Benefits will expire four months after issue
SANTA FE – The New Mexico Health Care Authority (HCA) is reminding recipients of SUN Bucks benefits issued on August 5, that they must be spent by December 5, 2024, or the funds will expire. All SUN Bucks benefits should be used within four months of the date they were issued. Reminder notices will be sent to SUN Bucks recipients one month before their benefits expire.
“We want to help families support the health and growth of our children and not worry about where their next meal will come from”, said Niki Kozlowski, Income Support Division Director. “SUN Bucks help ensure families have the resources to keep their kids healthy and thriving.”
SUN Bucks benefits were issued on August 5, September 3 and September 23, 2024. Those benefits will expire if not spent within four months of the issue date. SUN Bucks, a grocery benefits program designed to help families, provided $120 per eligible school-aged child to buy groceries, ensuring children have access to nutritious food during the summer months. Most families received these benefits automatically, while some parents or guardians applied for the program.
HCA estimates that 288,953 K-12 students received these benefits in 2024. In addition to free meals available at summer meal sites, the SUN Bucks program aims to support families by stretching their grocery budgets during these months.
SUN Bucks are a one-time benefit issued to school-aged children ages 5 through 18 who were active on SNAP (food assistance), TANF (cash assistance), and most types of Children’s Medicaid from July 1, 2023, to August 1, 2024. SUN Bucks is an annual summer food benefit program, click here to learn more – SUN Bucks.
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