CalFresh SUN Bucks card not received yet - Last name 'S' distribution timeline?

SUN Bucks (Summer EBT) distribution is definitely happening in alphabetical waves this year. For last names starting with S, August 2nd sounds right based on what I've heard. They're doing A-G, then H-M, then N-R, then S-Z with about a week between each group. The cards are being mailed separately from regular CalFresh EBT cards, and yes, they should arrive with funds already loaded. If you don't receive it by August 3rd, I'd recommend calling the special Summer EBT hotline at 877-328-9677 rather than the regular EBT customer service.

my last name starts with S too and i havent got nothing yet. my neighbor got hers last week but her name starts with K so i guess thats why

The SUN Bucks rollout is super inconsistent. I was also told August 2nd (last name Smith), but I called yesterday because my sister-in-law already got hers (last name Roberts) which made no sense if they're doing it alphabetically. The worker told me they're actually releasing in batches based on both first letter of last name AND county of residence. So S in one county might be earlier than S in another county. I'd definitely call if it doesn't come by the 3rd, but be prepared for a LONG wait time. I was on hold for 2 hours and then got disconnected!!!

To clarify some misinformation: SUN Bucks (Summer EBT) for children is being distributed based on the alphabetical order of last names, but there is some variation by county processing capacity. The benefit amount for Summer 2025 is $125 per eligible child for the entire summer period (not monthly). Cards are being mailed separately from regular CalFresh EBT cards and should arrive with funds already loaded. The August 2nd date for last names beginning with 'S' is accurate for most counties. If you don't receive your card by August 5th (allowing for mail delivery delays), you should contact your county office or call the dedicated Summer EBT hotline at 877-328-9677.

DONT WASTE YOUR TIME CALLING THAT SUMMER EBT LINE!!!!! i tried 23 TIMES over 3 days and either got busy signals or was on hold for 45+ min before getting hung up on!!! complete disaster like everything else with calfresh!!!! 😡😡😡

To answer your follow-up questions: SUN Bucks is specifically a summer nutrition benefit for when children don't have access to school meals. There is a separate Winter EBT program for some winter breaks but it's not available in all counties yet. The funds don't expire quickly - you'll have at least 9 months to use the benefits once they're issued. They work just like regular EBT for food purchases. And yes, $125 is the total one-time amount per child for Summer 2025, not a monthly amount.

my kids got their sun buck cards today!!!! last name starts w/ S too!!! maybe check ur mail??

Just wanted to add that I'm also waiting for my SUN Bucks card (last name starts with 'S') and haven't received it yet either. I'm in Sacramento County if that helps with the timing. One thing I learned from calling my local county office is that they're also prioritizing families with younger children first within each alphabetical group, so if you have elementary school aged kids you might get yours before families with high schoolers. Also, make sure your address is updated in your CalFresh case because these cards are being mailed to whatever address they have on file, not necessarily where you're currently living. Hope this helps someone!

I'm also waiting for my SUN Bucks card with a last name starting with 'S'! Reading through all these comments has been really helpful - I had no idea about the alphabetical distribution or that there was a separate hotline. My kids are in middle school so based on what Noah mentioned about elementary kids getting priority, that might explain why we're still waiting. I'm in Riverside County and our address is current, so I'll give it until August 5th like Serene suggested before calling. It's reassuring to see that some S families are starting to get their cards like Lia! Fingers crossed ours comes soon.

I'm also waiting for my SUN Bucks card with last name starting with 'S'! My kids are in elementary school (2nd and 4th grade) and we're in Fresno County. Based on what everyone's shared about the elementary age priority within each letter group, I'm hoping ours arrives soon since Lia already got hers. This whole thread has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea there was a separate hotline or that distribution was this complex. I'll definitely wait until August 5th before calling like others have suggested. It's such a relief to know we're not the only ones still waiting and that the August 2nd timeline seems accurate for most S families. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and keeping us updated!

I'm also waiting for my SUN Bucks card with a last name starting with 'S'! My twin boys are in 1st grade and we're in San Bernardino County. This thread has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea about the alphabetical distribution system or that there was age-based prioritization within each letter group. I was getting worried since it's already July 30th, but after reading everyone's experiences I feel much better about waiting until August 5th before calling. It's especially encouraging to see that some S families like Lia are starting to receive their cards, and knowing that elementary kids get priority makes me hopeful ours will arrive soon. Thank you to everyone who shared the Summer EBT hotline number and all the detailed information about how this program works - as a newcomer to CalFresh benefits, I really appreciate this community's knowledge and support!