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Then, electronically, the processor verifies the PIN and the account balance, and sends an authorization or denial back to the retailer. When paying for groceries, the SNAP customer's card is run through an electronic reader or a point of sale terminal (POS), and the recipient enters the secret PIN to access the food stamp account. A plastic debit card, similar to a bank card, is issued and a personal identification number (PIN) is assigned or chosen by the recipient to control access to their account.Īll states have systems that use magnetic stripe cards and "on-line" authorization of transactions. Once they are approved for benefits, an account is established in the recipient's name, and their SNAP benefits are deposited electronically in this account each month. Once eligibility and level of benefits have been determined, information is transferred to the state's EBT contractor. In the United States, all SNAP benefits are now being issued via EBT.įor example, recipients apply for their benefits in the usual way, by filling out a form at their local food stamp office or online. State agencies work with contractors to procure their own EBT systems for delivery of SNAP and other state-administered benefit programs. Cash benefits may be used to purchase any item at a participating retailer, as well as to obtain cash-back or make a cash withdrawal from a participating ATM. Through EBT, a recipient uses their EBT card at participating retailers to purchase food items authorized by the USDA's SNAP program. JSTOR ( June 2016) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message).Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.įind sources: "Electronic benefit transfer" – news Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. This section needs additional citations for verification.
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