If you do not receive your SunBucks funds over the summer, and you believe you're eligible, you may not have been identified as eligible until after March 29, 2024, and will receive these funds in September through November 2024. Call CDSS Customer Service center at 1-877-328-9677 with questions.

General Information About Summer EBT Program

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) and the California Department of Education's Summer EBT (S-EBT) 2024 Plan of Operations and Management (POM) has officially been approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). This approved plan outlines California’s strategies for ensuring an estimated 5.2 million children across our state will receive critical food benefits this summer.

Eligibility 

Eligibility for 2024 S-EBT benefits will automatically be determined by the CDSS using data from the California Statewide Automated Welfare System (CalSAWs) and free and reduced-price meal (FRPM) eligibility records in the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System (CALPADS). Children determined eligible for S-EBT benefits through CALPADS must be directly certified, or FRPM eligible through a National School Lunch Program meal application or alternative income form. 

For summer 2024, no separate S-EBT application is required. S-EBT benefits will continue to be administered through August 31, 2024, so SFAs are encouraged to continue making eligibility determinations and routinely updating CALPADS through this date.

Benefit Issuance Timeline

The tentative benefit issuance timeline is as follows:

• Phase 1—Public school students determined eligible through CALPADS or public assistance programs on or before March 29, 2024, and private school children determined eligible as of April 16, 2024. Households will begin receiving benefits mid-June through August 31, 2024.
• Phase 2—Students newly identified as eligible from March 30, 2024, through August 31, 2024. Households will receive benefits September through November 2024.

For additional information on S-EBT please visit the CDSS Sun BUCKS web page at SUN Bucks (ca.gov).

Additionally, the CDSS recorded two S-EBT webinars which may be viewed at the links below:

• Pandemic EBT Outcomes and Summer EBT (SUN Bucks) Introduction webinar (Video, 1:02:49).
• SUN Bucks – A New Summer EBT Program Coming in 2024 webinar (Video, 1:03:25).

Contact Information

For household questions, families can contact the CDSS Customer Service center at 1-877-328-9677.