One of the challenges for Maine families whose children qualify for free or reduced lunch at school is what to do when school lets out. With June around the corner and the last school day as well, there is a way that Maine families will be able to continue feeding their children without an additional financial burden. A lot of it revolves around the Maine Pine Tree Card, which is part of the SNAP EBT program.

SUN Bucks logo.Photo byMaine.gov.

SUN Bucks helps provide food for children this summer

SUN Bucks is a new grocery benefit available to families with eligible school-aged children. They can get $120 per child to buy groceries during the summer. Families can receive SUN Bucks on top of other benefits like SNAP and WIC. This program replaces the summer program that was in place during the pandemic and which expired in 2023.

Who qualifies?

There are many families that qualify automatically for SUN Bucks. This includes families with a school-aged child/children already participating in the following:

• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
• Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)
• Experiencing homelessness
• Part of migrant families
• Receiving MaineCare with a verified annual income under 185% of the federal poverty level.

In addition, for households currently enrolled in SNAP, the state will automatically add those benefits to your Maine Pine Tree Card.

Also, was your child in P-EBT during the pandemic? Well, those children, who do not currently receive SNAP, can reuse that P-EBT card for these new benefits. Unfortunately, if you disposed of the card when the program expired in 2023, you will need to apply for a new one.

What about children who are eligible for SUN Bucks but do not currently receive SNAP or didn't get P-EBT benefits? Maine will have a Pine Tree card with their benefit. Look for postal mail in June that will explain more.

If you are NOT automatically enrolled, you can apply for SUN Bucks directly beginning June 1, 2024. Make sure you submit an application ASAP. If the State of Maine doesn't receive your a\pplications by August 15, you will lose out on this benefit.

Places to use SUN Bucks

Because SUN Bucks benefits will be added to existing Pine Tree Cards, you can use them at the same places that take SNAP EBT benefits. Some of these SNAP locations may be surprising to you. In Maine, this includes:

Meat markets in Maine

Maine farmers markets

Supermarkets that accept SNAP EBT

Finally, you can register your SNAP card on Amazon to shop online