Do you have a child? Then you could receive some economic help. This summer, some states in the United States will send $120 checks for each child who qualifies. This is a way for the government to help families who are going through financial difficulties.
During summer vacation, many families have trouble feeding everyone at home, especially because kids don’t get the school lunches they normally receive during the school year. That’s why this money can be a big help. This kind of help is called a “stimulus payment”, and it’s a way that governments (both local and federal) give direct support to people when the economy is hard. Let’s see if you are eligible for this benefit.
What is SNAP?
SNAP stands for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Before, it was called food stamps. It’s a very important program because it helps more than 40 million people across the United States pay for the food they need.Also, SNAP helps a lot to prevent child poverty and to keep families from getting into very hard situations. That’s why it’s one of the most important programs in the country.
SNAP is a federal government program, but each state is in charge of managing it and deciding when to give the money and to whom. To get SNAP, a family must have a low income, depending on how many people live in the household. If the total income is below a certain limit, then they can qualify to receive this help.
“Sun Bucks” summer payments?
This summer, the federal government announced a new program called the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Program, which in English is shortened to “Sun Bucks.” This program gives $120 for each child who qualifies to help families buy food during vacation. Children between 6 and 18 years old can receive this money if they meet certain requirements.
Who qualifies to get the $120?
Your child or the person in your care may qualify if:
- The family gets help from any of these programs: SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), FDPIR (Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations) or Medicaid (in participating states).
- The child goes to a school that has the National School Lunch Program or the School Breakfast Program, and the family meets the income limits.
Even if you are not enrolled in these programs, you can still qualify if your household income is low and meets specific requirements. Each state has its own rules for that.
What can the Sun Bucks money be used for?
The Sun Bucks money is to buy food, and can be used to purchase: Fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, dairy products like milk or cheese, breads, cereals, snack foods and non-alcoholic drinks.
However, there are some products you can’t buy: Hot prepared foods (like fast food inside the store), pet food, cleaning products or household items, personal hygiene products like shampoo, toothpaste, etc., and medicine.
When will you receive the payment?
If you or your family already receive SNAP, the $120 for each qualifying child will automatically be added to your EBT card. The EBT card is like a debit card that is used in grocery stores. If you are not in SNAP but you qualify for Sun Bucks, the government will send you a new EBT card so you can use the money in approved stores.
The payment dates are different in each state. Some states have already started paying since May, and others will do it later.
Changes in the SNAP program: new law
Recently, the federal government passed a new law called the One Big Beautiful Bill. This law will bring important changes to the SNAP program. For example:
- There will be less money for SNAP, which means states will have to pay more to keep helping families.
- The rules about who can receive SNAP are also changing.
With this new law, only certain people can receive SNAP, such as: U.S. citizens, some lawful permanent residents, people who arrived from Cuba or Haiti under certain conditions and citizens from the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Palau living in the U.S. under a special agreement.
So, don’t wait any longer and check if you can receive this help. What do you think about this program?