Time running out to apply for $120 grocery assistance program in Kansas

TOPEKA (KSNT) - Kansas families only have a limited window of time left this year to apply for a program that helps pay for groceries.

The Kansas Department of Children and Families (DCF) is currently offering its SUN Bucks program to families in need of help paying for food this summer. Also known as Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT), SUN Bucks assists families by purchasing food for their school-aged kids through a one-time benefit of $120 per year for each eligible child.

The application period for SUN Bucks runs from Jan. 27 to 5 p.m. on Aug. 29 in 2025. Families can use SUN Bucks benefits to purchase fruits, vegetables, meat, whole grains and dairy products at grocery stores, farmers markets and other locations which accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) EBT benefits.

“Children and teenagers need consistent access to healthy foods to grow and thrive, and summer is a time when many of them lose access to the healthy meals they receive at school,” said DCF Secretary Laura Howard in January 2025. “SUN Bucks can help fill the gap by providing families a small boost with helping to put nutritious food on their tables.”

SUN Bucks is part of a federal program under the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Families can be eligible to participate in the program based off of several indicators such as being enrolled in a Kansas school and having been approved for free or reduced-price school lunch at any point since July last year.

Many families have already received SUN Bucks benefits without the need to apply. However, if you think you qualify for the program, you are encouraged to fill out an application prior to the August deadline. You can learn more about how to apply and who is eligible for SUN Bucks by heading to the DCF's website by clicking here.

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