Most children eligible to receive Virginia SUN Bucks benefits will 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, 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-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).
If you think your children could be eligible based on your how much money your household makes each month (see Income Eligibility Table below), you can apply two ways:
- Starting July 1, 2024, you can fill out the Virginia SUN Bucks application and print, sign and mail it to Virginia SUN Bucks, c/o VDSS, 5600 Cox Road, Glen Allen, VA, 23060. Applications must be received by Aug. 30, 2024. Please do not take your application to your local department of social services or school as they cannot process this application.
- Starting July 22, 2024, you can contact the Virginia SUN Bucks Call Center at 866-513-1414 (toll-free) or 804-294-1633 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. ‐ 6 p.m. Aug. 30, 2024, is the last day to apply by phone.
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. 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.
| Household Members | Annual | Monthly | Twice Per Month | Every Two Weeks | Weekly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $26,973 | $2,248 | $1,124 | $1,038 | $519 |
| 2 | $36,482 | $3,041 | $1,521 | $1,404 | $702 |
| 3 | $45,991 | $3,833 | $1,917 | $1,769 | $885 |
| 4 | $55,500 | $4,625 | $2,313 | $2,135 | $1,068 |
| 5 | $65,009 | $5,418 | $2,709 | $2,501 | $1,251 |
| 6 | $74,518 | $6,210 | $3,105 | $2,867 | $1,434 |
| 7 | $84,027 | $7,003 | $3,502 | $3,232 | $1,616 |
| 8 | $93,536 | $7,795 | $3,898 | $3,598 | $1,799 |
| 9 | $103,045 | $8,588 | $4,295 | $3,964 | $1,982 |
| 10 | $112,554 | $9,381 | $4,692 | $4,330 | $2,165 |
| 11 | $122,063 | $10,174 | $5,089 | $4,696 | $2,348 |
| 12 | $131,572 | $10,967 | $5,486 | $5,062 | $2,531 |
| 13 | $141,081 | $11,760 | $5,883 | $5,428 | $2,714 |
| 14 | $150,590 | $12,553 | $6,280 | $5,794 | $2,897 |
| 15 | $160,099 | $13,346 | $6,677 | $6,160 | $3,080 |
| 16 | $169,608 | $14,139 | $7,074 | $6,526 | $3,263 |
| 17 | $179,117 | $14,932 | $7,471 | $6,892 | $3,446 |
| 18 | $188,626 | $15,725 | $7,868 | $7,258 | $3,629 |
| 19 | $198,135 | $16,518 | $8,265 | $7,624 | $3,812 |
| 20 | $207,644 | $17,311 | $8,662 | $7,990 | $3,995 |
