Sun Bucks Program

What are SUN Bucks?

SUN Bucks, also known as Summer EBT (S-EBT), is a federal program that helps families by giving them money to buy groceries during the summer when children are not in school. During the summer, families that qualify for this program will get $120 for each child that’s part of the program. This money will be on a card that works like a debit card (called an EBT card). Parents can use this card to buy healthy food at places like grocery stores, farmers markets, and some online retailers.

Who is eligible for SUN Bucks?

Most children who are eligible to receive SUN Bucks benefits will receive them without needing to complete a SUN Bucks application.

In general, children who are income-eligible, able to be directly certified, or categorically eligible for free or reduced price (FRP) school meals are eligible for SUN Bucks.

Two ways students can get SUN Bucks

Automatically eligible (No Application Needed):

• • Your school-aged child has been approved for free or reduced-priced meals by having filled out a school meals application in a school participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or School Breakfast Program (SBP).
  • Your child’s school reported your child as homeless, a migrant, or a runaway.
  • Your child received SNAP, Medicaid (only those on Medicaid categories 401, 403, MA-SSI, or DDW), or TANF anytime during the school year.
  • Your child is officially placed in foster care by New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) under Title IV-B or Title IV-E of the Social Security Act (42 USC section 621 et seq.). This does not include informal or private caregiving arrangements that are outside of the state or court system.

Apply for SUN Bucks:

• • Must attend an NSLP/SBP participating school.
  • If your student does not have an approved NSLP/SBP application on file with the school.
  • If your student attends a school that participates in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program and provides free meals for all, they are not automatically eligible and may still need to apply to receive the SunBucks benefit.
  • Have a household income that is less than 185% FPL.
  • Reside in the state of NM.

* There will be some students who are not eligible for SUN Bucks. Students who are not automatically eligible will need to apply; however, if a student does not attend an NSLP/SBP participating school, the student is not eligible for SUN Bucks. Some Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) and Private schools do not participate in NSLP/SBP.*

Is there an application?

Children attending a NSLP/SBP school who are not otherwise automatically eligible may apply.

Application

Online and Paper application available through the YesNM website.

Reminder: Before applying for SUN Bucks, please use the eligibility checker to see if you qualify and whether you need to submit an application. If an application is required, a download link will be provided.

When will children receive SUN Bucks?

For the School Year of 2025-2026, issuance is to be determined.

How will families get the child’s SUN Bucks?

A new SUN Bucks EBT card will be mailed out to newly eligible students (if multiple eligible kids in the same household, benefits will be placed on the oldest siblings card). For those children who received in 2025, the benefits will be deposited onto the card issued then, as long as the parent/guardian and address did not change. If both parent/guardian and address changed a new card will be mailed to that address. 

For those children that are on SNAP, TANF or MAGI-Children Medicaid, the address on file with HCA will be used to mail the card. For those other children eligible, the address provided by the school will be used to mail the card. Each year the child is eligible, the benefit will go onto that existing card.

Make sure your child’s school — or SNAP, MAGI-Children Medicaid, or TANF — has the correct mailing address on file.

Do the SUN Bucks on a child’s card expire?

Yes.

Families will have 122 days to use the benefits from the date they are issued. If there is any unspent benefit on the 122nd day, the benefits will be removed from the child’s card. After, benefits are expunged, they can not be reissued.

A notice will go out to the families 30 days prior to expungement warning them of the unspent amount on the card.

Will this impact becoming a citizen?

No. If a parent, a child, or family member is a non-citizen receiving SUN Bucks, this does not affect immigration status and will not make you a public charge.

What if I applied for my child and do not agree with the outcome?

Fair Hearing requests can be submitted to NMPED, MichaelA.Chavez@ped.nm.gov or call: (505) 827-5800 within 90 days after the end of the summer operational period.

Where can I use SUN Bucks?

Use it the same as SNAP benefits. Parents can use this card to buy healthy food at places like grocery stores, farmers markets, and some online retailers You can also use your card where you see the Quest logo.