Some Louisiana families get extra SNAP food benefits this summer. See who, when
BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services announced Monday that the first phase of SUN Bucks benefits will be issued this week.
DCFS said 300,000 children between the ages of 5 and 18 who received SNAP benefits during the last school year will be a part of the first phase. A one-time payment of $120 per eligible child will be loaded onto their household’s SNAP EBT card by Friday, June 21.
The USDA-funded program is meant to help families feed children while school is out.
SUN Bucks must be used within 122 days of the issuance date or the benefits will expire, DCFS said. Recipients may use the SUN Bucks to buy SNAP-eligible food at stores that accept EBT cards.
Phase 2 of the SUN Bucks program will include:
- Children between 5 and 18 who received Medicaid, Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program (FITAP) or Kinship Care Subsidy Program (KCSP) benefits during the 2023-24 school year.
- Kids who got free or reduced-price school meals if their family's income met the requirements of the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program.
DCFS said these children are automatically eligible and do not need to apply. In late July, the department will mail out the new EBT cards that are preloaded with SUN Bucks.
According to DCFS, the Phase 3 application period for children who weren't automatically eligible will open after cards are given out during Phases 1 and 2.