Most children eligible to receive Virginia SUN Bucks benefits receive them 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, 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-eligible Medicaid.
- 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.
The Virginia Department of Social Services and the Virginia Department of Education estimate that about 650,000 children qualify as a part of these two groups and do not need to apply because they are automatically enrolled in Virginia SUN Bucks.
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 above, we encourage you apply for Virginia SUN Bucks or visit our Frequently Asked Questions page to learn more about the program.
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 Medicaid based on your income. Some schools provide free meals to kids without an application. If your child attends one of these schools and they do not participate in SNAP, TANF or Medicaid, you should apply.
You do not automatically qualify for Virginia SUN Bucks if you attend a school where all students, regardless of income, receive free meals (unless you ALSO receive SNAP, TANF or Medicaid based on your income).
Income Eligibility Table
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.
If your income is more than the below amount, you are probably not eligible for Virginia SUN Bucks. Learn more.
| Household Members | Annual | Monthly | Twice Per Month | Every Two Weeks | Weekly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $27861 | $2322 | $1161 | $1072 | $536 |
| 2 | $37814 | $3152 | $1576 | $1455 | $728 |
| 3 | $47767 | $3981 | $1991 | $1838 | $919 |
| 4 | $57720 | $4810 | $2405 | $2220 | $1110 |
| 5 | $67673 | $5640 | $2820 | $2603 | $1302 |
| 6 | $77626 | $6469 | $3235 | $2986 | $1493 |
| 7 | $87579 | $7299 | $3650 | $3369 | $1685 |
| 8 | $97532 | $8128 | $4064 | $3752 | $1876 |
| 9 | $107485 | $8958 | $4479 | $4135 | $2068 |
| 10 | $117438 | $9788 | $4894 | $4518 | $2260 |
| 11 | $127391 | $10618 | $5309 | $4901 | $2452 |
| 12 | $137344 | $11448 | $5724 | $5284 | $2644 |
| 13 | $147297 | $12278 | $6139 | $5667 | $2836 |
| 14 | $157250 | $13108 | $6554 | $6050 | $3028 |
| 15 | $167203 | $13938 | $6969 | $6433 | $3220 |
| 16 | $177156 | $14768 | $7384 | $6816 | $3412 |
| 17 | $187109 | $15598 | $7799 | $7199 | $3604 |
| 18 | $197062 | $16428 | $8214 | $7582 | $3796 |
| 19 | $207015 | $17258 | $8629 | $7965 | $3988 |
| 20 | $216968 | $18088 | $9044 | $8348 | $4180 |
