| The complete Farm Bill is complex and sections will be implemented gradually over time. Some portions are mandatory and 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.
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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.
Each day J. P. Morgan totals all food stamp purchases and deposits funds into the bank accounts of the food retailers.
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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.
| 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 |
Advantages to the EBT System
The EBT system provides many advantages to food stamp clients, food retailers, banks, and the general public.
- Food stamp clients enjoy increased security and reduced stigma.
- Food stamp benefits are issued over the first five calendar days each month (even weekends or holidays).
- The Nebraska EBT card may be used in any other state of the USA, the District of Columbia, Guam and the Virgin Islands.
- All transactions are efficient, accurate, and traceable.
- Stores do not give cash change back to clients.
- Stores receive deposits to their bank accounts automatically.
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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.
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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)
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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For more information, contact:
Tom Ryan, EBT Coordinator
DHHS - Financial Services
P.O. Box 95026
Lincoln, NE 68509
Phone: (402) 471-8043
E-mail: tom.ryan@nebraska.gov
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