When does Summer EBT (Sun Bucks) program distribute new cards? My school opted out!

my kids got there cards last week and we're letter K so they should have sent yours already. maybe call the summer ebt number? ours came in plain white envelope almost threw it away lol

The Summer EBT/Sun Bucks income guidelines are the same as free/reduced school meals - about 185% of federal poverty level for 2025. For a family of 3, that's around $50,220 annual income. If your school opted out (which is frustrating but happening in some districts), you can still qualify through Medi-Cal if your child has coverage. Check your eligibility on the California Summer EBT portal - there should be an option to apply even if your school isn't participating.

Some schools are opting out because they think it's too much paperwork or they don't want to deal with the administrative burden. SO ANNOYING because kids are missing out on important food benefits! If your son has Medi-Cal you should automatically qualify - they should be able to match his info in the system. The cards are being sent in waves through June and July based on last name AND county. What county are you in?

I work with families navigating benefit programs, and the Summer EBT rollout has been confusing for many. For your situation, if your child has Medi-Cal, you should qualify regardless of your income (since they already qualified for Medi-Cal). The distribution schedule varies by county - some counties are sending them alphabetically, others by zip code. If you haven't received anything by mid-June, I'd recommend calling the Summer EBT hotline, but be prepared for long wait times. I've had clients use Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through faster - they have a service that holds your place in line and calls you back when a representative is available. There's a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 And yes, schools opting out has been a significant issue this year. They were given the choice, and some decided the implementation was too complex.

my kids got there sun bucks cards last month we're letter D in alameda county. the income thing is 185% of poverty guidelines i think which is way more than regular calfresh. youre lucky ur kid has medical cause thats an automatic in! our school made big deal about signing up all kids

I just went through this whole process because our school opted out too. So frustrating! If your child has Medi-Cal, you should get it automatically, but there have been system matching issues. I had to call FOUR TIMES before getting through to a person who could help me. The cards are definitely going out in batches, but they're behind schedule. The income limits depend on household size - for a family of 4 it's about $59,000 annual income. If you're close to the threshold, apply anyway! Sometimes they don't count certain income or there are deductions that help you qualify. Also, check if your child gets any other benefits that might qualify them automatically. Even certain reduced fee programs through the county can sometimes help establish eligibility.

did u call the sun bucks number yet? i had to call 3 times before gettin anyone but they fixed it right away when i finally got thru