Maryland officials are encouraging families enrolled in the state’s SUN Bucks program to use their food benefits before they expire.
From June through August, Maryland SUN Bucks provides money to families to make sure children have access to healthy, nutritious foods and do not go hungry over summer.
SUN Bucks benefits will expire 122 days after the date they are issued. For the most recently issued benefits, that means families have through December to use them or lose them.
“Last year, we made the largest investment to fight childhood hunger, and this year we are building on that success by ensuring all families are taking full advantage of their SUN Bucks,” Gov. Wes Moore said. “This program is a critical lifeline in tackling childhood poverty by providing meals to students in the summertime, but we are committed to continuing to fight against childhood hunger so that every child has access to nutrition year-round.”
Maryland automatically enrolls students in SUN Bucks if they qualify through existing programs. Students whose families receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) get an additional $40 per student added directly to their existing EBT cards each month from June to August, for a total of $120 per student over the summer.
Students qualifying through Medicaid, the Free and Reduced-Price School Meals program, or out-of-home care are also automatically enrolled in SUN Bucks.
“Hundreds of thousands of Maryland students rely on SUN Bucks for nutritious meals through the summer months,” said Stacy L. Rodgers, acting secretary of the Maryland Department of Human Services. “When these benefits are left unspent, our children may miss out on their next meal, and we miss out on an opportunity to support our local economy. Our message to families is simple: Check your account and spend your SUN Bucks benefits today.”
During the summer of 2025, Maryland distributed $75 million in direct benefits to feed more than 630,000 students, marking the state’s largest-ever investment in combating childhood hunger during the summer months.
Last year, SUN Bucks achieved a 78% redemption rate. This year, DHS is working to make sure eligible households in need of food assistance don’t let their SUN Bucks benefits go unspent.
State officials are also encouraging residents to activate their new, fraud-resistant EBT cards. In July, Maryland became the fourth state in the country to adopt Europay, Mastercard, and Visa (EMV) chip-and-tap technology to protect customers against benefits fraud.
For more information, including eligibility requirements and how to apply, through the SUN Bucks program website. Residents can also call 1-800-332-6347 and select the Maryland SUN Bucks option.
