What is an EBT card?

An EBT ( Electronic Benefits Transfer) card is what you use to access government benefits like SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families). EBT cards look like regular debit cards but have specific spending rules about where you can shop and what you can buy.

EBT accounts are managed by your state human services agency rather than a traditional bank. Each month that you qualify for food stamps or cash assistance, your state adds money to your EBT account.

You can check your EBT balance using an app like Propel, through your state’s online benefits portal, over the phone, or by checking your most recent receipt.

Propel is the #1-rated EBT balance checking app

Download

What is an EBT card used for?#what-is-an-ebt-card-used-for

An EBT card is used for spending the money you get through benefits programs like SNAP (sometimes called food stamps) and TANF (sometimes called cash EBT or welfare).

You can use your EBT card to buy eligible groceries at lots of stores, including major retailers like Target and Costco, local grocery stores, farmers markets, and any business displaying the SNAP/EBT acceptance sign. There are also online retailers that accept EBT, like DoorDash and Amazon.

Restaurants that participate in the Restaurant Meals Program (RMP) take EBT cards, but only if you qualify for the program.

If you receive cash benefits, you can also withdraw funds from ATMs or get cash back at certain stores. Cash EBT can be spent on a wider range of things, including rent and everyday essentials like toiletries and pet food.

What is the difference between an EBT card and a debit card?#what-is-the-difference-between-an-ebt-card-and-a-debit-card

While an EBT card looks like a regular debit card, there are key differences:

• EBT cards can only be used at authorized retailers
• SNAP benefits on your EBT card can only used on eligible food items
• You can withdraw cash benefits but you can't withdraw SNAP benefits as cash
• EBT cards don't connect to a traditional bank account
• There are no overdraft fees with EBT cards

What's the difference between EBT, SNAP, food stamps, WIC, cash assistance, and TANF?#whats-the-difference-between-ebt-snap-food-stamps-wic-cash-assistance-and-tanf

It's easy to get confused about these programs since they're often mentioned together:

• EBT is the electronic system used to deliver benefits—not a program itself
• SNAP (formerly called food stamps) provides food assistance to eligible households
• Cash assistance/TANF provides funds for non-food necessities like housing and utilities
• WIC supports pregnant people, new parents, and children under 5 with specific nutritional foods and resources through a separate eWIC card

You might qualify for more than one program—many people receive both SNAP and WIC benefits.

What does an EBT card look like?#what-does-an-ebt-card-look-like

EBT cards look different in every state and usually have designs with state-specific imagery like landscapes, produce, or state symbols. They sometimes have mottos (like South Carolina's "Think Healthy, Eat Healthy!").

But every EBT card will have:

• A 16-digit EBT card number
• Your name
• A magnetic stripe on the back

In early 2025, California became the first state to introduce chip-enabled, tap-to-pay EBT cards that are more secure than cards that just have magnetic stripe technology.

New EBT cards arrive in a plain white envelope for privacy. When you use it at stores, it looks like you're using a regular debit or credit card.

How to get an EBT card#how-to-get-an-ebt-card

To get an EBT card, you need to apply for benefits through your state's SNAP or TANF program. If you’re eligible for SNAP benefits, states are required to approve your application within 30 days (or seven if you qualify for expedited assistance). Once approved, your EBT card will arrive in a plain white envelope within seven business days.

Your application may qualify for expedited processing (within 7 days) if you have less than $150 in monthly income and less than $100 in available resources, or if your rent and utilities are more than your combined income and available resources.

Who is eligible for an EBT card?#who-is-eligible-for-an-ebt-card

Qualifying to get an EBT card with SNAP benefits depends primarily on three key factors:

1. Your monthly income: Your income from the last 30 days must be under the limit for your household size. For example, a single person typically needs to make $2,510 or less per month before taxes (gross income). If you pay child support or have recurring medical bills, those payments may be deducted from your income calculation.
2. Your household size: Your "household" includes everyone who buys and prepares food together. The more people in your household, the higher the income limit.
3. Your immigration status: You must be a U.S. citizen or have eligible immigration status. Refugees and asylees may qualify immediately, while lawful permanent residents typically need to wait 5 years.

In most states, able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) ages 18–54 must meet work requirements for SNAP benefits, including:

• Registering for work
• Not quitting or reducing hours at your current job
• Accepting job offers
• Joining employment training (if your state requires)

Many groups don't need to meet these requirements, including seniors, pregnant people, and those who are exempt for other reasons.

College students may qualify for SNAP if they meet eligibility requirements and at least one exemption, such as participating in federal work study or working at least 20 hours per week.

Gig workers and self-employed people can qualify—typically only 60% of your earnings count toward the income limit

How to use an EBT card#how-to-use-an-ebt-card

Activating your EBT card#activating-your-ebt-card

Before you get started, you can call your state’s EBT customer service number if you have questions or need guidance.

When your EBT card first arrives:

1. Call the number on the back of your card
2. Set up a secure PIN—avoid obvious combinations like 1234
3. Your card is now ready to use at approved retailers

Shopping with your EBT card#shopping-with-your-ebt-card

Using your EBT card is straightforward:

1. Find a store near you that accepts EBT
2. Check your balance with an app like Propel and budget for what you need
3. Swipe your card at checkout
4. Enter your PIN
5. Tell the cashier or enter the amount of benefits you want to use

You can use SNAP benefits to buy:

• Fruits and vegetables, including frozen products
• Meat and fish like deli meats and salmon filets
• Dairy products like milk, cheese, yogurt, and butter
• Bread, cereal, and grains like rice, pasta, and oatmeal
• Snack foods like chips, granola bars, cookies, and ice cream
• Nonalcoholic beverages like juice, soda, and bottled water
• Seeds and plants that produce food like tomato plants and herb seedlings

You cannot use SNAP benefits for:

• Alcohol or tobacco
• Vitamins or medications, including vitamin supplements and protein powders
• Hot prepared foods like rotisserie chicken and hot deli items
• Non-food items like soap, paper towels, pet food, and diapers

If you're buying both eligible and non-eligible items, ask the cashier to ring up non-SNAP items separately so you can pay for them with another method.

Remember that SNAP benefits are meant to supplement your food budget—they may not cover all your grocery needs throughout the month.

Keeping your EBT account information safe#keeping-your-ebt-account-information-safe

EBT theft is a serious crime affecting families across the country. Scammers use tactics like skimming and phishing to steal your EBT card information and access your benefits without permission.

• Keep your EBT card in a safe place
• Keep your EBT PIN secret and hide the PIN pad from other people when entering it
• Change your PIN before your benefits arrive each month
• Check your EBT balance regularly and watch for charges you don't recognize (Propel can help with suspicious transaction monitoring through the Propel app)
• Never respond to texts or calls about your EBT card that could be scams
• Enable out-of-state transaction-blocking and card-locking if those features are available in your state—check your state's benefits website for more information on these tools

Renewing your EBT account on-time#renewing-your-ebt-account-on-time

Missing a deadline to renew your benefits is the most common way people lose their benefits even if they’re still eligible. Always remember to:

• Submit renewal paperwork by the deadline (typically every 6 months)
• Update your address if you move
• Respond to all communications from your SNAP office

Getting the most out of your EBT card#getting-the-most-out-of-your-ebt-card

A few final tips for using your EBT card:

• Any unused benefits roll over to the next month, but they'll eventually expire after a certain period—check your state's rules for details
• If you're traveling, you can use your EBT card in other states, but using it consistently outside your home state may raise questions about your residency
• If you lose eligibility for SNAP or some other benefit program, any amount you have left on your EBT card is still yours to use

Having an EBT card may mean you qualify for certain discounts like free admission to museums and zoos or other programs like Lifeline for discounted data and phone plans