Most school-age children who qualify for Virginia SUN Bucks in 2026 will receive the one-time $120 summer benefit automatically without having to fill out an application.
If you believe you qualify for Virginia SUN Bucks based on your income, but your family does not fall under one of the automatically eligible groups listed below, we encourage you apply for Virginia SUN Bucks or visit the Frequently Asked Questions page to learn more about the program.
Who doesn't need to apply?
Your child may already be eligible for Virginia SUN Bucks and you do not need to take any action to receive your benefit if:
- Your household receives Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or income-based Medical Assistance.
-
Your child applied for and received free or reduced-priced meals at
school this year through the
National School Lunch Program (NSLP).
- If your child's school provides free meals to all students without applying, you may still need to complete an application for Virginia SUN Bucks. See below.
Who does need to apply?
You must apply for Virginia SUN Bucks if your child did not apply for and receive free or reduced-price school meals or your family does not participate in SNAP, TANF or an income-based Medical Assistance program.
Some schools provide free meals to all kids, regardless of income and without an application through what's called a Community Eligibility Provision. If your child attends one of these schools, you should apply (unless you ALSO receive SNAP, TANF or income-based Medical Assistance).
Who doesn't qualify?
Your child may be ineligible for Virginia SUN Bucks if they are homeschooled, attend a virtual school or a non-public school that does not participate in the National School Lunch Program. The only exception to this is if your family participates in SNAP, TANF or Medical Assistance.
How do I apply?
If you qualify based on your household income and your child is not
enrolled in SNAP, TANF or an income-based Medical Assistance program,
you can apply for Virginia SUN Bucks 2026 year-round by completing,
printing and mailing the application found on this page to:
Virginia SUN Bucks
Virginia Department of Social Services
5600 Cox Road
Glen Allen, VA 23060
All mailed applications for Virginia SUN Bucks 2026 will be processed by VDSS beginning in spring 2026, not your local agency or your school.
Note: Your application must include all members of your household, the amount, source and frequency of income for each household member, and a signature or else it will be rejected. If you are unsure of the answer to any of the other questions on the application, it is okay to write, "I do not know."
Virginia SUN Bucks Application
What are the income limits?
The Virginia SUN Bucks program has income limits for eligibility, so your household income must be under the maximum income limits for your household size. Use the table below to see if your income is within Virginia SUN Bucks eligibility limits.
If your income is no more than the below amount, you may be eligible. Apply for Virginia SUN Bucks!
If your income is more than the below amount, you are probably not eligible for Virginia SUN Bucks. Learn more.
What happens next?
After you apply, some households may be contacted to provide verification of the information stated in your application.
Your application will undergo a review process beginning in spring 2026 and Virginia SUN Bucks will be issued on a rolling basis starting in summer 2026 to children who automatically qualify and to families who are eligible by application. It may take 7-10 days from the issue date to receive your card in the mail. Households with SNAP will need to check their card balance. If your household does not participate in SNAP, your Virginia SUN Bucks benefits will be loaded onto a new SUN Bucks card that will be mailed to the address on file with your school or application.
How will I get my benefits?
If your household does not participate in SNAP, the Virginia SUN Bucks benefit will be loaded onto a new SUN Bucks card that will be mailed to the address on file with your school or local department of social services. You can discard any SUN Bucks cards from previous years-2026 benefits will be loaded onto new cards and mailed to you.
Children in foster care will get their Virginia SUN Bucks cards at their current foster family's address. For questions about the child, address, placement, etc., contact the local department of social services. For children who are unhoused or migrants who automatically qualify for Virginia SUN Bucks, the Virginia SUN Bucks card will be sent to the last known address on file with their school or benefits caseworker, or to their local department of social services office for pickup if no address is known.
