Visit the page below to access our multilingual EBT brochures. These outreach materials can be used to help explain what an EBT card is and how to use it. Get a new card Most applicants get a card
within 3-5 days of their application. During the process of applying for SNAP benefits or economic assistance, you will be issued an EBT card as soon as you verify who you are. Generally, all you have to do is tell us your Social Security number, if you have one. You will receive your card in the mail. It may take 3-5 business days for your EBT card to arrive. You can track the delivery date on DTAConnect.com or the DTA Connect mobile app. You can visit one of our local offices to receive an EBT card if you need one more quickly. If you cannot visit an office, talk to our staff about other options. NOTE: We will give you a card before we decide whether you qualify for benefits, but we will not add benefits to it until you have qualified. While waiting for an EBT card, you can use your EBT card number to shop for groceries online. If you need this number, call DTA. Key Actions for Get a new cardPIN stands for Personal Identification Number. To use your EBT card, you must enter your 4 number secret PIN into the machine. Your PIN will arrive in the mail separately from your card. It may take 5-10 business days to arrive. Call EBT Customer Service at (800) 997-2555 (the number on the back of your card) if you forgot your PIN or you want to change it to one that you would prefer. Note: the EBT Customer Service line opening message mentions P-EBT. This is the correct number. It is used to PIN EBT and P-EBT cards. Request a replacement card
Most cards are delivered within 3-5 days. If your card is lost, stolen or damaged call EBT Customer Service at (800) 997-2555 right away. You can also request a replacement EBT card via the mail by using:
You can also visit one of our local offices to receive an EBT card if you need one more quickly. If you cannot visit an office, talk to our staff about other options. When you request a new EBT card, it deactivates your old card. DTA cannot reactive an EBT card. The PIN for your replacement card does not have to be the same as your old one but it will be the same unless you tell us you want a new PIN assigned to you. If you request a new PIN, it will be sent in the mail in a separate envelope from your replacement card. Your replacement card and PIN will arrive within 5-10 business days. We can replace your card, but cannot replace any benefits taken from it. If benefits were left on your old card they will automatically transfer to your new replacement card. Expect a fee. It costs $5 to replace an EBT card. The $5 fee will be taken from your benefits. If you have no benefits available, DTA will take the fee from you later. There's no $5 fee if:
Learn additional rules. If you get 4 or more replacement EBT cards within 12 months you must talk with a case manager or investigator before getting a new card. Based on this discussion, DTA may investigate to ensure that there is no fraud. Selling your card or your benefits is illegal and can result in disqualifying you from benefits. While waiting for an EBT card, you can use your EBT card number to shop for groceries online. If you need this number, call DTA. Key Actions for Request a replacement cardFind out if your card needs a photoMassachusetts law requires the use of photo identification on the front of each EBT card. We will use the photo from your driver's license or other state-issued ID. If you don't have one, we will schedule a time for you to go to a DTA office to take a photo. You can still get a card and benefits while waiting to take your picture. You aren't subject to photo EBT requirements if you are:
Understand who can use your cardEven though your EBT card may have your photo on it, other household members who are receiving benefits as part of your case can use the card as long as they know your PIN. If you want someone else to have an EBT card to use your benefits to shop for you, you may choose someone to be your authorized representative. Request an authorized representativeAuthorized representative for SNAP benefitsYou designate this person to shop for you with your SNAP benefits. An EBT card is issued in this person's name. Authorized payee for economic assistanceYou designate this person to get cash or shop for you with your economic assistance benefits. An EBT card is issued in this person's name. Authorized representative agency for SNAPYou designate this agency to have a person shop for you with your SNAP benefits. An EBT card is issued in the name of the agency s/he works for. Additional Resources for Request an authorized representativeKnow when your benefits are availableBenefits will load onto your EBT card on the same day(s) every month when your case is active based on the last number of your Social Security number (SSN):
If you have a bank account, you may get your cash benefits by Direct Deposit on these dates and use your EBT card to get your SNAP benefits only. Key Actions for Know when your benefits are availableRecognize where your card is acceptedSNAP and cash benefitsAnywhere that displays this Quest® logo: SNAP benefits onlyAnywhere that displays this Quest® logo: Cash benefits onlyAnywhere that displays this NYCE® logo: Find out what you can buyWith SNAP benefits: You can buy any food item except alcohol or prepared meals sold hot and ready to eat. You can even buy seeds or plants for growing food. Find out more about eligible food items. With cash benefits: Anything you need, except:
You can even pay your rent or utility bills, purchase money orders, and buy food. Pay in stores
Check-out takes minutes.
Food shop when the system is out of serviceIf a store displaying the Quest® logo does not have a working EBT machine:
Get cashWithdraw cash from a store.You can withdraw cash from stores displaying the Quest® decal with the dollar sign ($). There are no fees. You don't need to make a purchase. Simply:
Withdraw cash from an ATM machine.Find an ATM with the NYCE logo or Quest® logo with the dollar sign ($) but there may be fees. Simply:
Get cash back with a purchase.Combine your purchase at a store with cashback service. There are no fees. Look for the Quest® decal with the dollar sign ($) and:
Avoid cash feesWithdraw or use cashback service in a store.There is no fee when you use your EBT card in a store to:
Some stores will allow a cash withdrawal without a purchase. Some stores will let you get cash back above the cost of your purchase. Check with the store for the withdrawal rules and the maximum cashback amount. Use fee-free ATMs.It costs you 75 cents each time you make 4 or more EBT cash withdrawals in a month from an ATM. To save money, try to make only 3 withdrawals each month. Most banks charge another fee just for using their ATM. You will not pay the bank fee if you withdraw your cash benefits from an ATM that offers free EBT cash withdrawals. Always check the fee notices at the ATM before making a withdrawal. No matter who operates the ATM, you will still pay the 75-cent fee if it is your fourth or more withdrawal in the month. There are no fees for ATM balance inquiries. If you go on vendor payments for your rent or utilities, you can reduce your need to withdraw cash from an ATM or purchase money orders. Check with your case manager about this option. Key Actions for Avoid cash feesAdditional Resources for Avoid cash feesCheck your balance and transaction historyKeep track of the money left on your EBT card so you know the balance before you shop. Check your balance by:
EBT cards create an electronic record of every purchase. If your balance is lower than you expected, you can call (800) 997- 2555 to get the last 10 transactions to help you track your spending. Key Actions for Check your balance and transaction historyCare for your cardYour EBT card is good for as long as you get SNAP or cash benefits. You can use the same card for years even if your case closes and reopens. To care for it:
Protect your PINCall to change your PIN anytime. (800) 997-2555 PIN stands for Personal Identification Number. To use your EBT card, you must enter your 4 number secret PIN into the machine. It is the key that unlocks your benefit accounts. For this reason:
EBT Card SkimmingSkimming is a type of theft. Thieves put an overlay on a store’s card-swiping machine to copy EBT, credit and debit card information. The information is then used to make fake EBT, debit or credit cards. The fake cards are called clones. Cloned cards are used to steal money from real accounts. Skimming can happen anywhere you swipe your EBT, credit or debit card. Most of the time, that means EBT or Credit Card machines and ATMs. To protect your benefits, change your PIN before each time you get your benefits. Key Actions for EBT Card SkimmingNote what you can't do with your cardYou can't use SNAP benefits to pay for:
You can't use cash benefits to pay for:
You can't shop with cash benefits at:
Learn the penalties for buying restricted items with cash benefitsFirst timeYou must pay DTA back the amount of the items or services. Second timeYou must pay DTA back the amount of the items or services AND you will lose your cash assistance for two months. Third timeYou must pay DTA back the amount of the items or services AND you will lose cash assistance permanently. Get discounts at museums and other cultural organizations200+ places The EBT Card to Culture program provides discounted admissions to various museums and other educational and cultural institutions. As an EBT cardholder, you can get reduced or free admission by showing your card at any of the participating organizations. Key Actions for Get discounts at museums and other cultural organizationsRequest to restore expired benefitsWhen do benefits expire?DTA benefits roll over month to month.
Request to restore expired cash benefits.In certain circumstances expired cash benefits can be replaced if you request a restoration within 6 months of the date the cash benefits expired. Six months after the expiration date, the cash benefits are permanently unavailable and cannot be restored. Call your case manager to request to restore your expired cash benefits. Request to restore expired SNAP benefits.While you always have the right to request restoration of expired SNAP benefits, expired SNAP benefits cannot be restored unless they expired in error (e.g., prior to 274 days). Call (877) 382-2363 to request to restore your expired SNAP benefits. Call customer serviceReach customer service 24/7 (800) 997-2555 Call EBT Customer Service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at (800) 997-2555 if:
This is a free call. How do I get cash off my EBT card PA?Recipients are able to use their EBT Access Card to obtain cash benefits through ATMs located throughout the state. In addition, recipients are able to make cash purchases and receive cashback through POS terminals at participating retailers.
How do I use EBT cash in California?Step 1 Swipe your EBT card at POS device. Step 2 Enter your four-digit PIN. Step 3 Approve the purchase amount. Step 4 You will get a copy of the printed receipt.
Can you buy cigarettes with EBT cash in California?MYTH: I can only buy certain types of food with CalFresh benefits. FACT: You cannot use CalFresh to buy non- food items such as cigarettes or tobacco, pet food, soaps, paper products, household supplies, vitamins, and medicines, even if they are sold at food stores.
How do I use EBT cash in Washington state?You can use your Washington Quest EBT Card at participating stores and ATMs (for cash benefits only) across the country. You can also use your card wherever you see the Quest logo. If you do not see the Quest logo, ask the store manager if you can use your card in the store to buy food or get cash benefits.
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