Welcome!
This is the State of Montana OPI's electronic application for free and reduced-price meals for the USDA's National School Lunch & School Breakfast Programs. This application will also be used to issue benefits for the SUN Bucks that will provide $120 per eligible child in the form of preloaded cards that your family can use to purchase groceries. Children must be directly certified or income eligible to qualify. The program is intended to help fulfill hunger gaps when children are not in school. Please contact the hot-line at (406) 444-0044 or email SUNBucks@mt.gov if you wish to opt out of the SUN Bucks program benefits.
This interactive application will guide you through the application process.
You cannot save and return to this application after you have started it. You will receive an application number for reference once you have submitted the application. The time it will take you to finish this application depends on your household circumstances and the information you have on hand when you begin. You will need to provide information regarding DOBs, grades, schools, and income information for children and adults in your household, as well as case numbers for SNAP, TANF, or FDPIR assistance programs. When you are ready to apply, select the school district in which you are applying to begin.
You are submitting this application after August 25th and on or before June 30th. If you are deemed eligible based on your income, you will receive school meal benefits for the remainder of the current school year as long as school is in session (through June 30th) and SUN Bucks benefits for the summer following the current school year. You need to fill out another application on July 1st or after to be evaluated to see if your children are eligible to receive free/reduced meals for next school year and SUN Bucks benefits the next summer.
Note: Students attending a CEP school will continue to receive school meals at no cost during the regular school year even if deemed reduced-price eligible or denied SUN Bucks benefits via this application.
Please see the OPI SUN Bucks webpage for more details.
If the school district your child attends is not in the below list, your school will provide information to you on how you should submit a free and reduced application.
