INDIANA— Lower-income families in Indiana will look for alternative ways to stretch their grocery budgets through the summer of 2027. The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) announced that the state will opt out of the federal SUN Bucks program for the 2027 cycle, marking the third consecutive year the state has chosen not to participate.
The SUN Bucks program, formally known as Summer EBT, provides eligible families with a one-time benefit of $120 per student to purchase groceries during the summer months. The initiative is designed to fill nutritional gaps when children lose access to free or reduced-price breakfasts and lunches provided during the school year.
State Officials Point to Economic Strength and Existing Alternatives
Indiana previously implemented the SUN Bucks program in 2024, distributing grocery benefits to more than 660,000 children across the state. However, state leadership subsequently chose to step away from the program in 2025 and 2026.
In a statement defending the choice for 2027, an FSSA spokesperson explained that a robust economy has shifted the state’s welfare strategy.
“…With our economy now stronger…the SUN Bucks program is no longer necessary. Families continue to have access to well-established summer meal options that reliably support children when school is out…,” the FSSA spokesperson said…