Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) Program
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What is EBT? Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) is a plastic card similiar to a debit card. Food Stamp Program clients use their EBT card to buy food at authorized stores. Nebraska’s card shows the State Capitol’s Sower statue outlined against a blue sky. |
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Congress recently passed the 2008 Farm Bill. One section of the law changes the "Food Stamp Program" name to the "Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program" (SNAP). Another point of interest to clients and retailers, is the end of old paper food stamp coupons. These coupons will no longer be considered legal tender effective June 17, 2009. Nebraska has not distributed them since 2002. The complete Farm Bill is complex and sections will be implemented gradually over time. Some portions are mandatory others are State options. Additional EBT changes will be posted at this website as U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) develops its plans and releases further information. EBT Operations Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) employees determine if a household is eligible to receive Food Stamp Program benefits, and what amount the benefits will be. This information is sent to J. P. Morgan Electronic Financial Services to establish an account for the household. DHHS employees mail the EBT cards to clients. To purchase food, the client slides the EBT card through a terminal or Point of Sale (POS) device at the store’s checkout counter. The client enters a unique number (the personal identification number or PIN) to verify identity. The transaction deducts the purchase amount immediately from the client’s EBT account. Each day J. P. Morgan totals all food stamp purchases and deposits funds into the bank accounts of the food retailers. Food Stamp Benefit Issuance Schedule If you qualify, ongoing benefits are added to your EBT card between the 1st and the 5th calendar day of each month. Benefits are available at 8:00 a.m. Central Standard Time on the scheduled date. The last digit of the head-of-household’s Social Security Number (SSN) determines the date your benefits are available.
Advantages to the EBT System The EBT system provides many advantages to food stamp clients, food retailers, banks, and the general public.
History Federal legislation in 1996 required all states to change from paper food stamp coupons to an EBT card by October 1, 2002. The EBT card functions much like a debit card but can only be used for purchasing food items. Nebraska converted its 93 counties from paper food coupons to the current EBT system February through September of 2002. Useful links: Nebraska Food Stamp Program (Information and Application Form) Local DHHS Offices (Where to send your Food Stamp Application) UNL Nutrition Education Program (Improve the quality of your diet & stretch your EBT dollars) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (Formerly the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Stamp Program) Special Investigations Unit (File a complaint about suspected Food Stamp/EBT fraud) For more information, contact: Documents in |
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