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PantryPath Research · Summer EBT Atlas

SUN Bucks in Connecticut

Automatic enrollment

Connecticut is issuing Summer EBT (SUN Bucks) for the 2025 plan year. We estimate 147,182 children qualify, unlocking roughly $17.7M in federal grocery dollars for families this summer.

Auto-enrollment via SNAP/TANF/Medicaid.

147K

Eligible children (≤185% FPL)

27.6%

Eligibility share (5–17)

$17.7M

Dollars flowing in

9

Counties

Connecticut by county

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Toggle between eligible-child counts, eligibility share, and benefit dollars flowing into each county. Hover a county for its exact value.

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Connecticut at a glance

Participation

Yes

Automatic enrollment

Eligible children

147K

Est. ≤185% FPL

Eligibility share

27.6%

Eligible / 5–17

Dollars flowing

$17.7M

$120 × eligible

Dollars forfeited

—

$120 × eligible

5–17 in poverty

67K

SAIPE ≤100% FPL

County-level hotspots

Top five counties across 9 counties in Connecticut.

Most eligible children

Est. ≤185% FPL

  1. 1 Capitol Planning Region 37K
  2. 2 South Central Connecticut Planning Region 29K
  3. 3 Naugatuck Valley Planning Region 24K
  4. 4 Western Connecticut Planning Region 19K
  5. 5 Greater Bridgeport Planning Region 16K

Highest eligibility share

Eligible / 5–17 universe

  1. 1 South Central Connecticut Planning Region 35.4%
  2. 2 Naugatuck Valley Planning Region 35.0%
  3. 3 Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region 35.0%
  4. 4 Greater Bridgeport Planning Region 30.0%
  5. 5 Capitol Planning Region 25.9%

Largest dollars flowing in

$120 × eligible

  1. 1 Capitol Planning Region $4.5M
  2. 2 South Central Connecticut Planning Region $3.4M
  3. 3 Naugatuck Valley Planning Region $2.8M
  4. 4 Western Connecticut Planning Region $2.3M
  5. 5 Greater Bridgeport Planning Region $1.9M

Every county in Connecticut

All 9 counties with Summer EBT eligibility estimates and dollars at stake.

County 5–17 in poverty Eligible (≤185% FPL) Eligibility share Dollars flowing
Capitol Planning Region 16,948 37,286 25.9% $4.5M
Greater Bridgeport Planning Region 7,235 15,917 30.0% $1.9M
Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region 1,567 3,447 16.0% $414K
Naugatuck Valley Planning Region 10,712 23,566 35.0% $2.8M
Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region 1,282 2,820 22.0% $338K
Northwest Hills Planning Region 1,313 2,889 19.4% $347K
South Central Connecticut Planning Region 12,989 28,576 35.4% $3.4M
Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region 6,215 13,673 35.0% $1.6M
Western Connecticut Planning Region 8,640 19,008 19.0% $2.3M

Free summer meals in Connecticut

USDA's Summer Food Service Program runs free meal sites at schools, libraries, and parks. Open to any child 18 and under, no ID or income verification required.

Find summer meal sites

School-year free meals

Free and reduced-price National School Lunch and Breakfast programs — eligibility automatically qualifies kids for Summer EBT in participating states.

School meals guide

Connecticut SNAP

SNAP enrollment often triggers automatic Summer EBT eligibility. State-specific application guide and benefit amounts.

Connecticut SNAP guide

Families with children

Our population-specific guide: SNAP, WIC, Summer EBT, school meals, and pantry programs for families with kids in Connecticut.

Full families guide

Find a food pantry

Search Connecticut's verified pantries — many offer backpack programs, summer box distributions, and family-sized groceries during the summer months.

Connecticut food pantries