What Happened to P-EBT? Understanding SUN Bucks (Summer EBT) in Arizona
If your family received P-EBT during the pandemic, you may be wondering why those benefits stopped — and whether P-EBT is coming back in 2026.
The short answer: P-EBT has ended. But Arizona families may now be able to receive help through SUN Bucks, also called Summer EBT. SUN Bucks gives eligible families money for groceries during the summer, when children are not getting meals at school.
This guide explains what changed, who may qualify for SUN Bucks in Arizona, how to apply, and how to use the benefit.
Nest Health supports AHCCCS-covered families in Arizona with in-home and virtual care at no additional cost to eligible families through their Medicaid health plan. If your family is on AHCCCS, Nest may be able to help with whole-family primary care, pediatric care, behavioral health support, and help connecting to food and other community resources. Learn more about how Nest supports families. Call 866-222-NEST (6378) to check your eligibility.
What Is P-EBT and Does It Still Exist?
No, P-EBT no longer exists.
P-EBT, or Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer, was a temporary federal program created during COVID-19 to help replace school meals children missed when schools were closed or attendance was disrupted.
P-EBT benefits were usually added to an existing EBT card or sent on a new P-EBT card. Families could use those benefits to buy food at stores that accepted SNAP/EBT.
The program was tied to the pandemic emergency period. The federal COVID-19 public health emergency ended in May 2023, and P-EBT is no longer issuing new benefits. In its place, a similar program was created and currently still exists to help Arizona families with summer food costs: SUN Bucks, also known as Summer EBT.
Why P-EBT Ended
P-EBT was only meant to help families temporarily during the school closures and pandemic-related disruptions — it was never a permanent benefit. Once the pandemic emergency was over, the program ended too.
But here's the good news: families didn't lose this help on groceries for good. In 2023, Congress replaced it with a new program that's here to stay, called SUN Bucks (Summer EBT). Unlike P-EBT, SUN Bucks doesn't depend on the pandemic or any emergency — it happens every summer from now on to help eligible school-aged children eat better during summer break. 2026 marks SUN Bucks' third year helping families.
So if you've been searching for "P-EBT 2026" hoping it comes back: it won't, but you don't need it to. SUN Bucks does the same job — putting money on a card for groceries when school is out — and most families get it automatically, no application required.
What Is SUN Bucks (Summer EBT)?
SUN Bucks, also called Summer EBT, is a summer grocery benefit for eligible school-aged children to help low-income families buy food during the summer, when kids may not have access to free or reduced-price meals at school.
Unlike P-EBT, SUN Bucks is a permanent program. 2026 is its third year. In Arizona, it's jointly administered by the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) and the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES), under the national program established by USDA's Food and Nutrition Service. About 604,000 Arizona kids are expected to get SUN Bucks in 2026.
Here's what to know for 2026:
How much: one-time payment of $120 per eligible child
How you get it: If you already get SNAP or TANF, it’ll be added on the EBT card you already have. If you got SUN Bucks in 2025, the 2026 money goes on that same card. Otherwise, newly eligible families get a SUN Bucks EBT card in the mail.
When:
For most kids who qualify automatically, money was expected on cards in June 2026. If your child qualifies automatically and you still haven't seen it by July 10, 2026, call the SUN Bucks hotline: 1 (833) 648-4406.
If you applied, you’ll get the money after your application is reviewed and approved. Applications will be reviewed throughout the summer. The last day to submit an application is August 3, 2026.
Expiration: The card doesn't expire. But the money on it does — after 122 days, unused benefits are gone for good, so use them as soon as you get them.
Who Qualifies for SUN Bucks in Arizona?
Some eligible children receive SUN Bucks automatically and do not need to submit an application, while other eligible families need to apply. The rules depend on your child’s school, your household benefits, and your household income.
Children who may receive SUN Bucks automatically (no application needed)
Your child may receive SUN Bucks automatically if they went to an Arizona school with the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or School Breakfast Program (SBP) for at least one day in the 2025–26 school year AND your child met one of these qualifying conditions between July 1, 2025, and August 3, 2026:
You submitted a school meal application, and your child was approved for free or reduced-price meals
Your household received SNAP (food assistance), TANF (cash assistance), or FDPIR (Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations) benefits
Your child attended a Head Start program that participates in NSLP or SBP
Your child was enrolled in income-based AHCCCS (Arizona Medicaid), with household income at or below 185% of the federal poverty level
Your child was certified as homeless, an unaccompanied youth, enrolled in a Migrant Education Program, or in foster care.
If your child meets the automatic eligibility rules, you do not need to apply.
Children who need to apply
Some children are eligible for SUN Bucks but will not receive benefits automatically.
For example, your family may need to apply if your child attends a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program but does not meet the automatic eligibility rules. This may include some children who attend schools where all students receive free meals through the Community Eligibility Provision or Provision 2/3. Attending a school with free meals for all students does not always mean a child is automatically eligible for SUN Bucks.
If you believe your child may be eligible but did not automatically receive benefits, do not worry: You can apply online through the Arizona SUN Bucks application portal or by mail, and the application is straightforward. But make sure to submit before the deadline! All applications, whether online or by mail, must be received by August 3, 2026.
General age and enrollment eligibility
To qualify in 2026, your child must meet both of the following:
Age: At least 6 years old by August 3, 2026, and younger than 16 before July 1, 2025.
And at least one of these, at any point between July 1, 2025 and August 3, 2026:
Receives SNAP (food assistance), TANF (cash assistance), or FDPIR (Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations) benefits
Is enrolled in a Head Start program that participates in NSLP or SBP
Is enrolled in income-based AHCCCS (Arizona Medicaid), with household income at or below 185% of the federal poverty level
Is in foster care
Is an unaccompanied youth or experiencing homelessness
Is enrolled in a Migrant Education Program
Note: Having AHCCCS does not always mean your child will automatically receive SUN Bucks. It depends on whether the household income information you provided to AHCCCS also meets the income guidelines for free or reduced-price school meals. If you are not sure whether your child qualifies, apply anyway. It’s often the fastest way to find out for certain rather than risk missing the benefit.
What about families not currently enrolled in SNAP or AHCCCS?
You can still apply for SUN Bucks directly — you don't need to be on another program first.
If you're not on SNAP (food assistance) or AHCCCS (Arizona Medicaid health insurance) yet, it's worth applying — and you can apply for both at the same time using the same application: go to healthearizonaplus.gov or call 1-855-HEA-PLUS (1-855-432-7587).
See our Arizona Medicaid Guide for a step-by-step guide on how to qualify and apply for AHCCCS.
Once your family is on AHCCCS, you may qualify for Nest Health’s in-home and virtual care services — including whole-family primary care, pediatric care, behavioral health support, and help connecting to food and other community resources.
How to Get SUN Bucks in Arizona
Check if your child qualifies. Use the Arizona SUN Bucks screener to see if your child may already qualify automatically.
Apply if you need to. If the screener says to apply, do it online, or print and mail in a paper form from the ADE website. The deadline to receive benefits in 2026 is August 3, 2026.
Make sure your address is up to date. Cards are mailed to whatever address your child's school or your DES case has on file. Moved recently? Update both.
Watch for your card or deposit. If you got SUN Bucks last year, it goes on that same card. New families get a SUN Bucks card in the mail along with an approval letter. Save the SUN Bucks approval letter — you'll need the case number on it to set up your card. If you're on SNAP or TANF, it goes on your existing EBT card.
Set up your card. Once your card arrives, call 1-888-997-9333 to set your PIN before you can use it. Keep the card even after you spend the money; Arizona uses the same card every year.
If your child is automatically eligible and you have not received the one-time summer benefit by July 10, 2026, call the SUN Bucks hotline at 1-833-648-4406. You can also call the hotline if you need your case number to set the PIN on your card or for other questions about applying and receiving your SUN Bucks.
How to Use Your SUN Bucks Benefits
You can use SUN Bucks like a debit card, anywhere that takes SNAP/EBT — grocery stores, corner stores, farmers' markets, and some online retailers.
You can buy: The same groceries SNAP covers, such as fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, breads, cereals, snack foods, and non-alcoholic drinks.
You can’t buy: Hot or prepared foods, alcohol, vitamins, medicine, pet food, or non-food items.
It won't cost you other benefits: SUN Bucks can be used with other food programs, and don’t reduce or affect your SNAP, WIC, or other nutrition benefits. You can use it alongside free SUN Meals summer meal sites, too.
Use it in time: The money expires 122 days after it's added to your card. After that, it's gone and can't be replaced — so make sure to use them as soon as possible.
FAQs
What is the difference between SUN Bucks and SNAP?
SNAP gives eligible families money for groceries every month, year-round. SUN Bucks is a one-time $120 benefit per eligible child sent to families during the summer, on top of SNAP.
Is P-EBT coming back in 2026?
No. P-EBT ended after the COVID-19 pandemic emergency period in 2023. SUN Bucks, also called Summer EBT, is the current summer grocery benefit for eligible children that replaced it.
How much will my family receive from SUN Bucks?
$120 per eligible child, given once for the summer. Use it anywhere that takes SNAP/EBT.
Do I need to apply for SUN Bucks every year?
Some children receive SUN Bucks automatically and don’t need to apply every year. If your child doesn’t automatically qualify, you'll need to apply each year — check azed.gov/SUNBucks.
Will receiving SUN Bucks affect my other benefits?
No. It doesn't count as income, and it won't lower your SNAP, WIC, or AHCCCS.
What if my child qualifies for AHCCCS but not SNAP? Will they get SUN Bucks automatically?
Maybe your child may qualify automatically only if their AHCCCS eligibility is income-based and meets school meal income guidelines. If you are unsure, apply. Use the Arizona SUN Bucks screener.
What happened to unspent P-EBT balances?
P-EBT ended after the COVID-19 pandemic emergency period. Any money left on your old P-EBT card has expired. It can't be added back or reissued.
What if I missed the SUN Bucks application deadline?
The 2026 application deadline is August 3, 2026. Applications submitted after this date will not be accepted for 2026 benefits.
Does SUN Bucks affect my family's immigration status?
No. Arizona DES confirms that SUN Bucks doesn't affect immigration status, for you or your child, no matter your status. The program is available regardless of immigration status for eligible children.
Supporting Your Family's Health This Summer with Nest Health
Food is a big part of health. When children have enough to eat, it supports their growth, learning, energy, and overall well-being. That’s why programs like SUN Bucks matter so much: they help families keep healthy food at home during the summer months.
But food is just one piece of the puzzle. Many families getting benefits like SUN Bucks also qualify for more help than they know about. Nest Health helps families on Medicaid (also called AHCCCS in Arizona) get care in a way that fits real family life, at no additional cost through your participating health plan.
For eligible families, Nest offers in-home and virtual care to support the whole family — kids and adults — at the same time for a variety of needs, including primary care, pediatric care, 24/7 clinical support, behavioral health support, care coordination, and help connecting to food, housing, transportation, and other community resources.
We work with families across Maricopa County (Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, Scottsdale, Peoria), Mohave County, and Pinal County, with service to more counties coming soon. We also have Spanish-speaking providers.
Whether you're new to AHCCCS or have had it for years, Nest is here to make good care easier to get year-round, including when school is out during the summer, alongside programs like SUN Bucks and SNAP. Our in-home and virtual care means you can access care without needing to travel to a clinic in the summer heat.
See our guide to staying healthy this summer with SUN Bucks and AHCCCS
Nest services may be available to your family at no additional cost through your Medicaid health plan. Call 866-222-NEST (6378) to check your eligibility.
