SNAP provides monthly food benefits to eligible low-income households, delivered electronically via an EBT card. Apply for food stamps online, check your EBT card balance, confirm your eligibility and start shopping at thousands of authorized retailers.
Apply for food stamps online and submit your SNAP application in minutes.
Check your EBT card balance, PIN and upcoming deposit date.
Review SNAP program eligibility, income limits and household rules.
Find a SNAP office near you and stores that accept EBT cards.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Food Stamps Program, helps low-income individuals and families buy the food they need for a healthy diet.
Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) is the system used to deliver SNAP benefits. Instead of paper food stamps, participants receive an EBT card that works like a prepaid debit card.
EBT has been the sole method of SNAP issuance in all states since June 2004.
P-EBT provides benefits similar to SNAP to children who would have received free or reduced-price school meals during COVID-related school closures or reduced attendance.
P-EBT benefits are treated the same as SNAP benefits for program integrity purposes.
TANF cash benefits for housing and utilities may be loaded on the same EBT card as a separate balance. WIC supports pregnant people, new parents and children under five through a separate eWIC card.
To apply for SNAP, contact your state or local SNAP office. Depending on your state you can submit a food stamp application online, in person, by mail or by fax.
Use your state SNAP directory to locate the food stamp office near you. Most states also offer an online portal where you can apply for EBT online and upload documents.
Have copies ready showing proof of identity, Social Security number, where you live, income, resources, shelter costs and utility costs. Submitting documents within 10 days helps avoid delays.
Complete your SNAP food stamp application online or on paper. You may be asked to complete an interview by phone or in person before a decision is made.
You will learn within 30 days whether you qualify. If approved, your EBT card arrives by mail in a plain white envelope, usually within 7 business days of approval.
Choose a PIN that is not easy to guess — avoid 1234 or repeated and consecutive numbers. Then start using your SNAP benefits at authorized retailers.
You may qualify for expedited benefits and receive an EBT card within seven days if your monthly income is under $150 with less than $100 in the bank, if your income plus cash is less than your housing and utility costs, or if someone in your household is a migrant or seasonal farm worker.
SNAP eligibility is determined by state-specific income limits, household size, resources and other requirements. Here is what most states look at.
Once approved, you must renew regularly — typically every 6 to 12 months depending on your state. Keep your address updated, submit renewal paperwork on time through your state portal, and follow your state's reporting rules. Missing deadlines is one of the most common reasons people lose their SNAP benefits.
Your EBT card works like a debit card at authorized retailers displaying the "We Welcome SNAP EBT Customers" sign.
| Eligible Purchases | Not Eligible Purchases |
|---|---|
| Fruits and vegetables (fresh, frozen, canned, dried) | Alcohol and tobacco |
| Meat, poultry, fish and seafood | Vitamins, supplements and medicines |
| Dairy products, eggs, cheese, yogurt and milk | Pet food |
| Bread, cereal, pasta, rice and grains | Cleaning supplies and toiletries |
| Snacks, spices, herbs, water and ice | Hot or prepared meals (unless part of the Restaurant Meals Program) |
| Baby formula, diabetic and diet foods | Food containers, paper goods and household items |
| Seeds and plants that grow food | Live animals (except shellfish or fish) |
Use the SNAP Retailer Locator to find stores that accept EBT near you, including farmers markets and convenience stores.
Managing your EBT card is like managing a debit account. Check balances, change your PIN and protect your benefits from theft.
Call your state's EBT customer service line to change your PIN. An agent will confirm your identity and walk you through selecting a new one.
Change your PIN regularly and never write it down where you keep your card.
Call your state EBT customer service right away. Your card will be deactivated immediately to protect your remaining balance, and a replacement card will be issued.
If you've moved, update your address with your local social services office.
Some states now issue new chip-enabled EBT cards that let you tap or insert instead of swiping — helping reduce fraud and protect your nutrition benefits.
SNAP is federally funded but every state runs its own program, so rules, income limits and portals differ. Select your state program below.
California's SNAP program is called CalFresh. Apply through BenefitsCal, check your Golden State Advantage (GSA) EBT balance online or in the app, and shop at thousands of California retailers.
Hawaii SNAP households receive benefits on an Hawaii EBT card. Apply through the state benefits portal and use the state EBT customer service line for balance, PIN and card replacement help.
Each state has its own SNAP application portal, EBT vendor and customer service number. Apply for food stamps online in your state and manage your EBT card through the official state portal.
Small habits can stretch your monthly balance further and unlock extra discounts for EBT cardholders.
Programs like Double Up Food Bucks and Market Match match your SNAP spending dollar-for-dollar on fresh fruits and vegetables at participating farmers markets and grocery stores.
You can use SNAP benefits to buy seeds and plants that produce food. Every dollar spent on seeds and fertilizer can grow roughly $25 worth of produce on average.
Many retailers offer discounted memberships to government benefits recipients, and SNAP participation often qualifies you for other assistance such as utility help programs.
SNAP recipients can enjoy free or reduced admission at over 1,300 museums nationwide through Museums for All, plus many zoos, aquariums and cultural programs.
Most stores treat SNAP like any other payment, so paper and digital coupons stack on top of your benefits — reducing what is deducted from your EBT card.
Check your balance often, keep your PIN private and use card-locking features in your state EBT app to keep your benefits safe from skimming and fraud.
Millions of eligible households miss out on monthly grocery help every year. Check your eligibility and start your SNAP food stamp application today.
Start Your Application Now →SNAP is the United States' largest anti-hunger program, helping an average of 41.7 million people each month. Every dollar of SNAP benefits generates about $1.54 in economic activity, supporting grocery stores, farmers and local economies.
If you qualify for SNAP, you may also be eligible for WIC, free school meals, Summer EBT, TANF cash assistance, Medicaid and discounted internet service.
Explore SNAP EBT Benefits →SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) is the federal food assistance program formerly called food stamps. EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) is the card system used to deliver those monthly benefits. Your SNAP EBT card works like a debit card at authorized grocery stores and retailers.
Apply through your state or local SNAP office. Most states let you apply for SNAP online, and applications can also be submitted in person, by mail or by fax. After you submit your SNAP application you may need to complete an interview. Approved households usually receive an EBT card within 30 days, or within 7 days for expedited benefits.
You can check your EBT balance on your store receipt, through your state's EBT mobile app or cardholder portal, or by calling the EBT customer service number printed on the back of your card.
SNAP eligibility depends on your state's income limits, household size, resources and other rules. Gross monthly income generally must be at or below 130% of the federal poverty line. Households with children, older adults and people with disabilities often qualify more easily.
You can buy fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, dairy, eggs, bread, cereal, snacks, non-alcoholic drinks and seeds or plants that grow food. You cannot buy alcohol, tobacco, vitamins, medicine, pet food, cleaning supplies, or hot and prepared foods.
Use your state SNAP office directory or the USDA SNAP Retailer Locator to find a food stamp office near you and stores that accept EBT cards in your area.
Yes. If you don't use all of your available SNAP benefits in a month, the leftover balance rolls over to the next month. Benefits from the unused month are used first. Unused benefits eventually expire after a certain period, so check your state's rules.
Yes, you can use your EBT card while traveling in another state. However, consistently using your benefits outside your home state may raise red flags with your state agency.