SunBucks Benefits

What are SunBucks?

SUN Bucks offer families $120 per eligible child to help purchase groceries during the summer months of June, July, and August. The benefits are loaded onto an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card and can be used like CalFresh to buy food items such as fruits, vegetables, meat, eggs, whole grains, and dairy at most grocery stores, farmers’ markets, and other participating retailers.

Who Is Automatically Eligible (Streamlined Certification)

Most eligible children are enrolled in SUN Bucks through a process called streamlined certification, which happens automatically for those who meet the following criteria:

Children ages 6–18 whose families receive CalFresh, CalWORKs, or Medi-Cal benefits (with income verified at or below 185% of the Federal Poverty Level).
Students identified as foster youth, experiencing homelessness, or participating in migrant education services.

The Alternate Income Form Cannot Qualify Your Child for SUN Bucks

If your child isn’t automatically eligible through public assistance programs or categorical eligibility (such as migrant, foster, or homeless status), you must complete a Universal Benefits Application (UBA) to be considered for SUN Bucks. The Alternate Income Form alone cannot be used to qualify for this

Resources

Before You Apply

What You’ll Need to Complete the Application:

Names of all students in your household who are enrolled in school, spelled exactly as they appear on school records. Be sure to indicate if any student is in foster care, experiencing homelessness, or receiving migrant education services.
Any personal income for each student, including the amount and how often it’s received.
The case number for any household member (including yourself) currently receiving benefits from CalFresh, CalWORKs/Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), or the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR).
Names of all other household members (not including the students listed above) and their income amounts (in whole dollars) from:
- Wages or earnings from work (before deductions)
- Public assistance, child support, or alimony
- Pensions, retirement, or Social Security (SSI)
- Any other sources of income
- Note: If a household member has no income, enter “0.” Leaving a section blank means you confirm there’s no income to report.
The total number of people living in your household.
Contact information and signature:
Include the printed name of an adult household member, their signature, mailing address, city, state, zip code, email, daytime phone number, and the date.

Eligibility for this benefit is based on the Income Eligibility Scales for the 2025–26 school year.

Apply for SUN Bucks by completing the Universal Benefits Application

Please download, print, and complete the application linked below. You can also pick up a copy at our school district office, which is located at:

201 S. Steckel Dr. Santa Paula, CA 93060

English Universal Benefits Application

Spanish Universal Benefits Application

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the application deadline for SUN Bucks?

When will families receive their SUN Bucks card?

Children automatically enrolled (Stage 1) will begin receiving SUN Bucks EBT cards by mail starting in June 2025, with deliveries continuing through July 2025.

Cards will be sent alphabetically by the student’s last name.

For children approved through an application (Stage 2), cards will begin arriving in August 2025. Every eligible child will still receive the full $120 benefit regardless of when the card arrives.

If you applied, were found eligible, but haven’t received a card by November 30, 2025, contact the SUN Bucks Helpline. Funds are added to each card two days after it’s sent.

How long do I have to spend my SUN Bucks?

SUN Bucks benefits must be used within 122 days of being loaded onto your card. Any remaining balance after that time will expire and cannot be recovered.
If your household also receives CalFresh, it’s a good idea to use your SUN Bucks first, since those benefits expire sooner. You can check your exact expiration date by calling the helpline or using the ebtEDGE app.

Is a Universal Benefits Application (UBA) required for school meals?

How do I manage my SUN Bucks card and set my PIN?

Will receiving SUN Bucks affect my immigration status?

Can I decline SUN Bucks benefits?

Why is my address important, and how do I update it?

It’s essential that your current address is up to date so your benefits card can be mailed to you. You can update your address by contacting your child’s school, your local social services office, or through BenefitsCal.com.

If a student’s address isn’t listed in CALPADS, the card may be sent to your school district office instead. SPUSD will update student addresses in CALPADS based on the UBA if they find a difference. You can also update your address by calling the SUN Bucks Helpline.

Is there a verification process for SUN Bucks applications?

Yes. To maintain program accuracy, some approved UBA applications will be randomly selected for verification. If your application is chosen, you’ll be contacted and asked to submit documents. If you don’t respond or provide the necessary information, your benefits could be denied or stopped. Benefits for applications under review won’t be issued until the verification process is complete.

For More Information

If you have questions about the status of your application, please contact the SUN Bucks Helpline at (877) 328-9677. If you have questions about completing your application, please contact nutrition specialist, Gonzalo Paz, at (805)933-8869 or by e-mail at gpaz@santapaulausd.org .