$120 Summer Food Benefits for Some 38,000 California Children Near Expiration, State Says
California families still hold large amounts of unspent summer food benefits for children that are about to expire, the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) warned. The SUN Bucks program (Summer EBT) loads $120 in grocery benefits per eligible school-age child onto a dedicated card; funds expire 122 days after they are issued, and the first cards loaded in late May began expiring in the fall.
CDSS spokesperson Jason Montiel told reporters that as of September 21, roughly $106 million remained unspent on California children's SUN Bucks cards, with benefits for about 38,000 children at risk of expiring. Last year about $118 million went unused. Montiel said roughly one in five cards is never activated, and some families already receiving CalFresh may not realize SUN Bucks is a separate card that must be used on its own.
The department advises families with both benefits to spend SUN Bucks first, before CalFresh balances, and to check balances through the phone number on the back of the card or the official benefits app. SUN Bucks goes to school-enrolled children, including those in households earning up to 185% of the federal poverty level.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 儿童食品补助卡在超市结账时使用（资料图，美国农业部，公共领域）
