification) from SNAP, Medicaid, TANF, or school meal records. If your child is automatically enrolled, you will either receive a SUN Bucks card in the mail or the benefit will be added to your existing SNAP EBT card. A few states require a short Summer EBT application for school-meal-certified children who are not on SNAP/Medicaid; check your state program page or call 211.

Can I get SUN Bucks if I already get SNAP?

Yes. SUN Bucks is a separate benefit on top of SNAP. If you already receive SNAP, your child is directly certified and the SUN Bucks benefit is typically loaded onto your existing EBT card (or mailed as a separate card, depending on your state). It does not reduce your SNAP allotment.

Where can I spend SUN Bucks?

Anywhere that accepts SNAP EBT: most grocery stores and supermarkets, farmers markets, and authorized online retailers such as Amazon, Walmart, Target (via Shipt), ALDI (via Instacart), and Kroger. You can buy the same SNAP-eligible foods -- breads, cereals, fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, snacks, and non-alcoholic drinks. You cannot buy hot prepared foods, alcohol, tobacco, vitamins, pet food, or household supplies.

What is the difference between SUN Bucks and SUN Meals?

SUN Bucks (Summer EBT) is a grocery benefit -- about $120 per child -- loaded on an EBT card to buy food at stores. SUN Meals (the Summer Food Service Program) is free prepared meals served at community sites like schools, parks, and libraries during the summer. A child can receive both in the same summer.

Do SUN Bucks benefits expire?

Yes. Unused SUN Bucks typically expire a set number of months after issuance, and the expiration window varies by state (often around 122 days from issuance, but check your state). Use the benefits during the summer. You can check your balance the same way you check SNAP -- call the number on your card, use your state EBT portal, or use the free Providers app.

What if my state is not participating?

If your state has not yet opted in to Summer EBT, your child can still get free summer meals at any SUN Meals site (open to all children 18 and under, no application) and free groceries from a local food bank or pantry. Call 211 or visit our Food Banks Near Me guide. Federal law requires all states to participate in Summer EBT by 2027, so the gap is temporary.

Can I get SUN Bucks if I am undocumented or my child is undocumented?

SUN Bucks eligibility is based on the child and the household meeting the school meal or SNAP/Medicaid criteria -- not immigration status. School meal programs and Summer EBT do not require a Social Security number and do not report to immigration enforcement. Receiving SUN Bucks will not affect a public-charge determination. If your child is eligible through school meals, you can receive the benefit regardless of immigration status.

P-EBT and Summer EBT (SUN Bucks) — Food Benefits for Kids When School Is Out

P-EBT was the pandemic-era program that put food benefit dollars on an EBT card for children who lost access to free school meals. Summer EBT (now called SUN Bucks) is the permanent successor that pays about $120 per child each summer. Here is how it works, who qualifies, and how to get it.

Last updated: 2026-08-03

Quick Answer

P-EBT (Pandemic EBT) was a temporary USDA program created during COVID-19. When schools closed and free school meals were no longer available, P-EBT loaded the cash value of those missed meals onto an EBT card for eligible children. The pandemic-era P-EBT program has now ended, but it was replaced by a permanent program: Summer EBT, branded as SUN Bucks.

Summer EBT (SUN Bucks) is a permanent, nationwide USDA program created by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023. It provides grocery benefits to eligible school-age children during the summer months when they do not have access to free or reduced-price meals at school. The benefit is approximately $40 per month per child, which works out to about $120 per child for the summer. Benefits are loaded onto an EBT card that can be used at grocery stores, farmers markets, and authorized online retailers, just like SNAP.

A child is eligible for SUN Bucks if they are approved for free or reduced-price school meals through the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program, OR if they live in a household that receives SNAP, TANF, or Medicaid (with income under 185% of the federal poverty level). Children who are homeless, in foster care, in Head Start, or migrant are also categorically eligible. Most eligible children are enrolled automatically based on their school meal or SNAP/Medicaid records, so you may receive a card in the mail without applying.

States, territories, and tribes opt in to Summer EBT each year. As of summer 2026 most states participate, and federal law requires all states to participate by 2027. SUN Bucks is separate from SUN Meals (the Summer Food Service Program), which serves free prepared meals at community sites during the summer. A child can receive both SUN Bucks and SUN Meals. For the current-year participation list and your state program details, visit fns.usda.gov/snap/summer-ebt or call 211.

Eligibility at a Glance

Income Limits

Children in households with income at or below 185% of the federal poverty level (the same threshold used for free/reduced-price school meals). Most children qualify through direct certification (SNAP, TANF, Medicaid, foster, homeless, migrant, or Head Start) rather than a separate application.

Who Qualifies

--Children approved for free or reduced-price school meals through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or School Breakfast Program (SBP)
--Children in households receiving SNAP (food stamps)
--Children in households receiving TANF (cash assistance)
--Children in households receiving Medicaid with income under 185% FPL
--Children who are homeless, in foster care, or runaway/migrant
--Children enrolled in Head Start
--Children in schools or districts that participate in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) where all students eat free

Important Restrictions

--The child must attend a school that participates in the NSLP/SBP, or be eligible through a direct-certification program
--Most states issue benefits only for children enrolled in a participating school as of a set date in the prior school year
--SUN Bucks benefits do NOT carry over forever -- unused benefits typically expire a set number of months after issuance (varies by state)
--A child cannot receive duplicate SUN Bucks benefits from two states in the same summer

How to Apply — Step by Step

1.
Confirm your child is eligible
Your child is eligible if they are approved for free or reduced-price school meals, or if your household receives SNAP, TANF, or Medicaid (under 185% FPL). Children who are homeless, in foster care, migrant, or in Head Start are also eligible. If your child is not yet approved for school meals, submit a school meal application through your school.
2.
Check whether your state participates
Most states participate in Summer EBT as of 2026, and all must by 2027. Visit fns.usda.gov/snap/summer-ebt for the current participation list, or call 211 to ask whether SUN Bucks is available in your state this summer.
3.
Find out if you need to apply
Many eligible children are enrolled automatically from SNAP, Medicaid, or school meal records and do not need to apply. If your state requires a separate Summer EBT application, submit it before the state deadline. Check your state Summer EBT program page or call 211.
4.
Watch your mail for a SUN Bucks card
If your child is enrolled automatically, the state will either load SUN Bucks onto your existing SNAP EBT card or mail a new SUN Bucks card to the address on file. Make sure your address is current with your school and your state SNAP/EBT office.
5.
Use your benefits before they expire
SUN Bucks can be spent at any store that accepts SNAP. Benefits typically expire a set number of months after issuance (this varies by state), so use them during the summer. Check your balance by calling the number on your card, using your state EBT portal, or using the free Providers app.

P-EBT vs Summer EBT (SUN Bucks) -- What Is the Difference?

P-EBT (Pandemic EBT) was a temporary program created in 2020 in response to COVID-19 school closures. It reimbursed families for the value of free or reduced-price school meals their children missed while schools were closed or operating remotely. P-EBT was issued in 2020-2023 and has now ended in nearly all states. Some states issued final catch-up P-EBT payments for prior school years, but no new pandemic P-EBT is being issued for the current school year.

Summer EBT, branded by USDA as SUN Bucks, is the permanent successor. It was created by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 (Pub. L. 117-328) and is a standing, year-over-year USDA program -- not a temporary emergency measure. SUN Bucks pays a set grocery benefit to eligible children every summer so they can buy food when school meals are not available. It is separate from and in addition to any SNAP benefits the household already receives.

How Much Is the SUN Bucks Benefit?

The standard SUN Bucks benefit is approximately $40 per month per eligible child during the summer months, which totals about $120 per child for a standard three-month summer. The exact per-month figure is set each year by USDA and adjusts over time. Benefits are issued per child -- a family with three eligible children receives about $360 for the summer. The benefit is loaded onto an EBT card and can be spent at the same stores and retailers that accept SNAP: most grocery stores, supermarkets, farmers markets, and authorized online retailers such as Amazon, Walmart, Target (via Shipt), ALDI (via Instacart), and Kroger. SUN Bucks can be used to buy SNAP-eligible foods: breads and cereals, fruits and vegetables, meat, fish, poultry, dairy, snacks, and non-alcoholic beverages. It cannot be used for hot prepared foods, alcohol, tobacco, vitamins, pet food, or household supplies (unless the state runs an approved Restaurant Meals Program, which is rare for SUN Bucks).

How SUN Bucks Is Issued -- Automatic vs Application

Most eligible children are enrolled automatically (direct certification) and do not need to apply. If your child already receives SNAP, TANF, or Medicaid (under 185% FPL), or is certified for free/reduced-price school meals, the state already has the information it needs and will either load SUN Bucks onto your existing SNAP EBT card or mail a new SUN Bucks card to your address on file. Some states mail a separate SUN Bucks card even for SNAP households.

If your child is eligible through the school meal program but is not directly certified through SNAP/Medicaid, your state may issue benefits based on the school meal application you already filed, or it may ask you to submit a short Summer EBT application. Check your state program page (see the state links below) or call 211 to find out whether you need to apply in your state. If you have moved, update your address with your school and your state SNAP/EBT office so your card reaches you.

When Are Benefits Issued?

States issue SUN Bucks on different timelines, usually between late spring and mid-summer. Many states issue a single lump-sum payment of the full summer amount (about $120 per child) in one deposit; others split it across the summer months. The exact date depends on your state and your case. If you are enrolled automatically, watch your mail for a SUN Bucks card or a notice that benefits were added to your existing EBT card. If you do not receive benefits and believe your child is eligible, contact your state Summer EBT agency or call 211. You can check your EBT balance the same way you check SNAP -- call the number on the back of your card, use your state EBT portal, or use the free Providers app.

SUN Bucks vs SUN Meals (Summer Food Service Program)

USDA runs two separate summer food programs, and a child can use both:

1. SUN Bucks (Summer EBT) -- the grocery benefit described on this page, about $120 per child per summer, spent on an EBT card.

2. SUN Meals (the Summer Food Service Program, SFSP, and the NSLP Seamless Summer Option) -- free, prepared meals and snacks served at community sites such as schools, parks, libraries, churches, and community centers during the summer. SUN Meals are eaten on-site (most sites are open to all children 18 and under, no application needed). Some areas also offer SUN Meals To Go, which lets you pick up meals to take home.

A child who receives SUN Bucks can also eat free meals at a SUN Meals site. The two programs do not overlap or cancel each other out. To find a SUN Meals site near you, text FOOD to 304-304, visit fns.usda.gov/summer/site-locator, or call 211.

Which States Participate in Summer EBT?

States, territories, and federally recognized tribes must opt in to Summer EBT each year by notifying USDA. Participation has grown every year since the program began:

- Summer 2024: 35 states, all five U.S. territories, and two tribes participated. - Summer 2025: a larger group of states participated as more opted in. - Summer 2026: the majority of states participate. - Federal law requires all states to participate by 2027.

A handful of states declined to participate in the early years, but most have since joined or announced plans to join. If your state did not participate in the most recent summer, your child may still be able to get free summer meals through the SUN Meals program (see above) and free groceries through a local food bank (see our Food Banks guide). For the current-year list of participating states, visit fns.usda.gov/snap/summer-ebt and look for the state participation notice, or call your state SNAP agency / 211.

What If You Did Not Receive SUN Bucks?

If you believe your child is eligible but you did not receive SUN Bucks, take these steps: (1) Confirm your child is approved for free or reduced-price school meals. If not, submit a school meal application through your school -- eligibility for school meals is the most common path to SUN Bucks. (2) Make sure your address is current with your school and with your state SNAP/EBT office. Cards are mailed to the address on file. (3) Check whether your state required a separate Summer EBT application; if so, submit it before the deadline. (4) Contact your state Summer EBT agency (the agency that runs SNAP in your state). (5) Call 211 and ask to be connected with food assistance and benefits enrollment help. (6) If benefits were issued and never arrived, request a replacement EBT card from your state EBT customer service number. (7) If your household income has risen above the limit, your child may no longer be eligible -- but free summer meals at SUN Meals sites are open to all children regardless of income.

Using SUN Bucks With SNAP, WIC, and Food Banks

SUN Bucks is a separate benefit from SNAP and WIC, and a family can receive all three at the same time. SUN Bucks adds about $120 per child on top of your household SNAP allotment for the summer. WIC provides separate food for pregnant and postpartum women, infants, and children under 5. Food banks and pantries give free groceries to anyone in need, no questions asked. If SUN Bucks and SNAP are not enough to cover your household for the summer, visit our Food Banks Near Me guide to find a pantry, or call 211 for a referral. There is no limit on how many programs you can use -- if you need help, take it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is P-EBT still available in 2026?: No. P-EBT (Pandemic EBT) was a temporary COVID-19 program and has ended. It has been replaced by Summer EBT, branded as SUN Bucks, which is a permanent USDA program that pays about $120 per eligible child each summer. Some states issued final catch-up P-EBT payments for prior school years, but no new pandemic P-EBT is issued for the current school year.
How much is Summer EBT / SUN Bucks per child?: The standard benefit is about $40 per month per eligible child during the summer, totaling roughly $120 per child for a three-month summer. A family with three eligible children receives about $360. The exact per-month amount is set each year by USDA. Benefits are loaded onto an EBT card and spent at SNAP-accepting stores.
Who is eligible for SUN Bucks?: Children approved for free or reduced-price school meals through the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program, and children in households receiving SNAP, TANF, or Medicaid (under 185% of the federal poverty level). Children who are homeless, in foster care, migrant, or enrolled in Head Start are categorically eligible. Children at Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) schools where all students eat free are also covered.
Do I need to apply for SUN Bucks?: Usually no. Most eligible children are enrolled automatically (direct certification) from SNAP, Medicaid, TANF, or school meal records. If your child is automatically enrolled, you will either receive a SUN Bucks card in the mail or the benefit will be added to your existing SNAP EBT card. A few states require a short Summer EBT application for school-meal-certified children who are not on SNAP/Medicaid; check your state program page or call 211.
Can I get SUN Bucks if I already get SNAP?: Yes. SUN Bucks is a separate benefit on top of SNAP. If you already receive SNAP, your child is directly certified and the SUN Bucks benefit is typically loaded onto your existing EBT card (or mailed as a separate card, depending on your state). It does not reduce your SNAP allotment.
Where can I spend SUN Bucks?: Anywhere that accepts SNAP EBT: most grocery stores and supermarkets, farmers markets, and authorized online retailers such as Amazon, Walmart, Target (via Shipt), ALDI (via Instacart), and Kroger. You can buy the same SNAP-eligible foods -- breads, cereals, fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, snacks, and non-alcoholic drinks. You cannot buy hot prepared foods, alcohol, tobacco, vitamins, pet food, or household supplies.
What is the difference between SUN Bucks and SUN Meals?: SUN Bucks (Summer EBT) is a grocery benefit -- about $120 per child -- loaded on an EBT card to buy food at stores. SUN Meals (the Summer Food Service Program) is free prepared meals served at community sites like schools, parks, and libraries during the summer. A child can receive both in the same summer.
Do SUN Bucks benefits expire?: Yes. Unused SUN Bucks typically expire a set number of months after issuance, and the expiration window varies by state (often around 122 days from issuance, but check your state). Use the benefits during the summer. You can check your balance the same way you check SNAP -- call the number on your card, use your state EBT portal, or use the free Providers app.
What if my state is not participating?: If your state has not yet opted in to Summer EBT, your child can still get free summer meals at any SUN Meals site (open to all children 18 and under, no application) and free groceries from a local food bank or pantry. Call 211 or visit our Food Banks Near Me guide. Federal law requires all states to participate in Summer EBT by 2027, so the gap is temporary.
Can I get SUN Bucks if I am undocumented or my child is undocumented?: SUN Bucks eligibility is based on the child and the household meeting the school meal or SNAP/Medicaid criteria -- not immigration status. School meal programs and Summer EBT do not require a Social Security number and do not report to immigration enforcement. Receiving SUN Bucks will not affect a public-charge determination. If your child is eligible through school meals, you can receive the benefit regardless of immigration status.

Helpful Resources

USDA Summer EBT (SUN Bucks)
The official USDA Food and Nutrition Service Summer EBT page with the current-year state participation list, benefit amounts, and program rules.
USDA SUN Programs (summer food for kids)
USDA hub for all summer food programs for kids: SUN Bucks, SUN Meals, and SUN Meals To Go.
Find a SUN Meals site near you
Free summer meal sites for children 18 and under. You can also text FOOD to 304-304.
EBT Card -- Check Your Balance
How to check your EBT balance, where to use it, and what to do if your card is lost or stolen.
SNAP (Food Stamps) -- How to Apply
If your income makes you eligible for SNAP, your child is automatically eligible for SUN Bucks.
WIC Benefits -- Who Qualifies
Separate food benefits for pregnant women, infants, and children under 5. You can receive WIC and SUN Bucks at the same time.
Food Banks Near Me
Free groceries from local food banks and pantries if your benefits are not enough.
Call 211 for Local Help
Dial 211 or visit 211.org to find Summer EBT help, summer meal sites, and food pantries near you.

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Disclaimer: This is informational only, not legal or professional advice. Benefits, eligibility rules, and program availability may vary by state and change over time. Contact your local office or call 211 for the most current information about programs in your area. For legal advice about your benefits, contact a legal aid organization near you.