Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) Program

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What is EBT? Picture of EBT Card

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

Returned EBT Cards

Applicants for DHHS benefits and SNAP are reminded when they move to update their address with ACCESSNebraska and complete a change of address form at the U.S. Post Office.  Since Jan. 5, DHHS has noticed a significant decrease in the average number of EBT cards returned as undeliverable due to incorrect addresses.

The delay in the return to DHHS of EBT cards sent to recipients' outdated addresses occurred as the Post Office made changes Jan. 5 at its mail processing centers.  This situation may result in some recipients not receiving EBT cards as timely as expected.  The Post Office informed DHHS it will take some time to catch up with returning mail sent to incorrect addresses.

In the meantime, applicants and SNAP recipients are encouraged to update their address with ACCESSNebraska and complete a change of address form at the U.S. Post Office so they receive timely mailings of EBT cards and other materials.

 
Apply for SNAP!
Apply for SNAP 
 
Or Call:
(800) 383-4278
In Lincoln (402) 323-3900
In Omaha (402) 595-1258
8:00 am - 5:00 pm (Mountain Time) Monday thru Friday
 

 

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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.

If last digit of SSN (head of household) is: Benefits are available on the:

1 or 2

1st of each month

3 or 4

2nd of each month

5 or 6

3rd of each month

7 or 8

4th of each month

9 or 0

5th of each month

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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 the EBT vendor 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.
 
Useful links:
 
(Learn how to become a SNAP authorized retailer and accept SNAP EBT benefits by clicking 
on the website above.) 
 
Find stores near you that accept SNAP EBT cards: http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/retailerlocator
 

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

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For more information, contact:
Andy Vanek, Accounting and Finance Manager
DHHS – Children and Family Services
P.O. Box 95026
Lincoln, NE 68509

 

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