The Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) has announced the opening of the 2025 application period for the SUN Bucks program, aimed at assisting families in offsetting food costs over the summer break.
Formerly known as Summer EBT, the federal program provides a one-time benefit of $120 per eligible school-aged child to support nutritious grocery purchases.
Why SUN Bucks is Important “Children and teenagers need consistent access to healthy foods to grow and thrive, and summer is a time when many of them lose access to the healthy meals they receive at school,” said DCF Secretary Laura Howard.
“SUN Bucks can help fill the gap by providing families a small boost with helping to put nutritious food on their tables.”
Automatic Enrollment for Many Families Many families will automatically receive the SUN Bucks benefit without the need to apply.
According to DCF, households with eligible children who can be identified by the department will receive a notification letter in January 2025.
These families will have their SUN Bucks benefits added to their existing Kansas Benefits Card (EBT card) or issued a new card, which will be mailed to their home in April 2025.
How to Apply for SUN Bucks Families who do not receive a notification letter but believe their child is eligible for SUN Bucks are encouraged to apply. Applications will be accepted from Monday, January 27, 2025, through 5 p.m. on Friday, August 29, 2025.
Steps to Apply:
- Visit the DCF online self-service portal: dcfapp.kees.ks.gov.
- Create an account or log into an existing DCF self-service account.
- Complete and submit the SUN Bucks application.
Benefit Issuance Timeline Benefits for approved applicants will begin issuing in April 2025.
Important Notes for Families
- Families should ensure their contact information with DCF is up-to-date to avoid delays.
- The $120 benefit per eligible child is intended to help families purchase nutritious food during the summer months.
- If families need assistance with the application process, they can contact their local DCF office for guidance.
Fulfilling a Crucial Need The SUN Bucks program aims to address food insecurity for Kansas children during the summer months when school-based meal programs are unavailable.
By providing financial support for groceries, DCF hopes to help families maintain healthy and balanced diets for their children throughout the break.
For additional information or assistance, families can contact DCF or visit their online portal.
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