With news of the $120 payments spreading, some states will see millions of selected families receiving help to purchase the groceries needed to keep their families healthy this holiday. The payment date has been confirmed for the groups in the respective states who will be receiving benefits from the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) program which is often referred to as SUN Bucks. The once-off payment will be given to eligible families to assist them to ensure all children are fed during the school holidays since during this time many children will not receive the free school meals that they have become accustomed to.
Eligibility criteria to receive these beneficial SUN Bucks
Some citizens who are in line to reap the rewards of this federal program are the same citizens who are enrolled in other federal assistance programs as well as school meal programs. Qualifying children and their families must meet a few eligibility rules to receive SUN Bucks such as:
- They must live in a household that is already part of the SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), FDPIR (Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations), or Medicaid program.
- Children must also be part of either the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or School Breakfast Program (SBP).
- Qualifying families must meet the income threshold put in place in order to receive these benefits.
For most families who are part of programs like SNAP or TANF, they will automatically receive these benefits when payment gets distributed. There is an option for families to apply for this benefit if they feel that they qualify. Families can visit their state’s Summer EBT portal to apply for this benefit.
How the $120 benefit needs to be spent?
There are some purchasing rules for citizens receiving SUN Bucks. While core nutritional needs are catered for with these SUN Bucks, some unhealthy or unnecessary items cannot be purchased with the EBT card.
Food items that are recommended and can be purchased are:
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Dairy products
- Proteins
- Grains and cereals
- Non-alcoholic beverages
The whole goal of this program is to ensure that children stay well-fed and healthy during their school break and as such only groceries deemed essential can be purchased.
What payment date has been set for the distribution of payments?
All states participating in this program have their payment schedules confirmed. All eligible children will receive their $120 benefit on their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card which can be used at the same stores that accept SNAP payments. Like with SNAP payments, citizens must use expert advice to get the most out of their SNAP benefits and this benefit too.
Every state will distribute payments on different dates. Some payments have started going out from late May or in June, but citizens still awaiting payments will receive these payments in July or August.
Aside from the payment dates differing according to the respective states, the way payment gets issued also differs. Payments can be distributed as:
- A lump sum payment where the full $120 is uploaded on the EBT card.
- Three monthly payments of $40 from May to July or from June to August.
Payments will be received by eligible recipients in the 35 participating states some of which are California, New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania, North Carolina to name but a few.
What should citizens note about SUN Bucks?
According to the USDA Food and Nutrition Service, millions of families will benefit from this summer’s EBT program. All participating families must ensure that their mailing addresses and account information are updated at their local benefit offices.
Families must remember that the summer EBT program has been put in place to assist families to manage the financial burdens that the school holidays bring and all the funds on the EBT cards must be within 122 days of receiving these funds. Any unused funds will expire. Families must continue to stay aware of the latest SNAP benefit updates too.
Disclaimer: Our coverage of stimulus checks, tax reliefs, tax rebates, tax credits, and other payments is based on the official sources listed in the article. All payment amounts and dates, as well as eligibility requirements, are subject to change by the governing institutions. Always consult the official source we provide to stay up to date and obtain information for your decision-making.
