Virginia SUN Bucks to provide $120 summer grocery benefit to eligible families
Eligible Virginia families will receive $120 per child in "Virginia SUN Bucks," a program designed to help prevent child hunger during the summer months when school meals are unavailable.
The Virginia Department of Social Services will participate in the SUN Bucks 2026 program, which will provide the funds automatically to about 85% of eligible children through families' existing EBT cards. The program will begin June 29.
For remaining families, VDSS has launched an online application to make it faster and easier to apply and ensure every eligible child receives support. A short eligibility quiz is available at VirginiaSunBucks.com to help families understand if they qualify, if their child will be automatically enrolled, and if they should apply.
Families already enrolled in SNAP will receive their benefit on their existing EBT card. All other enrolled families will receive a new Virginia SUN Bucks card in the mail, sent to the address on file with their school or local department of social services.
VDSS officials are encouraging families to confirm their mailing address to prevent delays in benefit delivery.
“Preventing summer hunger is critical to ensuring children are healthy, safe and ready to learn,” said VDSS Commissioner Duke Storen. “Last year, more than 650,000 Virginia children received SUN Bucks, and this year we are committed to reaching every eligible child. No child in Virginia should go hungry — especially during the summer months when support is needed most.”
Children are automatically enrolled if they:
• are school-age and already participate in SNAP, TANF or income-based Medicaid (with certain Medicaid categories qualifying); or
• applied and were approved for free or reduced-price school meals through the National School Lunch Program during the 2025-2026 school year.
Families should check their eligibility if their children are not automatically eligible based on the criteria above, especially if their child does not participate in SNAP, TANF, or income-based Medicaid. A short eligibility quiz is available at VirginiaSunBucks.com to help families understand if they are eligible and need to apply.
In addition to applying online, two other application options exist:
• by mail (download and mail a paper application);
• by phone at 866-513-1414 (June 15 – Aug. 31, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.).
The deadline to apply for SUN Bucks 2026 is Aug. 31. Households have about four months to use the funds loaded onto their EBT or Virginia SUN Bucks cards after benefits are issued; any unused funds will expire after that period. SUN Bucks benefits can be used anywhere SNAP benefits are accepted.
