New Mexico Health Care Authority Launches SUN Bucks Program to Support Summer Feeding
The New Mexico Health Care Authority (HCA) has announced the distribution of funds to support families in keeping their children fed during the summer months.
The SUN Bucks EBT cards are being issued to families, providing $120 per child to help cover grocery expenses during the summer.
“Summer should be a time of joy and growth for our children, not a time of worry about where their next meal will come from,” said Kari Armijo, Cabinet Secretary of NM HCA. “SUN Bucks will help bridge the gap, ensuring families have the resources to keep their kids healthy and thriving.”
Eligibility for SUN Bucks includes:
- Students who receive free or reduced meals under the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or School Breakfast Program (SBP).
- Students identified by their school as homeless, migrant, or in foster care.
- Families who have received SNAP, Medicaid, or TANF during the school year.
- Students attending a school that participates in the NSLP/SBP.
- Households with income below 185% of the Federal Poverty Level.
Some families will automatically receive SUN Bucks, while others may need to apply. The application deadline is August 15. Click here to learn more.
In June, KRQE News 13 inquired about the program’s timing given the early start of the school year, but HCA did not address the specific timeframe in their response.
The New Mexico Human Services Department (HSD), soon to be the Health Care Authority (on July 1) is excited to participate in the roll out of this new federal program, SUN Bucks. HSD estimates that approximately 253,000 K-12 students are eligible to receive SUN Bucks this summer. With the logistics of implementing a new program, the state is on track to issue benefits to eligible students in August.
There will be at least two groups of SUN Bucks recipients. The students who are automatically eligible will be the first issuance group. Those students who apply for SUN Bucks eligibility will be in the second group to receive benefits.
Public Relations Coordinator Tim Fowler
