Is P-EBT the same as Summer EBT (SUN Bucks)?
P-EBT and Summer EBT (also called Sun Bucks in many states) are related, but they’re not the same.
P-EBT was a temporary COVID-19 pandemic program that has now ended. Summer EBT (also called SUN Bucks) is a permanent benefit program that started in 2024, and it’s designed to help families afford food for their school-aged kids during summer breaks by sending out $120 per eligible child.
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What was P-EBT?#what-was-p-ebt
P-EBT stands for Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer. It started in 2020 as a temporary program to help families whose children lost access to free or reduced-price school meals when schools closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Instead of getting meals at school, families received benefits to purchase food on a special EBT card. The P-EBT card worked similar to a SNAP EBT card and could be used at qualifying grocery stores to buy any eligible food.
Over time, P-EBT expanded to cover summer breaks and even children younger than school-aged in some cases. But P-EBT was always meant to be temporary, and the program officially ended in September 2023.
Some families continued to receive P-EBT benefits after the program ended because P-EBT benefits are retroactive, meaning some eligible families got benefits much later than when the school closures happened.
What is Summer EBT (SUN Bucks)?#what-is-summer-ebt-sun-bucks
SUN Bucks, also called Summer EBT, is a permanent program that replaced P-EBT, but it just happens during the summer, when school is out and kids who usually get free or reduced-price school lunch don’t have those meals to rely on.
Just like with P-EBT, Summer EBT benefits are loaded onto an EBT card (either a regular SNAP EBT card or a special Summer EBT card).
And just like SNAP, there are rules about what you can buy with Summer EBT. Most pantry stables are eligible, including:
- Fruits and vegetables
- Dried beans or grains
- Meat and seafood, either frozen, fresh, or canned
- Dairy, like milk, cheese, or yogurt
- Eggs
- Spreads like peanut butter, jelly, jam, and margarine
- Frozen foods
- Drinks like juice and bottled water
You can use your Summer EBT card just like a debit card at grocery stores, farmers markets, and other places that accept SNAP.
But not every state participates in Summer EBT, so you should check if your state is on the list for 2025.
How do I know if I’ll get Summer EBT (SUN Bucks)?#how-do-i-know-if-ill-get-summer-ebt-sun-bucks
If you live in a participating state and your child already qualifies for free or reduced-price school meals through the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program, you’ll likely automatically qualify for Summer EBT (SUN Bucks) and you don’t need to apply.
School-aged kids whose families receive SNAP, TANF, FDPIR, or meet other income-based requirements may also be automatically enrolled in SUN Bucks.
Some states may require you to confirm your information in order to get your Summer EBT deposit, so it’s important to keep your contact details updated with your child’s school or your local benefits office.
If your family is not automatically approved for Summer EBT and meets the income requirements, you will need to fill out an application.
