The Kansas Department for Children and Families has announced a new program to help eligible families offset some of the costs of buying food for their school-aged children during the summer break.

Summer EBT, also known as SUN Bucks in other states, is a partnership between DCF and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service. The program provides families $120 for each eligible school-aged child to buy groceries.

Summer EBT benefits will begin rolling out in mid to late July. For most families, Summer EBT will automatically be added to an existing household’s Kansas Benefits Card (also known as an EBT card) or loaded onto a Kansas Benefits Card and mailed to the home. Families that don’t receive Summer EBT benefits but believe they qualify must apply between Aug. 12 and Sept. 11, 2024, through the DCF online self-service portal, dcfapp.kees.ks.gov. Children who receive Summer EBT can still participate in other summer meal programs that may be available in their community.

Children may be eligible for the program if:

• The child is school-aged (7-17 years old) and received food assistance, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and/or foster care benefits at any point during the school year.

OR

• The child attends a Kansas school that offers the National School Lunch or School Breakfast Program, and the household income meets the requirements for free or reduced-price school meals at any point during the school year.