Maryland officials are urging families who receive SUN Bucks benefits to use the money before it expires. The program, which runs from June through August, adds $40 per student each month to existing EBT cards for families already on SNAP, Temporary Cash Assistance, Medicaid, the Free and Reduced‑Price School Meals program, or out‑of‑home care. Over the summer, each child can receive up to $120.
Why the reminder matters
Benefits automatically expire 122 days after they are issued. For the most recent issuances, that means families have until December to spend the funds or lose them. “Last year we made the largest investment to fight childhood hunger, and this year we are building on that success by ensuring all families are taking full advantage of their SUN Bucks,” Gov. Wes Moore said.
Impact on children and the community
During the summer of 2025, Maryland distributed $75 million in SUN Bucks benefits, feeding more than 630,000 students—the largest summer‑hunger investment in state history. The program achieved a 78 % redemption rate last year, and officials are working to improve that figure this year.
Stacy L. Rodgers, acting secretary of the Maryland Department of Human Services, emphasized the dual benefit: “When these benefits are left unspent, our children may miss out on their next meal, and we miss out on an opportunity to support our local economy.” The reminder encourages families to check their EBT accounts and spend the benefits promptly.
New fraud‑resistant EBT cards
Maryland also recently upgraded its EBT cards with Europay, Mastercard, and Visa (EMV) chip‑and‑tap technology, becoming the fourth state to adopt this fraud‑resistant system. The upgrade helps protect families from benefits fraud while ensuring smooth transactions at participating retailers.
For more information on eligibility, application procedures, or to verify a SUN Bucks balance, families can visit the program’s website or call 1‑800‑332‑6347 and select the Maryland SUN Bucks option.
Original reporting: Baltimore Fishbowl — read the source article.
