This week, the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) will begin issuing Phase 2 of SUN Bucks benefits.
Phase 2 will be rolled out in waves based on eligibility groups over the next several weeks, impacting around 320,000 Louisiana school-aged children. Eligible students include those who received Medicaid, Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program (FITAP), or Kinship Care Subsidy Program (KCSP) benefits during the 2023-2024 school year and children who qualified for free or reduced-price school meals. Each child will receive a one-time payment of $120 loaded onto a newly issued EBT card, arriving by mail.
Phase 1 of SUN Bucks provided nearly $39 million in benefits to more than 320,000 children who received Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
Phase 2 Benefits Distribution Details:
- Eligibility:
- Children aged 5-18 who received Medicaid, Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program (FITAP), or Kinship Care Subsidy Program (KCSP) benefits during the 2023-2024 school year.
- Children who received free or reduced-price school meals through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or School Breakfast Program (SBP) during the 2023-2024 school year, based on their individual household income.
- Card Issuance: Phase 2 recipients will receive new EBT cards mailed to the address on file with their respective case or school. This distribution will occur in waves based on eligibility groups (Medicaid, FITAP, KCSP, NSLP) over the next several weeks. EBT cards will be issued at a rate of about 75,000 per week. Recipients are advised to look out for plain white envelopes with an Erie, Pennsylvania, return address containing their SUN Bucks card and activation instructions. Envelopes will be addressed to the eligible child. Families with more than one child may receive their children’s cards at different times.
- Benefit Usage:SUN Bucks can be used to purchase SNAP-eligible food items at stores that accept EBT cards. The benefits must be used within 122 days from the date of issuance.
- Support and Information: A dedicated SUN Bucks helpline is available at 833-323-7482, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Families with questions or who need to update their mailing addresses can call the helpline for assistance. Questions can also be emailed to SUNBucks@la.gov
Future Phases:
- Phase 3: The application period for children not automatically certified in Phases 1 and 2 will open in late August. This phase primarily serves students at Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) schools, where all students received free or reduced-price school meals regardless of household income. CEP school students whose household income would qualify them for the National School Lunch Program (below 185% of federal poverty limit) are eligible to receive SUN Bucks, and if they are not certified during Phases 1 or 2, will need to apply during Phase 3. Detailed information about the application process will be available soon on the SUN Bucks website.
SUN Bucks, funded by the USDA, aims to support low-income families by providing grocery-buying benefits during the summer months when children do not receive school meals. This program is a critical part of Louisiana's effort to ensure that every child has access to nutritious food year-round.
For more information about the Louisiana SUN Bucks program and other summer feeding programs, please visit sunbucks.la.gov [dcfs.louisiana.gov] and the USDA SUN Programs page at www.fns.usda.gov/summer [dcfs.louisiana.gov].
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