As summer vacation begins, millions of American families face a financial challenge many don’t think about. Schools are out and kids enjoy their vacation, but parents are suddenly faced with a new expense — providing for the meals they used to get at school as breakfast and lunch.
Food problems in the summer
Millions of children in the United States rely on free or subsidized meals during school hours. But when schools close in the summer, that benefit stops. The responsibility of feeding the kids falls upon the household. This is a cost that can easily be summed up particularly when there is the increase in inflation and the cost of various necessities.
Just think that in a case when there are three children in the family, there is a need to avail breakfast, lunch and between-meals at times on a daily basis In such a situation, expenses of hundreds of dollars can add up in a week. This is why the government has launched a new scheme – SUN Bucks.
Understanding the SNAP program
SNAP, i.e. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, is an important social security scheme of America that helps meet the food needs of about 4 crore people every year.
This program helps low-income families to buy food items through food stamps. SNAP is very important especially for households with small children as it meets the nutritional needs of children and helps in their healthy development.
Although this is a federal level scheme, every state can make slight changes in it, such as the application process and distribution system. However, the eligibility criteria are the same across the country – such as family income and number of members.
What is SUN Bucks scheme?
Keeping in mind the special needs of summer, the US federal government has launched a new scheme called SUN Bucks. Its main objective is to help those children who do not get the facility of food provided in school during holidays.
The SUN Bucks scheme provides additional food assistance for children during the summer, which can help families to buy essential food items from the market.
This scheme believes that as soon as schools are closed, the cost of food increases a lot on families. In such a situation, the government provides this financial assistance to reduce this financial burden to some extent.
What will be received from SUN Bucks?
Under this scheme, an amount of $120 is given to every eligible child. This amount is sent directly to the EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer) card, so that families can buy food items from grocery stores.
This help is for children from 6 years to 18 years. The amount of $120 has been calculated on the basis that the food provided in school in summer can be compensated.
It is important to note that this amount is given in addition to the existing assistance of SNAP, not in its place.
Who is eligible?
Eligibility in the SUN Bucks scheme is determined in two main ways:
First way: If a family is already involved in schemes like SNAP, TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) or Indian Reservation Food Distribution.
Second way: If the children’s name is registered in the school’s National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or School Breakfast Program (SBP).
The biggest relief is that families do not need to apply separately for these benefits. For families who already have an EBT card, this amount will be automatically added to their card. And if there is no card, a new card will be sent to them by post.
Different timeline for each state
Since the administrative capacity of every state of America is different, the distribution of SUN Bucks is also happening at different times in every state.
In some states, payments have already started in May.
In others, payments are being rolled out by the end of June.
The objective will be to make sure that the implementation of the program becomes seamless throughout the states where the pressure to the system is not that extreme.
To determine the status of the program in their state, families should visit their state government web site on the Internet or visit their local SNAP office.
Future concerns
While the program is providing relief to many families for now, concerns are being raised about its sustainability in the future.
There have been suggestions by some congress people to cut SNAP and other social aid programs. One of the proposals is the one that will cut more than 1 trillion dollars and this proposal has been approved in the House of Representatives and is currently under consideration in the Senate.
When such proposals may become the law, this can have an impact on the capacity of programs such as SNAP to offer aid to needy families in the future.
What should be done?
It is important for families to keep in touch with official government websites and local social service offices.
This will keep them informed of any changes in schemes like SNAP and SUN Bucks and enable them to make their preparations in time.
As inflation is rising and living costs are becoming more expensive, the importance of these schemes increases even more.
Conclusion
Schemes like SUN Bucks and SNAP have come as a relief to millions of families for whom feeding children in summers becomes a challenge. This assistance of $120 may seem small, but when it comes to three-four children, it becomes a relief of hundreds of dollars in total.
This step taken by the government is a welcome initiative and shows that schemes are being made to help the needy people in the society.
FAQ’s
1. What is the SUN Bucks scheme and what is its purpose?
SUN Bucks is a federal food assistance program that provides $120 in aid to every eligible child to reduce the cost of children’s meals in the summer.
2. Which children are eligible for SUN Bucks?
Children who are enrolled in the National School Lunch or Breakfast Program or whose families are on SNAP or other government assistance schemes are eligible for SUN Bucks.
3. How will you get the SUN Bucks money and when will you get it?
The amount of $120 is transferred directly to the EBT card. Those who do not have a card will be sent a card by post. Payments have started in the states from May-June.
4. Do you have to apply separately for SUN Bucks?
No, eligible families do not have to apply separately for SUN Bucks. If they meet the eligibility criteria, the amount automatically comes to their EBT card.
5. Will this assistance affect or reduce SNAP benefits?
No, SUN Bucks is not part of SNAP but is additional assistance. It does not affect existing SNAP benefits but helps with summer food expenses.
Disclaimer:
This article is based on publicly available information related to SNAP and SUN Bucks. The terms and eligibility of the schemes may change over time. It would be advisable to contact the state’s SNAP website, USDA portal or local social service centers for accurate information related to any scheme. This article is not an official advice of any government scheme.
Shreya Singh is a dedicated financial journalist known for her in-depth coverage of government programs and economic updates. She consistently delivers accurate information on U.S. topics such as Stimulus Checks, IRS announcements, and federal relief efforts. Shreya also reports on UK welfare programs, covering developments in Universal Credit, PIP, and DWP news. Her clarity and commitment to trustworthy reporting have earned her a loyal following among readers seeking insightful financial updates.