The SUN Bucks program (also known as Summer EBT) provides families with $120 per child in grocery benefits over the summer to help ensure children have access to nutritious food while school is out. The state has also requested a waiver from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to align allowable SUN Bucks purchases with the Healthy SNAP Waiver that goes into effect on January 1, 2026. The waiver aims to ensure that SNAP meets the program's mission: supplementing families’ nutritional needs. The waiver makes purchases of taxable foods such as candy, soda, and some store-prepared foods ineligible for purchase with SNAP benefits.
List items for S-EBT (SUN Bucks)
Students are automatically eligible for 2026 Iowa SUN Bucks if, during school year 2025-26, they were enrolled in an Iowa school that participated in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and also met one of the following:
Their household received Medicaid with a household income equal to or less than 185% of the federal poverty level
They were in foster care
They were approved for free or reduced price school meals after completing a free and reduced price meal application at school, or through categorical eligibility (homeless, runaway, migrant)
Children are also automatically eligible if, between the dates of July 1, 2025, and Aug. 14, 2026, they were between the ages of 6 and 16 and, also during these dates, they met one of the following:
Their household received benefits through SNAP or FIP
Their household received Medicaid with a household income equal to or less than 185% of the federal poverty level
They were in foster care
Most eligible children will be automatically enrolled in Iowa SUN Bucks and will not need to complete an application to receive benefits cards, which will automatically be sent to the address on file.
Fill out this form to receive occasional updates from Iowa HHS about the Summer EBT Program.
