NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – A new federal program that will provide New Mexico families with money to keep students fed during the summer is accepting applications.
Families who apply and qualify for SUN Bucks, also known as Summer EBT (S-EBT), will get $120 for each child that’s part of the program. This money will be on a card that works like a debit/ EBT card. Parents can use this card to buy food at places like grocery stores, farmers markets, and some online retailers.
Ways students could be eligible for SUN Bucks:
Automatically eligible:
A student may have received free or reduced meals under the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or School Breakfast Program (SBP);
A student’s school may have reported the child to be homeless, a migrant, or in foster care; or
A student received SNAP, MAGI-Children’s Medicaid, or TANF any time during the school year and was between the ages of 5 through 18.
Parents will be sent a notice to inform them of their child’s automatic eligibility.
Apply for SUN Bucks:
Must attend an NSLP/SBP participating school. Link here for list of participating NSLP/SBP schools in New Mexico.
No approved NSLP/SBP application on file with the school.
Have a household income that is less than 185% FPL (NSLP income guidelines).
Reside in the state of New Mexico.
The New Mexico Human Services Department said that there will be some students who are not eligible for SUN Bucks. Students who are not automatically eligible will need to apply; however, if a student does not attend an NSLP/SBP participating school, the student is not eligible for SUN Bucks.
The Human Services Department said it plans to issue SUN Bucks in August 2024. The students who are automatically eligible will be the first issuance group. Those students who apply for SUN Bucks eligibility will be in the second group to receive benefits. Children who were automatically eligible will receive an information notice for SUN Bucks starting mid-July.
Families will have 122 days to use the benefits from the date they are issued. If there is any unspent benefit on the 122nd day, the benefits will be removed from the child’s card.
To apply and find more information on the program, click here. The program is also being offered in other states across the country.
