Why isn’t my EBT card working for online purchases?
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If you try to use your EBT card to pay for SNAP-eligible groceries online and find that the payment isn’t working, it may be because your state has set up security features that lock your card for certain types of transactions.
Some states, including Alabama, Ohio, Mississippi, and South Carolina, automatically block any “high-risk transactions.” That means that, by default, you can’t use your EBT card for online payments unless you unlock it.
But unlocking your EBT card is easy, and all you need to do is unlock your card before you use it online and you’ll be able to buy groceries from online retailers that accept EBT or order groceries online for pickup.
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Why did my state block online EBT card transactions?#why-did-my-state-block-online-ebt-card-transactions
Several states, including Alabama, Ohio, Mississippi, and South Carolina, automatically block certain EBT card transactions as a way of helping keep SNAP-recipients safe and cutting down on EBT theft.
But this can cause problems when you go to use your EBT card and find that you’re blocked from making online purchases. To fix it, all you have to do is change your EBT card’s security settings using an app like Propel.
How to unlock your EBT card for online purchases#how-to-unlock-your-ebt-card-for-online-purchases
If you use Propel to manage your EBT benefits, you can tap the shield icon to confirm the security features you have enabled, and if they’re enabled, disable them before making your purchase.
Depending on where you live, this feature may be called "block online transactions" or "block high-risk transactions."
When that setting is on, you won’t be able to use your EBT card to buy groceries online.
If you use another EBT balance-checking app, like ConnectEBT or ebtEDGE, you may still be able to use it to update your security settings and allow online purchases.
To check, log in to your state’s EBT portal or whichever app you use and find your security settings. This may be called something like “Protect my account.” You may be able to switch your settings there to allow online transactions.
