Summer SUN Bucks (Formerly S-EBT)

For In-Person Students:

Students must meet the following requirements to qualify for SUN Bucks (S-EBT):

• Enrolled in a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and the School Breakfast Program (SBP).

• Qualifies for free or reduced eligibility*.

*Free or reduced eligibility is not determined by whether your student receives free meals at school.  A student must either be directly certified for free or reduced eligibility or must qualify for free or reduced eligibility based on a submitted Application for Educational Benefits.

For Online Students:

Online School students who also participate in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) are eligible to receive SUN Bucks (S-EBT). In some but not all cases, students who participate in Medicaid may also receive SUN Bucks (S-EBT).  Additionally, online students who are certified as foster or homeless will also qualify for benefits.

For students who already qualify for free or reduced eligibility:

• Ensure that household contact information is up-to-date in Campus, including parent or guardian name, address and phone number.  Contact your student's school if updates are needed.

For students whose family did not complete an Application for Educational Benefits:

• Complete an Application for Educational Benefits online. You will receive a letter in approximately 10 business days letting you know if your student qualifies for free, reduced or paid eligibility.  Only free or reduced students qualify for SUN Bucks (S-EBT) benefits.
• Ensure that household contact information is up-to-date in Campus, including parent or guardian name, address and phone number.  Contact your student's school if updates are needed.

For students who qualified for paid eligibility:

• Based on the information provided on your household's Application for Educational Benefits, your student currently does not qualify for SUN Bucks (S-EBT) benefits.  You are encouraged to complete a new application if your household income has decreased or your household size has increased since you completed your application, and to see if your student(s) now qualify for S-EBT benefits.

• Complete an Application for Educational Benefits online.  You will receive a letter in approximately 10 business days letting you know if your child qualifies for free, reduced or paid eligibility.  Only free or reduced students qualify for SUN Bucks (S-EBT) benefits.
• Ensure that household contact information is up-to-date in Campus, including parent or guardian name, address and phone number.  Contact your student's school if updates are needed.

Many students will receive their SUN Bucks cards in late May/early June, including all those who are: 

• Enrolled in Minnesota Family Investment Program, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, Medical Assistance (must meet income requirements) or in foster care before March 30, 2026. 

Some students will receive their SUN Bucks cards June through September, including: 

• Students who have an approved application for free and reduced-price school meals 
• Homeless and migrant students 
• Students who are enrolled on or after April 1 in the Minnesota Family Investment Program, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, Medical Assistance (must meet income requirements) 
• Students who are placed in foster care after April 1 

Complete this form if you would like to opt out of receiving SUN Bucks (Summer EBT) for your student.  By opting out, your student will NOT receive summer EBT benefits even if they are qualified to do so.  Complete a form for each student.

Cards for eligible students in the same household may arrive on different days.  Some reasons for this may include but are not limited to eligible student data being uploaded to the state on different days, delays in processing SUN Bucks cards at the State and/or delays in USPS mail delivery.  SPPS does not distribute the cards and we are not able to see when card were mailed.

To check on the:

• status of your Application for Educational Benefits, contact the Nutrition Services office at 651-748-7530 or email nutrition services.
• name and address that was sent to the state, contact the Business Office at  or email(preferred method of communication)
  • When leaving a voicemail message or email, be sure to include;
    • Parent/guardian name
    • Phone number
    • Address
    • Student's full name
    • Student's birthdate
• status of your SUN Bucks, contact the Minnesota SUN Bucks hotline at 651-431-4608