Summer Food Stamps 2025: When schools shut down for summer, many families in the U.S. struggle with something as simple as daily meals. During the school year, kids get free or reduced-price meals at school through programs like the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program. But once summer break begins, that food support stops.
That’s why the government is stepping in again in 2025 with the Summer EBT program, known as SUN Bucks. It’s meant to help families buy food when school meals aren’t available.
Many families across the country rely on these programs to make sure their kids eat well. But when the summer holidays come, it becomes harder for them to manage. Parents have to figure out how to feed their children without that extra help from school meals, and for families already struggling with money, that’s a big burden. Sometimes, healthy food just costs too much, and families go for cheaper junk food, even if they don’t want to.
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Who Can Get the Summer 2025 Food Stamps?
SUN Bucks is focused on helping children in lower-income families. If a child is already part of programs like SNAP (food stamps), TANF (cash assistance), or FDPIR (food aid for Native American families), they are already counted in for the summer benefits. Also, kids who go to schools that are signed up for meal programs like the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program will get SUN Bucks automatically.
Now, if a child isn’t already in one of these programs, that doesn’t mean they can’t join. If their family income meets the limits, they can still apply. Their parents just need to reach out to the SUN Bucks program and apply directly.
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What You Can Buy?
Every child who qualifies will get $120 for the summer. This money helps families buy food from grocery stores, local markets, or other places that accept these benefits. With the $120, families can buy things like fruits, vegetables, dairy, fish, poultry, cereals, and bread. Basically, it covers the kind of food that helps kids stay healthy and full during their break from school.
But there are rules too. You can’t use the SUN Bucks money to buy hot food that’s already cooked, pet food, or anything for cleaning or the house. The money is only for food to eat at home, not ready-to-eat meals.
