Eligible students will get their SUN Bucks 2025 benefits on a new SUN Bucks card. Families should make sure that their school or food assistance caseworker has their correct mailing address before March 31, 2025.

Foster children and those enrolled in the McKinney-Vento program (unhoused/runaway) will have their SUN Bucks card mailed to the local DSS office. Social Workers will take the SUN Bucks card to foster children. McKinney-Vento students will need to pick up their SUN Bucks card from the DSS office.

If a student’s address on file with their school or case worker is no longer appropriate after March 31, 2025, families have until May 6, 2025, to call the North Carolina EBT Call Center at 1-866-719-0141, select their language, and SELECT OPTION 2 to speak with a representative and update their address. 

After May 6, 2025, SUN Bucks cards will start to be mailed. If a new card needs to be requested, students must call the North Carolina EBT Call Center at 1-866-719-0141, select their language, and SELECT OPTION 1.

SUN Bucks cards will start to be mailed early to mid-May and continue as additional children are determined eligible throughout the summer. Benefits will be made available on these cards starting late May. Therefore, some households may receive their SUN Bucks card before benefits are available to spend.

More information about the SUN Bucks application can be found on the SUN Bucks Application webpage.

The SUN Bucks card might be issued in the name of the parent or guardian (listed in their school records or in their case file for other benefits) or in the student’s name. It’s fine to use the card that was given to you as long as the student is in your legal care, and you are providing their meals.

If you’re not taking care of the child, and the benefits were given to you by mistake, please call the North Carolina EBT Call Center at 1-866-719-0141, select your language, then select option 2 to speak with a SUN Bucks representative.

If your child participates in a qualifying assistance program (FNS, Medicaid, Work First, etc.) the head of household for that case will be listed on their card.

If your child does not currently participate in one of the qualifying assistance programs, the parent’s name that will be listed on the child’s card will be determined by the information provided on their SUN Bucks application or listed as the primary contact on file with your child’s school.

The card works just like a debit card. Before you can use your card, you must first select a PIN. 

• Activation PIN: Your activation code to create your PIN will be the date of birth (DOB) of the youngest eligible school-aged child in your household. It may be necessary to try the DOB for each child in your household. Enter the DOB using two digits for the month, two digits for the day, and four digits for the year (MMDDYYYY). For example, if the date of birth is June 1, 2008, you would enter 06012008.

There are three ways to activate your SUN Bucks card:

1. Visit ebtedge.com. Click on “Cardholder Portal,” then login or click on “Register Here” for a new account.
2. Download and use the ebtEDGE mobile app (available on Google Play or Apple Store). 
3. Contact the North Carolina EBT Call Center at 1-888-622-7328 and follow the automated instructions.  

If you don’t want your children to get SUN Bucks, you can opt out of receiving benefits by calling the EBT Call Center at 1-866-719-0141 and press option 2 to speak with a SUN Bucks representative to let them know you do not want to receive benefits.

If you change your mind, you can choose to receive the benefits by calling the same number before the end of the summer to get SUN Bucks.

Read tips to keep your card safe by visiting the NCDHHS Card Skimmers and Stolen FNS Benefits webpage.

Yes, if you do not agree with the decision to deny your child’s application, you may request a review of their application. You have 30 calendar days from the date of denial to request a review. To request a review, contact the SUN Bucks Call Center at 1-866-719-0141, select your language and then select Option 2 to speak with a representative and request a review. A processing agent may reach out to you for additional information.

You can appeal the decision if more than 30 days has passed since the denial for SUN Bucks benefits.

To file an appeal, you need to submit a written request for an appeal or get in touch with the Hearing Officer by calling 919-707-5600 or emailing dcfw.fns.admin@dhhs.nc.gov. All appeals must be submitted by Nov. 29, 2025, 90 days after the summer period ends on August 31, 2025. Any requests for an appeal that are received more than 90 days after the summer period will not be considered. For the appeal, you can have a lawyer or someone else represent you.

You must include with your appeal:

1. Name of Requestor
2. Name of child(ren)
3. Student ID(s)
4. Action to be appealed
5. Reason for Appeal
6. Contact information (phone number and/or email)

Written appeals should be submitted to:

Division of Child and Family Well-Being,
Food and Nutrition Services Section
Attn: Hearing Officer, 
2416 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-2416 

If your card has been lost or destroyed, a new card can be ordered at www.ebtEdge.com, on the ebtEDGE mobile app, or by contacting the North Carolina EBT Call Center at 1-866-719-0141, select your language, then select option 1.

Please note that if benefits are used, the card can be replaced but benefits cannot be replaced. To check your card balance, “How do I check my Sun Bucks card balance?” for instructions. For more information about additional food assistance programs, visit “Other Food Resources.”

This SUN Bucks webpage will continue to be updated with new information about the program, so check back regularly to learn more about the program and get the latest updates.

Be the first to know! Follow the NCDHHS social media accounts. These accounts are on Facebook, Instagram, and X (previously Twitter) (@NCDHHS).

A SUN Bucks customer service call center is available to help answer your questions. SUN Bucks agents will be able to answer questions about program information, the application, and more.

To speak with a SUN Bucks customer service representative call 1-866-719-0141, select your language and then select option 2.

To access your Cardholder Portal, visit www.ebtEdge.com. This makes it easy to check your card balance, review recent transactions and see when benefits will be available. You will need to have your card number to complete the following steps.

To create an online account or use the ebtEDGE mobile app, you will need to register with a valid email address. If you don’t have an email address, you will need to create one.

There are 3 ways to register for ebtEDGE:

1. Visit ebtedge.com
2. Download and use the ebtEDGE mobile app (available on Google Play or Apple Store).
3. Contact the North Carolina EBT Call Center at 1-888-622-7328 and follow the automated instructions.  

Follow these instructions:

1. Visit ebtEDGE.com and select “Cardholder Portal.” Then click on "Register Here" for a new account.

2. Complete the required fields.
     a. Unique User ID
          Must be between 4-35 characters in length and contain at least one alphabetical character.
     b. Password with Confirmation
          Must be 6-8 characters and contain at least one upper case alphabetical character, one lower case alphabetical character, and one number. Special characters such as @, #, and $ can be used.
     c. First Name
     d. Last Name
     e. Email Address 
     f. Phone Number
         Enter only numbers - no dashes, parenthesis, or spaces.

3. You will be redirected to set up challenge questions. These help to make sure your account is secure.

4. Select a question from the challenge question drop-down and then input your answer. After all required fields are entered, select “Done.”

5. You will be redirected to link your account to your User ID.

6. Click “Add Account,” enter your card number and validation criteria, and click “Add Card.”

You can easily check your card balance four ways:
1. Online by visiting ebtEDGE.com – read Option 1 below
2. Through the ebtEDGE mobile app – read Option 2 below 
3. By text message – read Option 3 below 
4. Through the EBT Call Center Automated Phone System – read Option 4 below.

Option 1: ebtEDGE.com
To check your balance using ebtEDGE.com, log into your account (see “How do I use ebtEdge (Cardholder Portal) for my EBT account?” to learn how to set up your account). Your current balance and a list of previous transactions will show on the screen.

Your ebtEDGE Cardholder Portal account will show if there are benefits posted and/or pending and when those benefits will be available for use. If your food benefit amount is listed under “Pending Items,” this means you will not be able to spend them until the date listed below the pending deposit.

Option 2: ebtEDGE mobile app (available on iPhone and Android)
1. Download the ebtEDGE mobile app from the Apple Store or Google Play Store. Look for the icon below to make sure you have the correct app.

2. Enable location services when prompted to do so. This helps find nearby stores that accept EBT.

3. Log into your account. If it is your first time logging in, you will be prompted to register (see “How do I use ebtEDGE (Cardholder Portal) for my EBT account?”).

4. The current balance and a list of previous transactions will show on the screen.

Option 3: SMS text messages
Checking your balance by text message (SMS) is easy. Your cell phone number will need to be linked to the account. Follow these instructions to link your cell phone number. You will need your cell phone number, SUN Bucks card number and PIN.

1. Log into your account on ebtEDGE.com and select a card from the Welcome page.

2. Select “Messaging Registration” on the “Account Services” section of the Account Summary page.

3. Add your cell phone number with area code and click “SMS Balance” and “Text Alerts.”

4. Click on the “Save” button, and a confirmation message will appear.

5. Once you have linked your cell phone number and the account, you can check your account through text at any time.
     a. To check your balance, text BAL to 42265.
     b. To check your last five transactions, text MINI to 42265.
     c. To stop receiving these text messages, text STOP to 42265. 

     Please note: If you have to request a new card, it will come pre-registered with SMS, and you do not need to repeat these steps.

Option 4: EBT Call Center
To check your SUN Bucks card balance through the automated phone system of the EBT Call Center, call 1-888-622-7328 and follow the automated instructions. Please have your card number readily available.