PD 24-09: SUN Bucks

Date: 06/07/24
To: DEBS Staff
From: Ana Guitron, WOOC SSA BPIS and Tino Sacasa, SSA BPIS
Reference: ACWDL 05/28/24

Background

In December 2022, Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, which created a new, permanent Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (S-EBT) program for states to provide food benefits to families with school-age children and low-income over the summer months beginning in 2024. The California Department of Social Services (CDSS)is the lead agency, in partnership with the California Department of Education (CDE), to maximize S-EBT program participation for summer 2024. S-EBT has been rebranded to “SUN Bucks".

 

Guidance

CDSS is responsible for the implementation of SUN Bucks, not counties. Santa Clara County is expected to have a general understanding of SUN Bucks to be able to share information and availability of SUN Bucks with eligible families.

SUN Bucks 

SUN Bucks will provide $40 per month (A total benefit of $120 for June, July, and August of 2024) to children who qualify for free or reduced-priced school meals. Eligibility for SUN Bucks is automatic for children who qualify for free or reduced-price school meals (FRPM) through a school meal application, an Alternative Income Form, or receive CalFresh, CalWORKs, or Medi-Cal.

 

SUN Bucks Eligibility

 

All children who are determined eligible for FRPM are eligible for SUN Bucks. Children are determined eligible for FRPM through: 

  1. A school meal application, or an Alternative Income Form,
  2. Receipt of CalWORKs, CalFresh, or Medi-Cal benefits (under 185% FPL), or
  3. Categorical eligibility for FRPM established by attending Head Start, experiencing homelessness, being in Foster Care, is a runaway, or being part of a migrant family.

 

Families who are eligible for SUN Bucks benefits but were not identified through the streamlined certification process should know they need to apply for FRPM by August 31, 2024. Families can be referred to the  SUN Bucks webpage for more information on how to apply.


SUN Bucks does not affect eligibility for CalFresh and families may receive SUN Bucks and CalFresh, at the same time. 


A list of children eligible for SUN Bucks who use a county office for mail pick-up will be available and provided to district offices once this information has been provided to Santa Clara County. 

 

SUN Bucks EBT Cards

 

The SUN Bucks EBT cards look the same as the Golden State Advantage EBT card. All SUN Bucks cards will arrive in the mail with a card insert containing information on how the family can activate the card. SUN Bucks cards can be used just like regular EBT cards. SUN Bucks cards will be accepted at all locations where CalFresh EBT cards are accepted, including grocery stores, farmer’s markets, and approved online grocery retailers.

 

Initial Card Issuance:

  • Each eligible child will receive a SUN Bucks card with $120 in food benefits. This means that if a family has four eligible children, they will receive four separate EBT cards.
  • SUN Bucks cards will be mailed alphabetically by last name (A-Z) to the address on file in CALPADS or CalSAWS, depending on the method by which the child was determined eligible. 


For summer 2024, S-EBT cards can only be mailed to households by California’s EBT vendor, Fidelity Information Systems (FIS). Over-the-counter issuance of S-EBT cards is not permitted.

 

SUN Bucks Expungement

 

SUN Bucks benefits are subject to expungement 122 days after available funds are loaded on the card and cannot be restored or replaced once expunged.

 

SUN Bucks Helpline Cardholder Support and Resources

 

The SUN Bucks Helpline (877) 328-9677 can support the following:

  • General information and case-specific questions
  • Personal Identification Number (PIN) set-up support
  • Card replacement requests
  • Demographic updates, such as new mailing address
  • Program opt-out requests
  • Eligibility and Benefit disputes


Clients can also be referred to the  SUN Bucks frequently asked questions (FAQ) homepage for more information.

 

Eligibility Worker`s Role


Eligibility Workers (EW)s are only expected to have a general understanding of SUN Bucks in order to provide information to eligible clients. Clients may be referred to the SUN Bucks Helpline (877) 328-9677. Clients can also be referred to the SUN Bucks frequently asked questions (FAQ) homepage for more information.  

 

Clerical Staff Role


SUN Bucks cards may arrive at district offices for school-aged children who are receiving CalFresh, CalWORKs, or Medi-Cal, and are experiencing homelessness, using a county office address for mail pick-up. District offices must follow normal office procedures related to the retrieval of mail by homeless households.

For any further issues (i.e., PIN change, card replacements) clients must be referred to the SUN Bucks Helpline (877) 328-9677. They may also be referred to the SUN Bucks webpage for more information.

 

 

 

Implementation

This guidance is effective immediately.