The
Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS), in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition
Service, has launched Virginia SUN Bucks, a new grocery benefit program
for eligible school-aged children.
Qualifying families will receive a one-time $120 per-child benefit. Households already enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will receive the benefit loaded onto their existing Virginia electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card. Others will receive a new Virginia SUN Bucks EBT card mailed to the address on file at the children’s school. Like SNAP benefits, families can use Virginia SUN Bucks to purchase eligible food items at grocery stores, farmers markets or other authorized retailers.
It is estimated Virginia SUN Bucks will benefit more than 790,000 school-aged children in its 2024 pilot year, with more than 650,000 of those children expected to be enrolled in the program automatically. With the launch of this program, an estimated $90 million will be pumped into the Virginia economy.
Spread the word about this program and assist those who will benefit from the program, both retailers and customers. The application process has begun and benefits will be issued on a rolling basis beginning in August. With this program, VDSS is working to reduce food insecurity for hundreds of thousands of children across the commonwealth in the upcoming months.
Please visit www.VirginiaSunBucks.com for more information about eligibility, how to apply, frequently asked questions and community partner resources.
Qualifying families will receive a one-time $120 per-child benefit. Households already enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will receive the benefit loaded onto their existing Virginia electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card. Others will receive a new Virginia SUN Bucks EBT card mailed to the address on file at the children’s school. Like SNAP benefits, families can use Virginia SUN Bucks to purchase eligible food items at grocery stores, farmers markets or other authorized retailers.
It is estimated Virginia SUN Bucks will benefit more than 790,000 school-aged children in its 2024 pilot year, with more than 650,000 of those children expected to be enrolled in the program automatically. With the launch of this program, an estimated $90 million will be pumped into the Virginia economy.
Spread the word about this program and assist those who will benefit from the program, both retailers and customers. The application process has begun and benefits will be issued on a rolling basis beginning in August. With this program, VDSS is working to reduce food insecurity for hundreds of thousands of children across the commonwealth in the upcoming months.
Please visit www.VirginiaSunBucks.com for more information about eligibility, how to apply, frequently asked questions and community partner resources.