SUN Bucks

Many students will be automatically approved for it and will receive a card sent to the mailing address on the school file, but if you need to apply, take the interactive eligibility quiz.

Important Note: You’ll need to apply if your child attends a National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) school and your household income is within the program’s threshold, but your child does not fit into any of the following categories: 

• Children ages 7-16 who participate in the following programs

  • Food and Nutrition Services (FNS, food stamps)

  • Work First (cash assistance)

  • Medicaid

  • Foster care

  • McKinney-Vento (experiencing homelessness or runaway)

  • Cherokee Tribal Food Distribution Program (CTFDP)

• Children who submitted a SUN Bucks application after July 1st and were approved for SUN Bucks AND they are enrolled again this year in an NSLP school.

For more information, please visit the SUN Bucks Eligibility section on the Sun Bucks site.

Before applying for SUN Bucks assistance, make sure you have the following materials:

• Student ID

• School Name

• Case Number*

• Household Income

*Only required if you participate in Food and Nutrition Services (FNS), Work First (TANF), or CTFDP (Tribal food distribution).

For more information, please visit the North Carolina SUN Bucks Application site.

The maximum monthly benefits can vary every year. The 2026 SUN Bucks benefit amount is $120 for the summer period.

For more information, please visit the SUN Bucks benefit section on the SUN Bucks site.

Benefits are disbursed in May.

For more information, please visit the receive a SUN Bucks card section on the SUN Bucks site.

There are three ways to check your SUN Bucks benefits:

1. Visit the ebtEDGE site

2. Call 1-888-622-7328

3. Download the ebtEDGE mobile app

For more information, please visit the SUN Bucks card balance section on the SUN Bucks site.

1. How do I receive my SUN Bucks?

   The SUN Bucks card will be sent to the mailing address on the school's file. 

   If there is no valid mailing address on file, households will need to contact the North Carolina EBT Call Center at 1-866-719-0141, select their language, and SELECT OPTION 2 to provide an address where the SUN Bucks card should be mailed.

   For more information, please visit the receive SUN Bucks section on the SUN Bucks site.

2. When do benefits expire?

   They expire 122 days after they have been issued. You will be notified by email or text approximately 30-days before your benefits expiration date. Any unspent SUN Bucks benefits will expire after these 30 days and can no longer be used.

   For more information, please visit the Do Benefits Expire section on the SUN Bucks site.

3. What places accept SUN Bucks?

   SUN Bucks are accepted at the same places SNAP is accepted: most major grocery stores, some farmers markets, and some online retailers.

   To find places near you that accept SUN Bucks, use the SNAP Retailer Locator.

   For more information, please visit the how will I get my benefits section on the SNAP site.

4. How can I access benefits?

   Benefits are accessed with an activation pin (date of birth (MMDDYYYY) of the youngest eligible school-aged child in your household).

   For more information, please visit the activate my SUN Bucks card on the SUN Bucks site.

5. Who can I contact for additional help?

   For additional help, you can call the NC EBT Call Center at 1-866-719-0141.