SUN Bucks

SUN Bucks

SUN Bucks (also known as Summer EBT) is a federal benefit that families receive once a year to buy healthy food for eligible children during school summer vacation.

Maine is issuing $120 in SUN Bucks to eligible children for the summer of 2024. Nearly 100,000 students were automatically enrolled.

  • Nearly 72,000 students who were automatically certified for SUN Bucks will have benefits available on their existing P-EBT or household Pine Tree cards June 28, 2024.
  • Over 27,000 students who were automatically certified for SUN Bucks will have new Pine Tree cards mailed to them between July 8 and August 2, 2024. Benefits will be available for use immediately upon receipt of the new card.
  • Additional students may be automatically certified for SUN Bucks based on information gathered between April 1 and August 15, 2024.
  • Families who were not automatically certified but believe they have eligible children can apply for SUN Bucks.

How do I apply?

Most students will be determined eligible for SUN Bucks based on their participation in or eligibility for other programs. Their families will be notified and these students don’t need to apply for SUN Bucks as they will be automatically enrolled. If you did not receive notice that your child would be automatically enrolled and think they may be eligible, you can apply beginning June 1, 2024. 

Who is eligible for SUN Bucks?

  • School aged children (at least age 6 but under 17) who were participating in one of the following programs during the 2023-2024 school year are eligible to be automatically certified for SUN Bucks:
    • The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
    • Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
    • Food Distribution on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)
    • Foster Care
  • Students who were determined individually eligible for federally funded free or reduced-price meals at their school are eligible for SUN Bucks.
    • Some may have been found eligible based on a free or reduced-price meals application.
    • Some may have been found eligible based on an Alternative Economic Status Form.
  • School aged children (at least age 6 but under 17) are eligible to be automatically certified for SUN Bucks if, during the 2023-2024 school year they were:
    • Receiving MaineCare and had household income below 185% of the federal poverty level (FPL).
    • Homeless
    • Part of a family engaged in migrant agricultural work.
  • Children who are not automatically certified and are not attending an NSLP participating school are not eligible for SUN Bucks regardless of other circumstances. Students who only received free meals because everyone at their school received free meals or who are attending a school that does not participate in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) are not eligible for SUN Bucks unless they are found eligible another way.

SUN Bucks Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

When will most people receive access to their SUN Bucks benefits?
  • Automatically certified students who already had a P-EBT or Pine Tree Card have benefits available on those cards June 28, 2024.
  • Due to the extraordinary number of students eligible for new SUN Bucks cards, new Pine Tree Cards for people who don't have a current card will be shipped between July 8-August 2, 2024 based on county of residences. Please allow 5 business days for delivery.
  • Eligible families who applied for SUN Bucks in June will have their benefits issued near the end of July. Those who apply in July will have theirs issued near the end of August. Those who apply in August will have theirs issued near the end of September. 
Where can I use an EBT card?

You can use an EBT card, known as a Pine Tree card, at any retailer that participates in the SNAP program, including grocery stores and farmers markets, to purchase healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables, meats, and other protein sources, whole grains, and dairy.

  • In Person Purchasing:
    • Most stores that accept EBT will display a SNAP or Quest logo. You can also find a store near you that accepts SNAP by entering your zip code in the USDA SNAP Retail Locator.
  • Online Purchasing:
    • SUN Bucks can be used to purchase eligible food items online at participating retailers for delivery or curbside pick-up purchases. A list of participating retailers in Maine is available from the USDA SNAP Online Purchasing Pilot.
    • Protect your identity and benefits when shopping online.

Only send your EBT information over a secure network.

  • Do not use public computers or WiFi such as:
    • Libraries,
    • Complementary WiFi at restaurants, or
    • Other shared WiFi such as at hotels.
  • Secure your home Wifi by updating your router's password/key.
  • If you are using your cellphone and are not connected to a secure network, use your data plan.

More tips are available from the US Federal Trade Commission Online Shopping Security Tips.

Will I receive more funding on this card or receive another card in the future?

Each eligible child will receive SUN Bucks only once this year.

If you are eligible for future years of SUN Bucks or other benefits such as SNAP or TANF, those benefits will be issued to this card.

My family doesn’t use SNAP. Why am I receiving SUN Bucks benefits?

Some families who are not enrolled in SNAP are eligible for SUN Bucks. See Who is Eligible for SUN Bucks (above).

How do I set up my pin for my EBT card?

Call the number on the back of the card, (800) 477-7428. You will need to enter the child’s date of birth and the last four digits of their Social Security Number (SS#). If the child does not have an SS# or it was not provided to OFI you will need to enter 9999.

How do I check my balance?

You can check the balance by calling the number on the back of the card, (800) 477-7428. You will need to provide the card number and the card holder's name and date of birth.

If you no longer have the card, you can call (855) 797-4357 to order a replacement card.

Why did I receive multiple cards?

Cards are issued for each eligible child not on SNAP. If your children were not on SNAP, you received a card for each eligible child.

I didn’t ask for SUN Bucks and I do not want it. What do I do with the card?

If you do not wish to use the card, you can simply cut up and discard it. Unused benefits will be returned to the U.S. Department of Agriculture 122 days after issuance, regardless of spending activity. The benefits may not be used to purchase food for anyone outside of your child’s household.

Were SUN Bucks benefits issued to the P-EBT card I received before?

Yes. If your child received a P-EBT card, their SUN Bucks benefits were issued on the same card. If you need a replacement card you can request one using the Maine EBT Online Portalor by calling (800) 477-7428.

Do home-schooled children qualify for SUN Bucks?

Home schooled children may be automatically certified if between 7/1/23 and 8/15/24, they were 6-16 years of age and:

  • Receiving SNAP, TANF, or FDPIR,
  • In a household receiving MaineCare with income under 185% FPL, or
  • Homeless, in foster care, or in a household engaging in migrant agricultural work.

To be eligible via application, they would have needed to have been enrolled in an NSLP school for at least part of the 2023-2024 school year.

Do children attending fully virtual schools qualify for SUN Bucks?

Children attending full virtual schools may be automatically certified if between 7/1/23 and 8/15/24, they were 6-16 years of age and:

  • Receiving SNAP, TANF, or FDPIR,
  • In a household receiving MaineCare with income under 185% FPL, or
  • Homeless, in foster care, or in a household engaging in migrant agricultural work.

To be eligible via application, they would have needed to have been enrolled in an NSLP school for at least part of the 2023-2024 school year.

Do children attending non-NSLP private schools qualify for SUN Bucks?

They may be automatically certified if between 7/1/23 and 8/15/24, they were 6-16 years of age and:

  • Receiving SNAP, TANF, or FDPIR,
  • In a household receiving MaineCare with income under 185% FPL, or
  • Homeless, in foster care, or in a household engaging in migrant agricultural work.

To be eligible via application, they would have needed to have been enrolled in an NSLP school for at least part of the 2023-2024 school year.

My kids got free meals at school, why didn’t they get SUN Bucks?

Students who only received free meals because everyone at their school received free meals are not eligible for SUN Bucks unless they are found eligible another way. This includes:

  • Students at CEP or Provision II Schools,
  • Students receiving state funded free meals, and
  • Students at non-NSLP private schools receiving endowment funded free meals.
If I received P-EBT benefits before, was SUN Bucks automatically added to my card this time?

No. SUN Bucks has different eligibility criteria (see above) and is redetermined each year.

Can I apply for SUN Bucks?

SUN Bucks applications are available at maine.gov/dhhs/ofi/applications-forms, and can be accepted through August 15, 2024.

How long will SUN Bucks benefits last?

Cards must be activated within 45 days of receipt. Unused benefits will be removed from the card 122 days after issuance, regardless of spending activity.

Non-discrimination Statement

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

  1. mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
  2. fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
  3. email: Program.Intake@usda.gov

The Maine Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination because of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, religion, ancestry or national origin.

Complaints of discrimination must be filed at the office of the Maine Human Rights Commission, 51 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04333-0051. If you wish to file a discrimination complaint electronically, visit the Human Rights Commission website and complete an intake questionnaire.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Waiver Requests

Maine has submitted and FNS has approved a timeliness waiver (PDF) for SUN Bucks for the summer of 2024.