Food stamps
have come a long way. Once disbursed through the mail on paper certificates not unlike dollar bills but bound in a coupon book, most food stamps now are debit cards that are disbursed electronically once a qualified recipient has received the plastic card in the mail. Once you are approved for the food stamp program, your monthly allotment is determined and "deposited" on your card, called an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card. You can use your card at any food store that is approved to accept EBT as a form of payment. While traveling to other states, you can still use your EBT card to make food purchases.
EBT
EBT cards work like ATM cards. They are convenient due to their portability and elimination of the need for paper currency. Create a personal identification number when you get your card, then use the PIN in stores wherever you travel to access the funds in your EBT account. Most cards carry the emblem of the issuing state, which allows anyone who finds a lost card to report it back to the appropriate agency. You can check the balance on your food stamps online or by using the number on the back of your card.
Federal vs. State
Though the food stamp program is administered by state and local agencies, it is a federal initiative. Thus, a person who is approved for food stamps can move throughout the country and still use his or her food stamps. A person who chooses to move permanently must reapply for food stamps in the new state, though. Notify your case worker of a decision to relocate, as a new agency will be in charge of setting up a new account on your behalf.
Eligible States
EBT cards can be used in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands. This is convenient for individuals who travel frequently with children. You can purchase groceries on the go and avoid the cost of eating out. As of 2010, "EBT cards cannot be used in Puerto Rico because Puerto Rico is operating under a block grant instead of the Federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistant Program," according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
USDA Approved
If you are traveling where qualified stores are present, you can use your EBT card until your allotment is spent. Stringent USDA rules apply for stores seeking to accept food stamps. A store must "regularly sell at least three varieties of foods in each of four categories --- breads/cereals; dairy products; fruits and vegetables; and meat, fish or poultry --- and at least two of the categories must include perishable foods," according to USAToday.com. Large food store chains typically have wide ranges of product varieties, making it easier for them to qualify to accept EBT.
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