The SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) offers assistance to families in need with the benefits loaded in the recipients’ Electronic Benefit Transfer card. This card resembles a debit card and can be used for availing cash benefits in purchasing groceries and similar items at the participating stores. Despite being a federal program, consumers need to apply through their closest state agency for availing of the benefits.
Beneficiaries are not restricted to using the Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card in their home state as this can be used in all 50 states. As per the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the EBT card works in other U.S. territories. It will be operational in the Virgin Islands and Guam, as well as Alaska and Hawaii. However, the EBT card won’t work in Puerto Rico as this American Territory doesn’t have any provision for the usage of the EBT card and offers its citizens money for food using a block grant. The administrative and application processes of EBT are handled at the state level. You need to ensure that adequate credit is available in your EBT card and take it along while traveling for using food stamps across state borders.
Steps of Using EBT Card
- For viewing your EBT account balance, you can either call your state’s EBT customer service number or look it up online. Following the date of your SNAP application, you will have credit available between 7-30 days as per the seriousness of your financial situation. The credit is applied to your EBT account after this every month following a schedule determined by your state.
- As long as you are a resident of your home state, regular monthly payments will continue to be applied. There won’t be any changes to the schedule while taking a short trip to another state.
- The EBT card can be presented as payment for food to authorized retailers outside your home state. Rules on what you can purchase using food stamps are similar across all states. Retailers are required to apply to the SNAP program for being eligible to accept EBT cards as payment for food.
While visiting another state in the U.S. you can avail yourself of the EBT card benefits. However, the laws might vary from one state to another. Suppose you are a resident of a state allowing elderly residents to use EBT cards at various restaurants, your options are bound to get restricted once you leave that area. While you will be familiar with the local merchants at your home state accepting EBT cards, you might initially face some difficulty while traveling to other states. USDA’s Retailer Locator can be used for identifying the shops in the new state before embarking on your trip. According to the Maryland Department of Human Resources, the EBT card cannot be used outside of the United States as the U.S. federal government funds this food stamp program and it cannot be reimbursed in other countries.
You might experience certain difficulties related to the usage of your EBT card if your trip across state borders spans more than 30 days. It is advisable to check the residency rules of a particular state before your leave. You might have to close your benefits in the home state and apply as a new resident in the place you are moving to if you do not plan on returning. This can be done once you have proven your residence in the new state. You can close out your account by contacting the SNAP office of your state before moving to a new one. It is illegal to accept food stamps from two states simultaneously unless you are fleeing from one state to another under an abusive scenario. This process might vary between states and in many cases, you might be required to fill out a form reporting all changes in your situation. The entire process of signing up for SNAP benefits shall have to be repeated on arriving in the new state using that state’s procedure.
How to Avail of SNAP Benefits
Recipients of New York can access their SNAP and cash benefits from various participating EBT locations around New York state. Both authorized retail stores and participating ATMs offer cash benefits to users. You will be required to use your Personal Identification Number and EBT card at the authorized retail stores. Often cashback is offered by retail stores with your purchase. You can gain a clear understanding of their cash-back policy by checking with the store.
Beneficiaries can purchase any item from stores where EBT cards are accepted using their cash benefit account. However, certain types of businesses like wine stores, liquor stores, race tracks, beverage/beer centers, off-track betting facilities, places offering adult entertainment, casinos, commercial bingo facilities, and video lottery facilities are not allowed to let beneficiaries either use their EBT cash for purchasing items or withdrawing cash on their premises. This restriction applies to all businesses located in New York, another state, or the Tribal Lands.
ConnectEBT Mobile App
Users can keep a tab over the available balance, 12 months of transaction activity, and deposits of their EBT Card through the ConnectEBT application. You can access ConnectEBT.com 24-hours a day. It can be downloaded from both Google Play Store and Apple App Store. It becomes easy to manage your EBT card with the ConnectEBT app which also allows seamlessly changing your PIN. However, for availing of these benefits, first-time website and mobile app users have to get their EBT card account registered. They will have to select their preferred User ID and password and carry with the registration process.
Advance planning can help you make the most of your EBT card by accessing SNAP benefits wherever you go. It becomes imperative to enjoy uninterrupted SNAP benefits while moving or traveling so that families in need can easily access their essentials. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the card is specially designed to work in any farmer’s market, grocery store, or organic store accepting food stamps in any state across the US. You just need to search for the “Quest” sign in the storefront window to ensure that the store accepts the EBT card. Alternatively, you can check the store locations online before going shopping.
