SUN Bucks benefits expire 122 days after they load onto your card. This is a federal rule that applies in every state. Once that window closes, unused funds are gone for good.
The tricky part is that your 122 days start on your own issuance date, not a date set for your whole state. Two families in the same state can have completely different expiration dates, depending on when their card was loaded.
Below you’ll find your state’s 2026 application deadline, when benefits typically load, and how to calculate your personal expiration date so you don’t lose any of your $120 per child.
Page Contents
- 1 Quick Summary
- 2 What Is the SUN Bucks 122-Day Rule?
- 3 SUN Bucks Expiration Dates by State (Summer 2026)
- 4 States Not Participating in SUN Bucks 2026
- 5 How to Find Your Exact Expiration Date
- 6 SUN Bucks vs. Regular SNAP: Why the Rules Differ
- 7 Frequently Asked Questions
- 7.1 Can I get my expired SUN Bucks funds back?
- 7.2 Does the clock restart if I get a replacement card?
- 7.3 When do 2026 SUN Bucks payments start showing up?
- 7.4 What if my state isn’t participating in 2026?
- 7.5 Will SUN Bucks lower my regular SNAP benefits?
- 7.6 How do I check my card balance and issuance date?
- 8 Don’t Let Your Grocery Money Disappear
Quick Summary
- The rule: SUN Bucks funds expire 122 days after they’re loaded onto your card, in nearly every state.
- The amount: $120 per eligible child in most states; $189 per child in Hawaii; $180 per child in U.S. territories.
- Application deadlines: Range from August 14, 2026 to September 8, 2026, depending on your state.
- Wyoming is different: Wyoming reversed its opt-out this year and now uses a 121-day expiration window, not 122.
- 12 states are sitting this out: Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah are not participating in 2026.
- No extensions: Once funds expire, they cannot be reissued or replaced.
What Is the SUN Bucks 122-Day Rule?
SUN Bucks, also called Summer EBT, gives families grocery money while school meals are unavailable. Federal guidance requires states to expire unused benefits 122 days after issuance.
That means your countdown starts the moment funds are digitally loaded onto your card, not the day your card arrives in the mail or the day you activate it.
How the Clock Starts
Your issuance date is the day funds post to your account. States call this the “benefit availability date.” This date is when funds are digitally loaded, which may be several days before you receive your card in the mail. Check your state’s EBT portal (like ebtEDGE or Propel) to find this exact date.
What Happens When Benefits Expire
Once 122 days pass, remaining SUN Bucks funds are removed from your card automatically. Benefits that are redeemed, expired, lost, or stolen due to fraud won’t be replaced. There’s no grace period and no appeal process for expired funds specifically.
SUN Bucks Expiration Dates by State (Summer 2026)
Expiration dates vary because states issue benefits on a rolling basis, not all at once. The table below shows confirmed 2026 application deadlines and typical issuance windows. Use the calculator in the next section to pin down your own expiration date.
| State | 2026 Application Deadline | Typical Issuance Window | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | August 31, 2026 | Loaded in three $40 installments (June, July, August) | 122 days after each load |
| Illinois | August 14, 2026 | Mid-May onward | 122 days after issuance |
| Louisiana | August 20, 2026 | Rolling from early summer | 122 days after issuance |
| Massachusetts | No fixed deadline published | Spring/early summer | 122 days from deposit |
| Michigan | August 31, 2026 | Late May–June | 122 days; replacement cards don’t restart the clock |
| Minnesota | August 31, 2026 | June | 122 days after issuance |
| New Mexico | August 22, 2026 (reapplication) | June 15, July 15, and September 15, 2026 issuance waves | 122 days after each wave |
| New York | September 8, 2026 | Rolling from June 2026 | 122 days after each wave’s issuance |
| North Carolina | August 15, 2026 | Rolling through summer | 122 days after issuance |
| Ohio | August 14, 2026 | Auto-enrolled children issued by July 31, 2026 | 122 days after issuance |
| Washington | September 4, 2026 | Began June 15, 2026 | 122 days; adjusted for mailing delays |
| Wyoming | August 31, 2026 | Cards mailed starting early July 2026 | 121 days after issuance |
For any state not listed here, check your state’s official SUN Bucks or Summer EBT page, since not every agency has published a full 2026 schedule yet.
States With Notable Expiration Details
A few states have rules worth calling out specifically:
- Michigan: If you receive a replacement card, the 122-day clock does not restart. It still counts from your original issuance date.
- Ohio: Most automatically enrolled children receive benefits by July 31, 2026, which puts their expiration around November 30, 2026.
- New York: Benefits go out in waves. The application deadline is September 8, 2026, one of the latest in the country, and each wave expires 122 days from its own issuance date rather than one fixed date.
- Washington: DSHS adjusted the 122-day expiration period for families whose benefits were issued but whose cards were delayed in the mail, specifically for June 1–2, 2026 issuances.
- Wyoming: After years of opting out, Wyoming launched its program for 2026 under a governor’s executive order. Purchases are subject to a 121-day summer timeline — one day shorter than the standard rule used elsewhere.
States Not Participating in SUN Bucks 2026
Participation is voluntary, so some states have chosen not to run the program this year. Summer EBT 2026 will not be available in Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah.
If you live in one of these states, your child won’t receive SUN Bucks this summer. There’s one exception worth knowing: even though Oklahoma the state isn’t participating, five tribal nations — the Cherokee Nation, Chickasaw Nation, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Muscogee (Creek) Nation, and Otoe-Missouria Tribe — are running their own Summer EBT programs, and tribal membership isn’t required to qualify.
Correction on Wyoming: Wyoming had opted out for several years, but that changed in 2026. Governor Mark Gordon signed an executive order directing the state to launch SUN Bucks after the legislature repeatedly declined to join. Wyoming is now participating, automatically enrolling over 37,000 children for summer 2026.
How to Find Your Exact Expiration Date
Since your deadline depends on your household’s issuance date, follow these steps to calculate it yourself:
- Log in to your state’s EBT portal (ebtEDGE, the Propel app, or your state’s specific site).
- Find the “Benefit Availability Date” or “Issuance Date” listed for your SUN Bucks transaction.
- Add 122 days to that date (121 days if you live in Wyoming).
- Mark that date as your last day to spend the funds.
Example Calculations
- Issued June 15, 2026 → Expires October 15, 2026
- Issued July 1, 2026 → Expires October 31, 2026
- Issued August 1, 2026 → Expires December 1, 2026
- Issued July 31, 2026 (Ohio’s typical auto-issuance date) → Expires November 30, 2026
SUN Bucks vs. Regular SNAP: Why the Rules Differ
SUN Bucks and SNAP are both run through USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service, but they follow different expiration rules. Regular SNAP benefits generally stay usable for up to 9 months of inactivity before a state can remove them. SUN Bucks moves much faster, expiring in about 4 months.
That difference matters if your household gets both. If you receive SUN Bucks in addition to regular active SNAP benefits on your household EBT card, SUN Bucks will be used automatically before your SNAP benefits since they expire first. Spend your SUN Bucks balance before touching your regular SNAP dollars.
Rules can also differ by state within federal limits. Some states load SUN Bucks onto an existing SNAP card, while others — like Wyoming and Ohio in certain cases — mail a completely separate card. Always confirm your state’s specific process, since a card that looks unfamiliar might still hold real benefits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get my expired SUN Bucks funds back?
No. Once your 122-day window closes (121 days in Wyoming), unused funds are permanently removed and cannot be reissued or replaced, even by appeal.
Does the clock restart if I get a replacement card?
No. In states like Michigan and Washington, a replacement card keeps the original issuance date. The only exception is when a state officially adjusts the timeline for a documented mailing delay.
When do 2026 SUN Bucks payments start showing up?
Most states began issuing benefits in late May or June 2026. Ohio’s auto-enrolled families were fully loaded by July 31, 2026, while New Mexico issued waves in June, July, and September.
What if my state isn’t participating in 2026?
Twelve states opted out this year: Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah. Check for local food pantries or SUN Meals sites near you instead.
Will SUN Bucks lower my regular SNAP benefits?
No. SUN Bucks is a separate benefit and does not reduce your SNAP allotment, count as income, or affect your immigration status.
How do I check my card balance and issuance date?
Log into your state’s EBT portal (ebtEDGE or your state’s app), use the Propel app, or call the number on the back of your card. Your issuance date determines your personal expiration date.
Don’t Let Your Grocery Money Disappear
Check your issuance date today, do the math, and spend your SUN Bucks before the 122-day window closes. If you haven’t applied yet and your state has a deadline still ahead, submit your application now rather than waiting until the last week.
This article was last updated in July 2026 based on state agency announcements and USDA guidance. Program rules can change, so confirm details with your state’s official Summer EBT page before making decisions.
Related reading: SUN Bucks Eligibility 2026: Income Limits and How to Apply
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