This communication provides additional information for school food authorities (SFA) about the 2024 Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (S-EBT) Program for Children benefit issuance timeline and provides valuable resources SFAs may use when communicating with households.
S-EBT 2024 Benefits Issuance and Timeline
Eligible children will receive a SUN Bucks card with $120 for use over the summer period, which is June 1 through August 31. Funds are subject to expungement four months (122 days) after benefits are made available. Funds will be mailed to the mailing address in the California Pupil Achievement Data System (CALPADS), or the Statewide Automated Welfare System for children that are identified eligible through enrollment in CalFresh, CalWORKs, or Medi-Cal.
The tentative benefit issuance timeline is as follows:
- Phase 1—Public school students determined eligible through CALPADS or public assistance programs on or before March 29, 2024, and private school children determined eligible as of April 16, 2024. Households will begin receiving benefits mid-June through August 31, 2024.
- Phase 2—Students newly identified as eligible from March 30, 2024, through August 31, 2024. Households will receive benefits September through November 2024.
Additional Resources
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has created the SUN Bucks web page
. This web page provides households and the public with essential S-EBT information, including eligibility criteria, frequently asked questions, and other resources.
Additionally, the CDSS recorded two S-EBT webinars which may be viewed at the links below:
- Pandemic EBT Outcomes and Summer EBT (SUN Bucks) Introduction webinar
(Video, 1:02:49).
- SUN Bucks – A New Summer EBT Program Coming in 2024 webinar
(Video, 1:03:25).
Contact Information
For household questions, the CDSS is establishing a customer service hotline which will be shared with SFAs once available. For now, you may direct households to the CDSS SUN Bucks web page
.
For SFA questions, please reach out to SummerEBT@cde.ca.gov. This email address is not for household inquiries about S-EBT.
For questions about the SUN Bucks web page, please reach out to SUNBucks@cdss.ca.gov. This email address is not for household inquiries about S-EBT.
For more information regarding S-EBT, please view our previous communication on the CDE Summer EBT 2024 Announcement web page.
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