Benefit Availability
•Youwillreceiveyourbenefitsonthesamedayevery month.
•Based on the last number of your social security number(SSN),youwillreceiveyourbenefit(s)onthe followingdates:
SSN ending in / Cash/SNAP Benefits / Cash0 / 1 / 16
1 / 2 / 17
2 / 4 / 19
3 / 5 / 20
4 / 7 / 22
5 / 8 / 23
6 / 10 / 25
7 / 11 / 26
8 / 13 / 28
9 / 14 / 29
•If you are getting cash benefits by Direct Deposit, you willcontinuetodoso.Howeveryouwillberequiredto useyourEBTcardtoaccessyourSNAPbenefits.
•Ifyoureceiveyouraccountbalance(s)andtheamount ishigherorlowerthanexpected,call1-800-997-2555 togetuptothelasttentransactionsonyouraccount.
•YouwillloseSNAPbenefitsifyoudonotuseyour account for oneyear.
•You will lose any cash benefits that you do not use within90days.Callyourcasemanagerifyouhaveany questions about thisrule.
•Youmaybeabletogetreplacementbenefitsiffood purchasedwithyourSNAPbenefitsaredestroyedin ahouseholdmisfortunelikeapoweroutageorfire. Contact DTA for moreinformation.
•IfyouoweDTAforSNAPorcashbenefitsthatyouwere overpaid, you can request to have additional benefits deducted from your EBT account. Contact your local DTA office forinformation.
If you get 4 or more replacement EBT cards within 12 monthsyouwillreceivenoticethatyoumusttalkwitha casemanagerorinvestigatorbeforegettinganewcard. Basedonthisdiscussion,DTAmayinvestigatetoensure thatnofraudulentactivitieshaveoccurred.
Selling your Card or your Benefits is illegal and can result in disqualifying you from benefits.
EBT Card Replacement Fee
DTAchargesa$5feetoreplaceanEBTcard.The$5feewill betakenfromyourbenefitswhenyouaskforareplacement card.Ifyouhavenobenefitsavailable,DTAwilltakethefee from youlater.
A $5 fee will not be charged if:
•thisisyourfirstPhotoEBTcard;
•your card wasdefective;
•yourcardwaslostinthemail;
•DTA is replacing anemergency EBT card;
•yourcasewasclosedfor30daysormore;
•DTAhasagreedtoissueyouareplacementcardto accommodateyourdisabilityordomesticviolence situation;
•you changed your name;or
•you changed your Social SecurityNumber.
SafeUseofYourPIN
(Personal Identification Number)
•YoursecretPINisyourelectronicsignature.Itisafour numbercodethatunlocksyourbenefitaccount.
•You can select a PIN by calling 1-800-997-2555. You can alsogetaPINthroughoneoftwomethods:
•SelectaPINbyvisitingyourlocalDTAoffice.
•Getasystem-assignedPINthroughthemailbycon- tacting your local DTAoffice.
•Always keep your PIN asecret.
•NeverwriteyoursecretPINonyourcard.
•NeverletanyoneseeyouenteryoursecretPINata machine, even a storeclerk.
•NevergiveanyoneyourcardorsecretPIN.Ifapersonhas yourcardandknowsyoursecretPIN,theycanuseALLof yourbenefits.
•Ifsomeoneelseusesyourcardtoaccessbenefits,those
BENEFITS WILL NOT BE REPLACED.
•IfyouenterthewrongPIN,themachinewilldenyyour transaction.After4wrongattempts,yourcardwillnot work until the nextday.
•Never write your PIN on anything you carry with you becauseifitislostorstolen,othersmayhaveaccessto youraccount.
EBTCardTips
•Keepyourcardinasafeplacewhenyouarenotusingit.
•Donotdamageorbendyourcard.
•Donotwriteonorscratchtheblackstripeonthebackof yourcard.
•Donotputyourcardnearmagnets,TVs,stereos,DVD players,oreventhemagneticclasponapurse.
•ContactyourlocalDTAofficeforareplacementcard. Whenyoureportyourcardlost,stolenordamaged orrequestanewPIN,aholdwillbeplacedonyour accountuntilareplacementcardorPINisissuedto you.
•Saveyourreceiptstocheckyourbalances.
•Ifyoumove,contactacasemanagerimmediately.
When to Call CustomerService
1-800-997-2555 – This is a free call.
Customer Service is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
to answer any questions you may have about getting your benefits.Thecustomerservicenumberisfirstansweredbya computer.Youwillbeaskedquestionstohelpdirectyourcall.
Call to find out:
•Yourcashbenefitsaccountbalance.
•YourSNAPbenefitaccountbalance.
•Thelasttentransactionsonyourcard.
•Where you can use yourcard.
Call if:
•YouhavequestionsorproblemsusingyourEBTcardor secretPIN.
•Yourcardislostorstolen.Youmustreportthis immediately.
•Ifyoureportyourcardlost,stolenordamagedandyouare eligibleforareplacementcard,onewillbemailedtoyou.
•Your card does notwork.
•YouwanttoselectaPINorchangeyourPIN.
•Youwanttorequestaprinted2-monthstatementofyour accounthistory.
•Yoususpectthatatransactionerroroccurredandyouwant to file aclaim.
•Misuseorabuseofyourcardmayresultininvestigationby State and/or Federalauthorities.
•Documentedviolationswillresultinsanctionsincluding:
•Disqualification from assistanceprograms;
•Recoveryofanyimproperlyaccessedbenefitsthrough recoupment/restitution;and/or
•Referral for criminalprosecution.
•Itisacrimetodefraudthesystemortosellyourcardand PIN or benefits toothers.
•Repeatedlossandreplacementofyourcardmayresultin aspecialinvestigationofyourcase.Toreportmisuse,call 1-800-372-8399.
USDA Nondiscrimination Statement
InaccordancewithFederalcivilrightslawandU.S.Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participatinginoradministeringUSDAprogramsareprohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexualorientation,disability,age,maritalstatus,family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaintfilingdeadlinesvarybyprogramorincident.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at
(202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
Tofileaprogramdiscriminationcomplaint,completetheUSDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA andprovideintheletteralloftheinformationrequestedin
theform.Torequestacopyofthecomplaintform,call (866)632-9992.
Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:
(1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
(2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or
(3) email: .
This institution is an equal opportunity provider
05860MAEBT-BRE-005
Electronic Benefit Transfer(EBT)
How to Use Your EBT Card to Get:
–Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Benefits
–Transitional Aid to Families with DependentChildren (TAFDC) and Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled andChildren(EAEDC)(alsoknownasCashBenefits)
Call 1-800-997-2555 right away if your card is lost or stolen.
Welcome toEBT!
Your SNAP benefits and/or cash benefits are kept in special accounts,calledEBTaccounts,untilyouusethem.EBTisthe wayyougetyourSNAPand/orcashbenefits.Thisbrochure tellsyouhowtouseyourEBTaccountandEBTcard.
Who Can Use Your SNAPBenefits
1.Before you shop, check your last receipt to find out how much money is in your SNAP account, log on to DTA Connect, DTA’s mobile application at or by calling 1-800-997-2555 for yourbalance.
2.LookfortheQuest®markonthedoororwindowofthe store.
3.Swipeyourcardatthecheck-outcounter.
4.EnteryoursecretPINonthenumberpad,thenpressEnter.
5.Tell the clerk how much money to enter or enter the amountyourself.Youcanonlybuyeligiblefooditemswith your SNAPbenefits.
6.For a list of eligible food items, use the link:
7.Alwayscheckyourreceipttomakesurethattheamounton thereceiptisthesameastheamountofyourpurchase.
Notes:
•Thereisnominimumdollaramountpertransactionandno limit on the number of transactions that you can make if thereareenoughfundsinyouraccount.
•YoucannotuseyourSNAPbenefitstopayforpastor
1.Getyourbalancebylookingatyourlastreceipt,loggingon to DTA Connect, DTA’s mobile application at gov/DTAConnect or by calling1-800-997-2555.
2.LookfortheQuest®markonthedoororwindowofthe store.
3.Swipeyourcardatthecheck-outcounter.
4.EnteryoursecretPINonthenumberpad,thenpressEnter.
5.Telltheclerkhowmuchmoneytoenterorenterthe amountyourself.
6.Checktomakesuretheamountonthereceiptisthesame asthecashbenefitsyouusedforyourpurchase.
1.Always follow directions on theATM screen.
2.Enter your secretPIN.
3.PressWithdrawal.
4.PressChecking.
5.Enter the dollar amount youwant.
•Therearemanysurcharge-freelocationstoaccessyour cashbenefits.Byusingsurcharge-freelocationsyouwill maximize your cashbenefits.
•Thereisnofeeforpointofsaletransactions.
•Or,ifyouhaveabankaccount,askyourcaseworkerto have your cash benefits directly deposited into your account.
•WhenyougotoanATM,haveyourcardreadysoyoucan process your transactionquickly.
•Chooseawell-litATMinaplacewhereyoufeelsafe.
•NeverletanyoneseeyouenteryoursecretPIN.
•Putyourcash,cardandreceiptawayquickly.
Itisillegalforyoutousecashbenefitstopayforthe followingpurchasesorserviceswithyourEBTcard:
Penalties for Knowingly Violating This Law Include:
First Offense
The first time you use your EBT card to buy any of these itemsorserviceswithyourcashbenefits,youmustpayDTA backtheamountoftheitemsorservices.
Second Offense
ThesecondtimeyouuseyourEBTcardtobuyanyofthese itemsorserviceswithyourcashbenefits,youmustpayDTA backtheamountoftheitemsorservicesANDyouwilllose your cash assistance for twomonths.
Third Offense
The third time you use your EBT card to buy any of these itemsorserviceswithyourcashbenefits,youmustpayDTA backtheamountoftheitemsorservicesANDyouwilllose cash assistancepermanently.
Thelawalsomakesitillegalforthesestorestoacceptcash benefits on a DTA EBTcard:
Where to UseYour Card
Youcanuseyourcardtogetyourbenefitswhereyousee thismark:
(For SNAP and Cash Benefits)
LookfortheQuestmarkonthedoororwindowofyour store.
(For Cash Benefits Only)
OccasionallyanEBTsystemerroroccursduringacash orSNAPtransactionresultinginamistakebeingmade intheaccountbalance.SomeexamplesofEBTsystem transactions errorsare:
•if you made a SNAP purchase and the SNAP account wasincorrectlychargedtwiceforthesamepurchase;or
•Anyhouseholdmember(orcaregiver)-eveniftheirnameor photoisnotonthecard-aslongastheyhavethecardand a valid PINnumber.
•HouseholdmemberswithoutphotosontheirEBTcard, including those whoare:
•age 18 andunder;
•age 60 orover;
•blind;
•disabled;
•homelesshouseholds;
•victims of domestic violence;and
•clientswhodonotwishtohavetheirphototakendueto sincerely held religiousbeliefs.
Theseindividualsarenotrequiredtohaveaphotoontheir EBTcard.YoucanaskDTAforanon-photoEBTcardatany timeifyoumeetoneofthesecriteria.
•SNAPclientscannotbetreateddifferentlyfromother shoppers.Storeclerksshouldnotcheckthephotoon the EBT card unless the store reviews a photo on all customerswhousecreditordebitcards.
future purchases, except for future purchases through the
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program.
•TherearenotransactionfeesforSNAPhouseholdsusing EBT to access theirbenefits.
IftheEBTsystemisdownorthestoredoesnothaveapointof saledevice,alsoknownasacardreadermachine,youcanstill buy food with SNAP benefits. The clerk may fill out a manual voucher for your food purchasesonly.
This voucher will list:
•your card number;and
•the amount of yourpurchase.
Aftertheclerkfillsinthevoucher,theclerkwillcalltoseeifyou have enough SNAP benefits to buy the food. Before you sign thevoucher,makesuretheamountonitiscorrect.Youwillbe givenacopyofthevouchertokeep.
Rememberthatitmaytakeafewdaysbeforetheamountis subtracted from your SNAPaccount.
6.Take your cash from themachine.
7.Wait for your card andreceipt.
•Do NOT count your money atthe machine.
•Checkthereceipttomakesureitisthesameasthe amount youreceived.
•Keepthereceiptsoyouwillknowhowmuchyouhave left in youraccount.
•Your account will be charged 75 cents for each ATM withdrawal over three withdrawals in a calendar month. Youmaybesubjecttoadditionalsurchargesbythebankor processor.
•A surcharge is a service fee that you may be charged for making cash transactions with your EBT card at certain locations. Before you use your card, look for a notice telling you about possible surcharges on the ATM screen, ornearthePOSmachine.Surchargesareinadditiontothe 75centfeechargedforeachATMwithdrawaloverthreein a calendarmonth.
Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco Products
Adult-oriented entertainment material or Performances
Tattoos or Body Piercings
Televisions, stereos, video games or consoles at rent-to-own stores
Court-Ordered Fees, Fines, Bail or Bail Bonds
Firearms and Ammunition
Gambling/Lottery
Jewelry
Vacation Services
•Adultbookstores,oradultparaphernaliastores,oradult entertainmentestablishments
•Ammunition or firearmdealers
•Casinos, gambling casinos or gamingEstablishments
•Cruiseships
•Jewelrystores
•Liquorstores
•Manicure shops or aestheticshops
•Tattooparlors
•Cash transmittal agencies to foreigncountries
•ifanATMonlygaveyou$20whenyourequested$40
but your cash account was still charged the $40.
If you think a system error has reduced your account incorrectly,youmayfileaclaimforanaccountadjustment by calling Customer Service 1-800-997-2555. You have 90 days from the date of the suspected transaction error to file yourclaim.
•SNAPaccountclaimsareusuallyresolvedwithin15days after reported to CustomerService.
•Cashaccountclaimsmaytakeupto30daystoresolve after reported to CustomerService.
•Iftheclaimisapproved,youwillreceivealetterfrom DTA.
•Iftheclaimisdenied,youwillreceivealetterfromDTA explaining why it wasdenied.
•Ifyoudisagreewithaclaim’sdenial,youhavetheright toappealandrequestafairhearing.Toappeal,fillout and submit the form you receive with the letter from DTA.
•Youraccountmayalsobeadjustedtofixanerror.Ifan adjustmentisneeded,youwillbemailedanoticethat explains the reason and yourrights.