DHHS Internet Website - Children And Family Services

What is EBT?

Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) is a plastic card similar to a debit card. Clients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly the Food Stamp Program, 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.

Instructions to Change PINEBT Questions & Answers for Clients

Client EBT Account Information EBT Information for Retailers 

  !!! SNAP Retailers Must Pay For Their Own EBT Equipment !!! 

As of September 21, 2014, most SNAP retailers will no longer be offered free EBT equipment, supplies and related services.  The content of a notice issued in April by the U.S. Department of Agriculture providing more details about this change and others required by the 2014 Farm Bill may be read here -

USDA Mailer to Retailers

Merchants who wish to continue to participate in the SNAP should make arrangements with a Third Party Processer (TPP) to lease or purchase a Point-of Sale (POS) device or program their current device to accept EBT transactions before that date in order to ensure continued participation in SNAP. (Read about one option below.)

FIS POS Option - Nebraska EBT contractor JP Morgan has announced that Fidelity Information Services (FIS), has taken over management of what has been traditionally referred to as 'state provided" Point-Of-Sale (POS) devices.  These are the POS devices placed in Nebraska SNAP stores as requested by those merchants to allow them to conduct EBT transactions.  These machines are Verifone Vx 510 models and currently conduct only EBT transactions.

During the week of June 30th FIS is mailing a letter and agreement to the above described Nebraska EBT merchants advising them of an option to pay FIS for the operation of these POS devices starting August 1, 2014.  The letter and agreement content are below.

FIS Letter               FIS Agreement

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services does not endorse the FIS option described above or the services of any other company offering POS equipment for use by Nebraska merchants to conduct EBT transactions.  The information is provided to inform Nebraska EBT merchants.

New Services Available to Nebraska SNAP EBT Clients 

Nebraska EBT clients may sign up for a service called "My Alerts" either by calling the EBT client toll-free phone number on the back of their EBT card (877-247-6328), or when checking their balance on the JP Morgan EBT website, known as "EBT Account".

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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.

Nebraska EBT cardholders may use their Nebraska EBT card in authorized stores in any of the fifty states as well as the District of Columbia, Guam and the Virgin Islands.

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SNAP 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.

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 UNL Nutrition Education Program( Improve the quality of your diet & stretch your EBT dollars)

Special Investigations Unit (File a complaint about suspected Food Stamp/EBT fraud)

ReliaCard ^® Visa ^® ( Prepaid debit card for grant recipients, clients and individual service providers.)

Form FA-100 in English and Spanish (Form individuals use to apply for prepaid debit card and Direct Deposit)

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