Deadline Nears For Phoenix Families To Claim $120 Summer Food Benefit

PHOENIX, AZ — Phoenix Elementary School District No. 1 is urging families to check whether their children qualify for SUN Bucks, a summer food benefit worth $120 per eligible child.

Families whose children are not automatically approved have until Aug. 3 to apply.

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SUN Bucks, formally known as the Arizona Department of Education’s Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Program, is designed to help families cover grocery costs during summer break, when school meals are unavailable. The benefit is a one-time payment for groceries and expires after 122 days.

Some students qualify automatically, including those who participate in SNAP, TANF or income-based Medicaid, as well as children in foster care, Head Start, or those who qualify as homeless or migrant youth. But automatic approval is not guaranteed for every child, even those who already receive free school meals.

All students in Phoenix Elementary School District No. 1 receive free meals, but the district says that does not mean every child will automatically receive SUN Bucks.

Families whose children receive AHCCCS through SSI, Adoption Subsidy or Foster Care may still need to apply.

Because of that, the district is encouraging parents not to assume their child is covered and instead confirm their status directly. “The good news? Finding out if your family qualifies is quick and easy,” the district said in its notice. “A few minutes now could help put more food on the table this summer.”

Families can check eligibility and apply online through the state’s SUN Bucks Eligibility Screener. Paper applications are also available by mail in English and Spanish, and completed forms can be sent to the Arizona Department of Education’s Health and Nutrition Services division in Phoenix.

The district is also reminding families to make sure their mailing address is current with both their child’s school and the Arizona Department of Economic Security, since outdated addresses could delay or prevent delivery of benefits. The SUN Bucks card and approval letter arrive separately by mail.

To qualify, students must have been enrolled for at least one day between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026.