What is the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (SUN Bucks) Program?
The Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer Program, or SUN Bucks provides food assistance to households with school-age children who are eligible for free or reduced-priced school meals during the summer, when they don't have access to meals at school. The benefit is $120 per eligible school-aged child. Each eligible child will receive a Summer EBT card loaded with SUN Bucks (SUN Bucks) benefits.
This program is a partnership between the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction, and the USDA, Food and Nutrition Services.
What do I need to know about SUN Bucks?
If your child is certified as eligible for federal free or federal reduced-price school meals and attends a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program, they will be automatically enrolled in SUN Bucks.
Additionally, eligibility for SUN Bucks may be established in other ways. In North Dakota, your child is eligible to receive a SUN Bucks card if your child’s school participates in the National School Lunch Program AND:
- Your child receives free meals at school AND your household income is at or under 185% of the 2023-2024 federal poverty level (see table below); or
- You applied for School Meals through your school district AND your household income is at or under 185% of the 2023-2024 federal poverty level (see table below); or
- Your household participates in SNAP or TANF; or
- Your child is experiencing homelessness, a migrant, or in foster care; or
- Your child attends a Head Start program administered by the school district.
If your child’s school does not participate in the National School Lunch Program, they may still be eligible for SUN Bucks if your household participates in SNAP or TANF or your child is in foster care.
SUN Bucks Eligibility by Family Size & Income Table (Effective: July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024)
Family Size | Annual | Monthly | Twice-Monthly | Bi-Weekly | Weekly |
1 | $26,973 | $2,248 | $1,124 | $1,038 | $519 |
2 | $36,482 | $3,041 | $1,521 | $1,404 | $702 |
3 | $45,991 | $3,833 | $1,917 | $1,769 | $885 |
4 | $55,500 | $4,625 | $2,313 | $2,135 | $1,068 |
5 | $65,009 | $5,418 | $2,709 | $2,501 | $1,251 |
6 | $74,518 | $6,210 | $3,105 | $2,867 | $1,434 |
7 | $84,027 | $7,003 | $3,502 | $3,232 | $1,616 |
8 | $93,536 | $7,795 | $3,898 | $3,598 | $1,799 |
For Each Additional | +$9,509 | +$793 | +$397 | +$366 | +$183 |
Some households will automatically receive this benefit. Read below to determine if you need to apply.
Do not complete an application if:
- If your child’s school participates in the National School Lunch Program in the 2023-2024 School Year AND:
- Your child receives free meals at school, AND your household income is at or under 185% of the 2023-2024 federal poverty level, or
- Your household receives SNAP, TANF, or FDPIR benefits, or
- Your child is experiencing homelessness, is a migrant student or is in foster care.
- If your child does not attend a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program, but your household receives SNAP or TANF benefits, AND your child is between the ages of 7 and 16.
If your household meets any of the conditions above, you have already been confirmed to receive Summer EBT Benefits and should have received an email in the month of April alerting you of the benefit and giving you a Unique Access Link to the Summer EBT Portal.
If you have not received an email and you believe your child is eligible, as described above, please contact us.
Complete an application if:
- Your child does not receive free school meals:
- If your child is not already directly certified or categorically eligible, and you did not complete and return an application for free school meals to your child’s school, you are encouraged to submit the Alternate Meals Application below to see if you qualify for the Summer EBT benefit.
- Your child attends a school that provides free meals for every student in the school:
- If your child attends a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) school and is not directly certified or categorically eligible, you are encouraged to submit an Alternate Meals Application below to see if you qualify for the Summer EBT benefit.
A one-time SUN Bucks benefit amount of $120 will be issued to each eligible child. The benefits will be placed on a SUN Bucks Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card.
Please check back for updates on when SUN Bucks cards will be issued.
Yes, households can receive replacement benefits if it is reported that food purchased with SUN Bucks benefits were destroyed in a household misfortune or disaster. To request a replacement the household would need to fully complete the Request for Replacement Benefits Due to Loss of SNAP Benefits.
Submit your request by:
Email: fspolicy@nd.gov
Phone: 1.866.614.6005 or 701.328.1000; 711 (TTY)
Mail: NDHHS Attn: SNAP 600 E Blvd Ave, Dept 325 Bismarck ND 58505-9985
SUN Bucks benefits expire and are removed 122 days from issuance. Once benefits are removed from an EBT card, they cannot be replaced.
Activation instructions will be included with the card.
Cards are accepted at SNAP authorized food retailers. A list of authorized food retailers can be found at https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/retailer-locator.
A mobile app for managing your account, ebtEDGE, is available Apple Store and Google Play.
For more information visit the EBT Edge webpage.
Replacement cards can be requested via the EBT Helpline (800.630.4655), cardholder portal, or the mobile application on a smartphone.
See the chart below to find out who to contact for more information:
| I have questions about: | Who do I contact? |
| ebtEDGE Mobile App Cardholder Portal: https://www.ebtedge.com/gov/portal/PortalHome.do |
| Visit the Summer EBT Portal Email: NDSEBT@nd.gov Phone: 1-701-328-7328 |
| Email: NDSEBT@nd.gov |