The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), a public food assistance program, helps people buy the food they need to be healthy. The program is truly a lifeline for millions of older adults and families of all ages whose incomes fall short of covering basic daily needs.

In the past, people enrolled in this program received a booklet of “food stamps” to use at the store. That’s no longer the case. Today, when you apply for SNAP in your state and qualify for benefits, you will receive an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card to use wherever you shop for groceries.

Here’s how it works.

What is an EBT card?

An electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card functions like a prepaid debit card.

It’s the only way to receive your SNAP benefits, and you use it to buy eligible food items. Here are some other important things to know about your EBT card:

• Each month, your benefit amount is automatically deposited onto your card balance. As long as you have sufficient funds in your EBT card balance, you can use it to cover eligible grocery purchases.
• Any member of your household or a caregiver can use your EBT card provided they know your secret PIN (personal identification number). Your PIN helps keep your SNAP benefits secure and proves that your card belongs to you.
• Some states require a photo EBT card for the head of certain households that receive SNAP benefits. But retailers that accept EBT must let all household members use the photo EBT card.
• Even though you enrolled in SNAP in your state of residence, you can use your EBT card in all 50 U.S. states.
• Your SNAP benefits don't expire if you don't use them up in the same month you receive them. Instead, any remaining funds in your EBT account will roll over into the next month. But if you don't use your benefits at all for a period of nine months, they will be removed from your EBT account.
• Even if you lose SNAP eligibility, you can still use any SNAP funds left on your card after your case closes.

Just like a debit or credit card, you should store your EBT card in a safe place that’s easily accessible to you, like your wallet.

Where can I use my EBT Card?

You can use your EBT card to buy eligible food at Walmart, most grocery stores, convenience stores, and other retail stores that accept SNAP. Many farmers markets throughout America also participate in SNAP.

What can I buy with EBT?

There are many foods you can purchase with your EBT card, including:

• Fruits and vegetables
• Meat, poultry, and fish
• Breads and cereals
• Dairy products
• Snack foods
• Non-alcoholic beverages
• Seeds and plants to grow food for your household

What will EBT not pay for? There are straightforward rules about what you can’t buy with your EBT card. You can't use your SNAP benefits to purchase:

• Alcohol and tobacco products like beer and cigarettes
• Vitamins and supplements
• Other nonfood items like pet food, paper goods, and cleaning supplies
• Prepared hot food like rotisserie chicken)

How do I use an EBT Card?

Here’s how to use your EBT card at the store:

1. Check your balance beforehand to see how much money you have left in your EBT balance. You can do this by:

• Looking at your most recent grocery store receipt
• Checking your online SNAP account if you have one
• Calling the EBT customer service number for your state
• Calling the toll-free number on the back of your EBT card

2. Go to the checkout lane with your groceries. In some stores, the register will automatically separate out SNAP-eligible items, requiring only one transaction. But in smaller stores, you or the cashier may have to separate the items by hand. This may require two transactions.

3. Swipe your EBT card through the point-of-sale (POS) terminal. Type in your secret PIN number on the number pad—the screen will show * * * instead of numbers to keep your PIN private. Then press the "ENTER" key.

4. Tell the cashier how much of your SNAP funds you want to use to pay for your food (or enter the amount yourself). They will enter the amount of your SNAP purchase. If the amount is correct, press the "OK" or "YES" key. If you don't have enough funds on your EBT card, the cashier should tell you how much more you'll need to pay in cash.

5. Ask for a printed receipt after each transaction. Be sure to keep these receipts so you can check your balance before you shop again. 

In many states, larger retailers like Walmart also allow you to use your EBT card online to pay for grocery pickup and delivery orders.

What if I experience EBT discrimination?

When shopping with your EBT card, you have the right to be treated like any other customer. Unfortunately,  EBT card discrimination does happen sometimes.

Remember: you can stand up for yourself. If you believe a cashier, store manager, or other shoppers have treated you differently because you used an EBT card, you or a caregiver can file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

How can I protect myself from EBT card scams?

EBT fraud is frighteningly common. And it’s professional criminals—not SNAP enrollees—who are to blame.

Consider that, during just one week alone in early 2025, thieves stole nearly $500,000 in SNAP funds from people in Rhode Island. Scammers used card skimming devices to access the money, leaving over 1,800 families without the benefits they need to eat.

It’s impossible to protect against every instance of EBT fraud, but there are some common-sense safeguards you can take. Don’t share your PIN number with anyone outside of your household and remember to change your PIN frequently. You should also make it a habit to check your EBT account regularly to make sure there are no unauthorized charges.

Are you eligible for SNAP assistance? It’s worth finding out

Ms. P., age 61, is a great examply why.

Ms. P. is the primary aregiver for her 86-year-old mother. The two live on a very limited household income that barely covers their medications and other basic expenses. After applying for SNAP, Ms. P. and her mother learned they qualified for $211 in monthly benefits.

I am very grateful for the additional benefits to purchase nutritious food for both me and my mother," Ms. P told NCOA.

SNAP also made a life-changing difference for a daughter who observed that her 75-year-old father was losing weight. During a visit, she noticed thinly-stocked cabinets and limited food in the fridge. Her father, she discovered, had little money left over after paying other bills.  

After reaching out to one of NCOA’s Benefits Enrollment Centers (BECs), this woman found someone to help her father apply for SNAP assistance. “Now that he’s no longer worried about where his next meal will come from, I can have some peace of mind,” she told us.

Many people who would qualify for SNAP assistance don’t realize it. Could you or someone you know be one of them? This valuable financial support could help you eat better and improve your quality of life, too.

NCOA's easy-to-use online tool can help you find out. Go to BenefitsCheckUp and select your state of residence. If you qualify for SNAP benefits, we’ll also give you all the information you need to apply. We can even connect you with someone who can help you navigate the application process.

Source

1. USDA. Characteristics of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Households: Fiscal Year 2023. April 2025. Found on the internet at https://fns-prod.azureedge.us/sites/default/files/resource-files/snap-FY23-Characteristics-Report.pdf