FROM: KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR
SUBJECT: MISSOURI SUN BUCKS SUMMER ELECTRONIC BENEFITS TRANSFER (SEBT) ELIGIBILITY POLICY
DISCUSSION:
SuN Bucks, Summer EBT (SEBT) provides food assistance for eligible children during the summer months when school is not in session. In 2024, each eligible child will receive a $120.00 benefit on an EBT card. While the benefits can be spent like SNAP, it is important to note these benefits are not SNAP, and eligibility and administration of the program is different.
Eligibility Categories:
Eligibility can be established in 3 ways:
- School age and categorical eligibility – Missouri children ages 7-17 (up to but not including the 18th birthday) are required to attend school. This is known as Missouri’s compulsory age of attendance. Categorically eligible children are children who are receiving SNAP or TA, in Foster Care, homeless, migrant, or runaway. Children ages 7-17 and categorically eligible are automatically eligible for SuN Bucks. SNAP, TA, and Foster Care information from DSS, along with homeless, migrant, or runaway data from DESE, is used to determine eligibility under this category.
- National School Lunch Program (NSLP) enrollment – Children enrolled in NSLP (sometimes known as free and reduced lunch) at their school are automatically eligible for SuN Bucks. Schools gather and report this information to FSD.
- Note: Children who qualify under categories 1 and 2 for any one day in the previous school year are eligible for SuN Bucks.
- Income eligibility and enrollment at an NSLP school – Children whose household income is below the threshold for NSLP and who attend a school participating in NSLP are eligible for SuN Bucks. These children must apply to be determined eligible for SuN Bucks.
Citizenship and a social security number are not eligibility factors for SuN Bucks; however, social security numbers are requested for DCN assignment purposes.
Household Composition:
The household is made up of related or unrelated individuals living as one economic unit. Self-attestation is generally accepted for household composition.
Income Eligibility:
For children whose eligibility is established partly through income eligibility, household income must be under 185% FPL.
Summer Operational (SO) Period:
The summer operational (SO) period is the months the benefits are intended to cover and generally includes the period between the end of the current school year and the start of the next school year. The Missouri SuN Bucks SO period for Summer 2024 is from June 15, 2024 – August 31, 2024.
Note: Applications can be submitted year-round. Applications received after the SO Period ends will be used to determine eligibility for Summer 2025.
Period of Eligibility (POE):
The period of eligibility (POE) runs from the first day of the school year before the SO period through the last day of the SO period. Children who meet the eligibility requirements in categories 1 or 2 above for even one day during the POE are eligible for SuN Bucks.
The Missouri SuN Bucks POE for Summer 2024 benefits is September 1, 2023 – August 31, 2024. The POE for Summer 2025 started September 1, 2024.
Verification of Eligibility:
In 2024, self-attestation of household circumstances and income is accepted unless FSD is aware of conflicting or inconsistent information. FSD may verify the accuracy of the information provided on the application on a case-by-case basis.
Notice Information:
All participants approved for SuN Bucks will receive an action notice. Additionally, all participants who applied and were determined ineligible for SuN Bucks will receive a rejection notice. When possible, notices will be sent by email or text message. Approval notices will also include information regarding expungement.
Hearing Rights:
Participants have the right to request a fair hearing within 90 days of the end of the SO period if they believe the Family Support Division made an incorrect determination. Requests can be made using established procedures. Participants have the right to confer with legal counsel about any eligibility decision. The deadline for 2024 SuN Bucks hearing requests is November 30, 2024.
Changes in Circumstances:
Households are not required to report changes in circumstances during the school year or SO period. However, households are encouraged to report changes in contact details, including electronic contact details.
Expungement:
Summer EBT benefits will be removed 122 calendar days after issuance. Once the expungement is completed, benefits cannot be reinstated.
NECESSARY ACTION:
- Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.
KE/as
