SNAP vs. EBT: What’s the difference?
SNAP and EBT are often used interchangeably but they’re actually different things.
- SNAP, also called food stamps, is a program that gives eligible low-income households money every month to buy groceries.
- EBT, which stands for Electronic Benefits Transfer, is the card payment system where SNAP benefits are distributed.
Think of it this way: SNAP gives you food assistance; the EBT card is how you spend it.
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How are SNAP and EBT related?#how-are-snap-and-ebt-related
Your EBT card is just how you access your SNAP benefits. To spend your SNAP benefits you just swipe your EBT card at the grocery store when you’re buying any eligible items.
EBT cards work like any other debit card, except you can’t withdraw money unless you’ve also been approved for cash assistance through programs like TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, also known as Temporary Assistance or Family Assistance).
There are also restrictions on the types of items you can use your EBT card to purchase. SNAP benefits can’t be used on any non-food items or alcohol, for example.
How to get an EBT card with SNAP benefits#how-to-get-an-ebt-card-with-snap-benefits
You have to apply for SNAP in your state to get an EBT card. Each state runs SNAP slightly differently and has its own EBT system.
In general, the application process involves:
- Filing out an application online through your state’s benefits website, over the phone, by mail, or in person at your local human services office
- Submitting documents with your application like proof of identity and income
- Completing an interview with an eligibility worker
If you’re eligible for SNAP benefits, your local SNAP agency will approve your application and mail you a new EBT card within 30 days of applying.
Your benefits will be posted to your EBT account and loaded onto your card on the same day each month. Any unused benefits each month will roll over to the next month and generally don’t expire for nine months. Use an app like Propel to track your EBT account balance and help keep your EBT card safe from theft.
Other types of EBT benefits#other-types-of-ebt-benefits
SNAP benefits aren’t the only financial assistance you can get on an EBT card. Summer EBT (SUN Bucks), TANF, and child support are other major benefit programs that use EBT to send money.
Certain states also have state-funded benefits that are accessed through EBT. California, for example, has four different cash aid programs in addition to CalWORKs, the state’s TANF program:
- California Work Opportunity and Responsibility for Kids (CalWORKs)
- Trafficking and Crime Victims Assistance Program (TCVAP)
- General Assistance/Relief (GA/GR)
- Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA)
Washington state has a state Food Assistance Program (FAP or Basic Food) that provides food assistance to people who aren’t eligible for regular SNAP because of their immigration status. Basic Food benefits are also deposited onto an EBT card.
To learn more about the EBT benefits available in your state, contact your local benefits office.
