SUN Bucks - Summer EBT

SUN Bucks is a federal food benefit that helps low-income families with school-aged children buy groceries when schools are closed for the summer.

It replaces Summer EBT. Scroll down to learn more.

Need More Help? Summer Eats Sites Are Open, too!

Find Summer Eats Sites Near You

What's Different This Year?

SUN Bucks Retailer Poster (1)

SUN Bucks is Summer EBT with a fresh new image and name. The program is managed in partnership by the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance and the Department of Secondary and Elementary Education.

It provides $40 per month per child, paid in a one-time payment of $120, to help supplement the food budgets of qualifying families during the summer when kids are out of school.

This year, Sun Bucks will be loaded onto a separate card from your household EBT card. You should receive that card in the mail by the second week in July.

Important!! Make sure that your children’s schools and DTA have your current mailing address! 

    • All eligible children in your household should be on a single Sun Bucks card.
    • You will need to PIN your card to activate it. Here’s how:
      • To set a Personal Identification Number (PIN) for your SUN Bucks card, call the number on the back of the card (1-800-997-2555) and follow the prompts. You will need your case number (which begins with the numbers 8 and 0) from the approval notice from DTA and the birthday of the person whose name is on the SUN Bucks card.
      • For students in foster care, you need the student’s birthday.
      • PIN Your SUN Bucks Card 1 Graphic from DTA showing how to PIN SUN Bucks
      • Call 1-800-997-2555, and select your language.
      • Enter the 18-digit number on the front of your SUN Bucks card.
      • Enter the last 4 digits of your case number. You’ll find it on the notice from DTA. If you haven’t got the mail or have lost it, you can visit dtaconnect.com/sunbucks to find it, or check your DTAConnect app.
      •  Enter the date of birth of the person listed on the card.
      • Enter a new 4-digit PIN.
      • Enter it again to confirm.

Who Is Eligible for SUN Bucks?

Students qualify for SUN Bucks if during the 2024-2025 school year (starting July 1, 2024) they:

OR

Got SNAP, DTA cash benefits, SSI with a relative caregiver, or certain types of MassHealth coverage, or were in foster care; AND

  • They are not enrolled in an NSLP/SBP school; AND
  • They are between the ages of 6 and 16.

OR

  • They were approved for SUN Bucks or NSLP/SBP through an application.

How Do I Get SUN Bucks?

If your children attended a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program/National School Breakfast Program, and your family receives SNAP, DTA cash benefits, certain types of MassHealth coverage, SSI, or were in foster care, they will be automatically enrolled in the SUN Bucks program. In most cases, DTA will enroll you and send you a SUN Bucks card. You do not need to apply.

If your child attended a participating school, but your family or child do not receive any of the listed benefits, you may still qualify for SUN Bucks if you meet the income limits, but you will have to apply.

You can apply for SUN Bucks until Sept 1, 2025.

How Do I Apply for SUN Bucks?

Students who are not automatically enrolled in SUN Bucks can apply online on DTA Connect starting June 15 or right now through a paper application with their school. Check with your child’s school to get a paper application to apply for SUN Bucks or download one in your language

Download a Paper Application for SUN Bucks

Open PDF file, 296.11 KB, SUN Bucks Paper Application (English, PDF 296.11 KB)

You can apply for SUN Bucks until September 1, 2025.

When Will I Get My Benefits?

SUN Bucks cards will be mailed in June 2025. The first round of benefits will be available in July 2025.

If you are eligible for SUN Bucks benefits, they will be paid to a SUN Bucks card in the name of the parent/guardian who completes the application. For eligible families on MassHealth, the SUN Bucks card will be in the name of the head of the household. If the student is in foster care, the SUN Bucks card will be in their name.
Please note: SUN Bucks is not the same as Pandemic EBT (P-EBT). SUN Bucks benefits will not be put on any P-EBT cards. Also, due to the name change, Summer EBT cards from last summer cannot be used. The SUN Bucks card looks different and everyone will get a new card with  the new name.

Save your SUN Bucks card!! You will need it for next summer if you are determined to be eligible. 

Where Can I Use SUN Bucks?

You can use SUN Bucks anywhere that accepts SNAP. That includes most grocery stores, many convenience stores, farmers markets and farm stands (but you will not receive the HIP benefit with SUN Bucks cards), and online retailers that accept SNAP/EBT.

For More Information

For more information on the SUN Bucks program, visit https://www.mass.gov/sunbucks.

FRAC Fact Sheet on NSLP with more info and helpful examples

Does My Child's School Participate?

Not sure if your child’s school participates in the National School Lunch Program? All Worcester Public schools participate, as do a number of private and charter schools. Use the Search box above the table below to see if your school is one of them.

Worcester NSLP/SBP Schools

Abby Kelley Foster Regional Charter Sch.ABBY KELLEY FOSTER ELEMENTARY12 NEW BOND STREET
Abby Kelley Foster Regional Charter Sch.
ABBY KELLEY FOSTER MIDDLE
10 NEW BOND STREET
Abby Kelley Foster Regional Charter Sch.
ABBY KELLEY FOSTER HIGH SCHOOL
6 NEW BOND STREET
Department of Youth Services
THE PAUL T. LEAHY CENTER
363 BELMONT STREET
Learning First Charter
Learning First Charter Public School
50 Richland Street
Worcester Public Schools
CHANDLER MAGNET SCHOOL
525 CHANDLER STREET
Worcester Public Schools
NATIVITY SCHOOL OF WORCESTER
67 LINCOLN STREET
Worcester Public Schools
ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL/ST. CASIMIR
22 WAVERLY STREET
Worcester Public Schools
MILL SWAN HEAD START
337 MILL STREET
Worcester Public Schools
BELMONT STREET COMMUNITY
170 BELMONT
Worcester Public Schools
LA FAMILIA DUAL LANGUAGE SCHOOL
355 Grafton Street
Worcester Public Schools
WAWECUS ROAD SCHOOL
20 WAWECUS ROAD
Worcester Public Schools
BURNCOAT STREET PREPARATORY
526 BURNCOAT STREET
Worcester Public Schools
CANTERBURY ST. MAGNET
129 CANTERBURY STREET
Worcester Public Schools
CHANDLER ELEMENTARY COMMUNITY
114 CHANDLER STREET
Worcester Public Schools
CITY VIEW DISCOVERY SCHOOL
80 PROSPECT STREET
Worcester Public Schools
CLARK ST COMMUNITY
280 CLARK STREET
Worcester Public Schools
COLUMBUS PARK PREP ACADEMY
75 LOVELL STREET
Worcester Public Schools
FLAGG STREET SCHOOL
115 FLAGG STREET
Worcester Public Schools
ELM PARK COMMUNITY
23 NORTH ASHLAND STREET
Worcester Public Schools
GATES LANE SCHOOL
1238 MAIN STREET
Worcester Public Schools
GODDARD SCHOOL OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
14 RICHARDS STREET
Worcester Public Schools
GRAFTON STREET SCHOOL
311 GRAFTON STREET
Worcester Public Schools
HEARD STREET DISCOVERY ACADEMY
200 HEARD STREET
Worcester Public Schools
JACOB HIATT MAGNET SCHOOL
772 MAIN STREET
Worcester Public Schools
LAKE VIEW SCHOOL
133 COBURN AVE.
Worcester Public Schools
LINCOLN STREET SCHOOL
549 LINCOLN
Worcester Public Schools
DR.JAMES CARADONIO NEW CITIZEN'S CENTER
1407A MAIN STREET
Worcester Public Schools
CENTER FOR APPLIED BEHAVIORAL INSTR.
345 GREENWOOD STREET
Worcester Public Schools
MAY STREET SCHOOL
265 MAY STREET
Worcester Public Schools
MC GRATH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
493 GROVE STREET
Worcester Public Schools
MIDLAND STREET SCHOOL
18 MIDLAND STREET
Worcester Public Schools
NELSON PLACE SCHOOL
35 NELSON PLACE
Worcester Public Schools
NORRBACK AVENUE SCHOOL
44 MALDEN STREET
Worcester Public Schools
QUINSIGAMOND SCHOOL
14 BLACKSTONE RIVER ROAD
Worcester Public Schools
RICE SQUARE SCHOOL
76 MASSASOIT RD
Worcester Public Schools
ROOSEVELT SCHOOL
1006 GRAFTON STREET
Worcester Public Schools
WORCESTER ARTS MAGNET SCHOOL
315 ST NICHOLAS AVENUE
Worcester Public Schools
TATNUCK MAGNET SCHOOL
1083 PLEASANT STREET
Worcester Public Schools
THORNDYKE ROAD SCHOOL
30 THORNDYKE RD.
Worcester Public Schools
UNION HILL SCHOOL
1 CHAPIN STREET
Worcester Public Schools
FANNING SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM
24 CHATHAM STREET
Worcester Public Schools
WOODWARD DAY II/RECOVERY HIGH @ ROCKDALE
20 ROCKDALE STREET
Worcester Public Schools
CENTRAL MASS ACADEMY AT HIGGINS ST
121 HIGGINS STREET
Worcester Public Schools
WEST TATNUCK SCHOOL
300 MOWER STREET
Worcester Public Schools
VERNON HILL SCHOOL
211 PROVIDENCE STREET
Worcester Public Schools
UNIVERSITY PARK CAMPUS SCHOOL
12 FREELAND STREET
Worcester Public Schools
NEW CITIZENS FOR YOUNG ADULTS - FANNING
24 CHATHAM STREET
Worcester Public Schools
BURNCOAT MIDDLE SCHOOL
135 BURNCOAT STREET
Worcester Public Schools
FOREST GROVE MIDDLE SCHOOL
495 GROVE STREET
Worcester Public Schools
WORCESTER EAST MIDDLE SCHOOL
420 GRAFTON STREET
Worcester Public Schools
DR. A. F. SULLIVAN MIDDLE
140 APRICOT STREET
Worcester Public Schools
GERALD CREAMER CENTER
120 GRANITE STREET
Worcester Public Schools
BURNCOAT SENIOR HIGH
179 BURNCOAT STREET
Worcester Public Schools
GREENDALE HEAD START
130 LEEDS STREET
Worcester Public Schools
DOHERTY MEMORIAL HIGH
299 HIGHLAND STREET
Worcester Public Schools
NORTH HIGH SCHOOL
140 HARRINGTON WAY
Worcester Public Schools
SOUTH HIGH COMMUNITY SCHOOL
170 APRICOT STREET
Worcester Public Schools
CLAREMONT ACADEMY
15 CLAREMONT STREET
Worcester Public Schools
WORCESTER TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL
1 OFFICER MANNY FAMILIA WAY
Worcester Public Schools
CENTRAL MASS COLLABORATIVE - NEW BOND
14 NEW BOND STREET
Worcester Public Schools
CHANDLER ELEMENTARY AT YMCA
90 MURRAY AVE
Worcester Public Schools
MILLBURY STREET HEAD START
389 MILLBURY STREET
Worcester Public Schools
WOODLAND ACADEMY
93 WOODLAND STREET
Worcester Public Schools
CHALLENGE & REACH ACADEMY - HARLOW ST.
15 HARLOW STREET
Worcester Public Schools
SUMMIT ACADEMY
15 JAMESBURY DRIVE
Youth Opportunities Upheld
YOU,INC 24 HR EMERGENCY SHLTR
129 BLACKSTONE RIVER ROAD
Youth Opportunities Upheld
Valor House
2 Granite St