Hi!
I’m Ray.
I’m here to talk to you about how to use
your EBT card.
EBT stands for Electronic Benefit Transfer.
You’ll get an EBT card after you’re approved
for Food Stamps, also known as Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or for
Temporary Assistance benefits.
It’s kind of like a debit card.
Each month, the Family Support Division (FSD
for short) will load your approved benefit
amount onto your EBT card so you can use it
to get the things you need.
If you get Food Stamp benefits, you can use
your EBT card to buy groceries and food-related
items such as seeds and plants to grow food.
If you get Temporary Assistance benefits,
or TA, you can use your EBT card to pay for
things for your children, such as clothing,
utilities, and other services.
So, here’s how to use your EBT card: If
you already have a state-issued EBT card that
you’ve used in the past year, the FSD will
load your benefits onto your existing card
within 24 hours after you’re approved for
benefits.
If you don’t have an EBT card yet, you’ll
get a new card in the mail about 7 days after
you’re approved for benefits.
Then you’ll get a personal identification
number, or PIN, in the mail a few days later.
To use your EBT card at an ATM machine or
store check-out line, swipe or insert your
card and enter your PIN on the keypad.
You can use your card at any ATM or terminal
that shows these logos: Quest, Star, and Shazam.
Let’s talk about the safety of your PIN
number for a minute.
It’s very important to keep your PIN a secret.
If someone outside your family finds out your
PIN, they could use your EBT card to spend
your benefits without your permission!
If that happens, the FSD will not replace
the amount they spent.
Your PIN provides 1 other safety feature.
On any day when 4 wrong PIN numbers are entered
for your EBT card, the card will be “locked”
until midnight that night.
No one will be able to use the card until
the next day, including you.
These safety features help keep your card
secure.
If you want to change your PIN number at any
time, you can go online to the website EBTedge.com
or call EBT Card Customer Service at 1-800-997-7777.
Now that we’ve talked about PINs, here’s
something else to keep in mind.
There are certain items that you’re not
allowed to buy with your EBT Card.
If your benefits are used for any of these
items, you’ll have to repay the amount to
the FSD.
Here are the places and items to avoid: Liquor
stores to buy alcoholic beverages, casinos,
gaming businesses (including bingo halls),
or buying lottery tickets, adult entertainment
businesses where performers remove their clothing
or perform with their clothes off for entertainment,
such as strip clubs or gentlemen’s clubs,
and places that are mainly used by adults
18 or older and are not in the best interests
of children or other members of your household,
such as places to buy tobacco products or
controlled drugs without a doctor’s prescription.
Do you still have questions, or need help
with your card or PIN?
Call EBT Card Customer Service at 1-800-997-7777
or visit EBTedge.com to check the amount of
money on your EBT card, see details about
how the card has been used at stores and ATMs,
get tips on how to use your card and help
with your PIN, report if your card is lost
or stolen, or report problems using the card.
There are some things to call the FSD about
instead of EBT Card Customer Service.
Call the FSD Information Center at 1-855-373-4636
to use your EBT card after not using it for
more than 1 year, update your address, get
answers to questions about your Food Stamps
or TA benefits, or report if you didn’t
receive your benefits.
Thanks so much for watching today.
I hope this information helps you use your
EBT card.
