(Indianapolis) – Indiana’s decision to once again opt out of the federal SUN Bucks program is drawing renewed criticism from Democratic lawmakers as a key deadline approaches, reopening a broader debate over cost, capacity and how best to address childhood hunger during the summer months.
SUN Bucks, also known as Summer EBT, is a federally funded program that provides grocery assistance to families with school-aged children when school meal programs are unavailable. Participating states offer eligible families $120 per child to help cover food costs during the summer.
Indiana took part in the program in 2024, when more than 600,000 Hoosier children received benefits. The state did not participate in summer 2025, and current plans call for Indiana to again skip the program in 2026 unless state leaders reverse course before the opt-in deadline of Jan. 1.
With that deadline nearly here, Indiana Senate Democrats are urging the Braun administration to reconsider, arguing the program provides direct relief to families already struggling with food costs.
Democrats say the federal government covers the benefits themselves, leaving the state responsible primarily for administrative costs. They contend that other states have found ways to manage those responsibilities and that Indiana should do the same, particularly given the number of families who previously qualified.
The Braun administration, however, has pointed to operational challenges and funding constraints as reasons for not participating. State officials have said administering SUN Bucks would require several million dollars in additional resources at a time when the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration is already managing staffing and budget pressures tied to existing SNAP and benefits programs.
In earlier explanations, the administration also cited missed planning timelines and gaps in preparation as obstacles to launching the program for summer 2025, even after exploring potential waivers. Officials have maintained that without sufficient administrative capacity, the state risks implementation problems that could delay or disrupt benefits.
The disagreement highlights a tension between expanding direct aid and managing the infrastructure required to deliver it. Supporters of SUN Bucks argue the program complements existing summer meal sites by helping families who may not be able to reach those locations consistently. State officials counter that free summer meal programs remain available in many communities and should continue to serve as the primary option when SUN Bucks is not offered.
As the deadline nears, the question facing state leaders is whether Indiana will commit additional resources to rejoin the program for summer 2026, or continue relying on existing food assistance efforts. For families who benefited from SUN Bucks in the past, the outcome could determine whether that extra grocery support returns next summer — or remains unavailable for another year.
