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The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP (often called by its old name, the food stamp program), provides low-income U.S. residents with financial assistance for buying food and certain other necessities.[1] Many states, but not all of them, provide the ability to check your food stamp balance online. If the state that issued your benefits card does not have this service, you can find your balance over the phone, by showing up to an office in person, or by reading one of your grocery store receipts.
Steps
Checking Your Food Stamp Balance Online
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1Check whether this is possible in your state. Visit the State EBT Websites page at https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/state-ebt-websites. Click on the state that issued your benefits card, if it appears on the list.[2]
- Use one of the alternate methods below if your state is not on the list.
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2Create an account or log in. The exact layout of the site depends on your state. Look for a link that says, "Register Now," "Make an Account," or a similar phrase. If you cannot find one, just click on the "Log In" button—some sites don't require you to create an account, but will just ask for your social security and/or card number.[3]Advertisement
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3Enter the required information and hit Submit. To access your benefits, you will need to enter your full name, and the number on your benefits card. You'll also create a username and password so you can log in to the site. Depending on your state, you may also be asked for your social security number or other information. Fill out the form, and agree to the terms and conditions when prompted.
- Write your username and password down in a secret location so you don't forget it.
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4Log into your account. You might be logged in automatically when you create an account. In the future, to log in, visit this site, enter your username and password, and click Log in or a similar button.
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5View your account balance. Look for a link to Account Summary, View Balance, or a similar phrase. Your food stamp balance should be listed here. If you see an Account Activity link, click it for a more detailed breakdown of how you have spent your food stamp money.
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6Log out when you're done. Be sure to log out when you're finished so that no one else can access your information. This is especially important if you are using a computer shared with other people.
Checking Your Food Stamp Balance in Other Ways
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1Check your balance through customer service. If your state does not offer online SNAP (food stamp) services, contact customer service and have them check your balance for you, or give you advice on how to check it in your state. You can find toll-free numbers to call listed at the USDA website, along with websites that may include online customer service.
- Call the number listed under "Client" to ask about your balance. The number listed under "Retailer" is for stores who accept food stamps as payment.
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2Find alternate numbers or physical office locations. Search online for "EBT contact" and the name of your state. The number listed should be the same as the one you've already called, but the information may also include a physical office look-up, or contact info for a related service that may be able to help, such as the Women, Infants, and Children program (WIC).[4]
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3Look at a receipt from a food stamp purchase. Your remaining balance is typically printed on your receipt when you pay with your benefits card. If you do not have this, make a small purchase using your benefits card, and ask the cashier for the receipt.[5]
- The receipt may print this information under "EBT balance," "SNAP balance," or the name of the state-specific program (such as Quest or CalFresh).
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4Contact your caseworker about a new benefits card. The amount of time it takes to receive your first SNAP (food stamp) payment depends on your state. You should always receive it within 30 days of your application being filed, or within 7 days if your income is low enough to qualify for rapid assistance. Your caseworker, or person who filed your SNAP application, should be able to give you more information on its status.[6]
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5Check the release schedule online. If you want to find out whether this month's food stamp balance has been distributed, you can check the schedule online without an account. Visit the federal SNAP website and click the name of the state that issued your benefits card. Typically, states assign benefits between the 1st and 10th of every month, depending on the number written on your benefits card.[7]
Community Q&A
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QuestionHow do I enter my birthday in this format: mm/dd/year?Community AnswerThe "mm" stands for month. It's doubled to indicate it should always be written in two digits, not one. If the month has only one digit, place a zero in front of it. (January - 01, February - 02, March - 03, etc.) The "dd" stands for day, and it also requires two digits. (03, 04, 05, etc.) The "year" should always be four digits. (2016, 2017, 2018, etc.) So if your birthday were March 4, 1997, you would write it as 03/04/1997.
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QuestionHow can I check my food stamps balance without the card number?Community AnswerYou can't.
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QuestionWhat do I do with a food stamp card after someone has passed away if there is still money on the card?Community AnswerThe best thing to do is turn the card in -- if anyone uses it besides the person to whom it belonged, they might get in trouble. It's best to just return the card to the state.
Warnings
- Misuse of your card may result in its confiscation. To ensure that this doesn't happen to you, remember:
- Never to sell, trade, or give away your card, benefits, or PIN.
- Never to let your retailer trade your food benefits in exchange for cash.
- Never to loan someone else your food benefits or EBT card.
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References
- ↑ https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program
- ↑ https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/state-directory
- ↑ https://www.freshebt.com/ebt-in-my-state/
- ↑ https://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/women-infants-and-children
- ↑ https://www.cdss.ca.gov/cdssweb/entres/forms/English/PUB390_2Col.pdf
- ↑ http://www.gettingfoodstamps.org/faqsaboutsnap.html
- ↑ https://fns-prod.azureedge.net/sites/default/files/snap/Monthly-Issuance-Schedule-All-States.pdf
About This Article
In many states, you can check your food stamp balance online. To check if your state is eligible, visit the U.S. Food and Nutrition Service website. You might need to log in to your Electronic Benefit Transfer account or register for one if it’s your first time, but some sites only ask for your social security number and card number. Once you’re on your account, go to your account summary and view your balance. If you’re using a shared computer, make sure you log out after viewing your balance so no one else can access your details. If you can’t check your balance online in your state, call customer service and ask for your current balance. You can also see your balance on store receipts if you pay with your benefits card. For more tips, including how to order a new benefits card, read on.