SUN Bucks for Lakeville Area Schools Students

There are no age restrictions for children who qualify by attending a NSLP* school. 

Participation in SUN Bucks does not affect immigration status.

*All Lakeville Area Schools except Lakeville Online Academy participate in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP)

If you are participating in a state program such as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), MFIP (Minnesota Family Investment Program), FDPIR (Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations), Medicaid (As determined by MN Dept of Human Services), or Foster status, you will automatically qualify for SUN Bucks benefits. The Department of Children Youth and Families will mail your card to you in late May/early June to the address on file with the Department of Children Youth and Families. Parents can call the SUN Bucks helpline at 651-431-4608 or submit a ticket http://sebthelp.state.mn.us/ for an address change.

If you have already applied for free & reduced-price meal benefits or qualify based on homelessness (McKinney Vento Act), and you have received your approval letter, you will automatically qualify for SUN Bucks benefits. We will automatically sign you up, and you will receive the SUN Bucks card in the mail at your primary household listed in the Parent Portal if DHS approves your household. Please check to be sure your contact information is up-to-date.  To change your address, please contact enroll@isd194.org.

If you are not participating in a state program and have not yet applied for free & reduced-price meal benefits, but think you may qualify, please apply! If you qualify, we will automatically sign you up for SUN Bucks benefits.  The Dept of Children Youth and Families will let you know if you qualify.

To receive your SUN Bucks card in the initial run of cards by the Dept of Children Youth and Families, you must apply and be approved for free & reduced-price meal benefits by Friday, May 23 for them to review and approve of your household.

If your child is homeschooled or participates in Lakeville Online Academy, you may apply directly to the state for the SUN Bucks card.  SUN Bucks applications are processed by the Minnesota Department of Education and will be required to have the same eligibility components, including household income requirements.  To fill out a SUN Bucks application directly with the Minnesota Department of Education click here. The deadline to apply is August 31, 2025. Those applying directly will be required to meet the same eligibility components, including household income requirements. Notifications of approval or denial will begin in the spring of 2025.  For any questions about the SUN Bucks application, please email sebt.mde@state.mn.us

Students who have completed their Educational Benefits Application and are eligible for free or reduced price meals, will have their information forwarded automatically and the Department of Children Youth and Families will text or email families when SUN Bucks benefits are approved.

Many children will receive their SUN Bucks cards in late May/early June, including all those who are: 

• Enrolled in Minnesota Family Investment Program, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, Medical Assistance (must meet income requirements) or in foster care before March 30, 2025. 

Some children will receive their SUN Bucks cards June through September, including: 

• Children who have an approved income based application for free and reduced-price school meals 
• Homeless and migrant children 
• Children who are enrolled on or after April 1 in the Minnesota Family Investment Program, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, Medical Assistance (must meet income requirements) 
• Children who are placed in foster care after April 1

• Each eligible child will receive a card with a total benefit of $120.

• Homeschoolers or Lakeville Online Academy students are the only ones who will need to apply directly with MDE. (Reference Do You Qualify section above)
• All other Lakeville Area School families do not need to apply for SUN Bucks benefits. Schools will be reporting qualification data to the state on their behalf. 

The Dept of Children Youth and Families will issue the benefits on children’s SUN Bucks cards. Each eligible individual student will get a new SUN Bucks card this school year (2024/2025).  Reminder**  Keep the SUN Bucks card in a safe place to use next summer. Future SUN Bucks benefits for the same child will be accessible from the original SUN Bucks card, unless a replacement card is ordered. To replace an existing card for $2, call EBT Edge at 888-997-2227.

• Families who receive other EBT benefits should begin using their SUN Bucks card as soon as possible and use up all SUN Bucks benefits before continuing to use their regular EBT benefits 
• SUN Bucks benefits are available for use for 122 days. For example, if benefits are issued and made available on July 31, 2025, they are available from July 31 through Nov. 29, 2025. Benefits for this account would expire as the clock strikes midnight and the date changes to Nov. 30, 2025.

A letter would have been emailed to the person who filled out the application's email address they entered at the time of application.  Or if the child was directly certified through the state (for SNAP, MFIP, Foster, or Medicaid), the letter would have been emailed to the Infinite Campus Primary Household's email address.  This letter will tell you the status of your children.  The email would have come from Titan School Solutions (Linq).  If you have lost this email, you can contact Julie Wharton at julie.wharton@isd.org if you are not sure of your child(ren)'s status.  Please include legal First Name and Last Name and date of birth of the child for her to verify status.