Easy Options to Manage Your Food Stamp (SNAP) Benefits Online

This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Jennifer Mueller, JD. Jennifer Mueller is an in-house legal expert at wikiHow. Jennifer reviews, fact-checks, and evaluates wikiHow's legal content to ensure thoroughness and accuracy. She received her JD from Indiana University Maurer School of Law in 2006.

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You're about to go grocery shopping but not sure how much you've got left on your EBT card. No problem—just check it online! Even though SNAP (food stamps) is a federal program, each state distributes the benefits to eligible people who live there. That means your online options vary depending on what state you live in. But all states have a website you can use to check your balance online, and many also have mobile apps. If online access isn't working for you, there are a few more ways you can still find out your balance so you can get the food you need.

• Use your state's SNAP or EBT website to check your benefit balance online.
• Download the ConnectEBT mobile app if it's available in your state to check your benefits easily from your phone.
• Call your state's SNAP customer service line if online or mobile options aren't available for your program.

State EBT Website

• The release schedule lets you know when you can expect to get benefits each month. Since benefits are automatically loaded onto your EBT card, there's no delay—on the date listed on the schedule, your money will be there.

Visit your state's EBT website. All 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Guam have a website you can use to check your SNAP balance on your EBT card. If you're not familiar with the site, look up your state or territory on the USDA directory. [1] X Research source

• If you already set up an account at some point in the past, just enter your username and password to access your account. Forgot your password? Look for a link to change it.

• Make sure you log out when you're done, especially if you're on a public computer, such as in the library. You don't want other people to access your information.

ConnectEBT Mobile App

• Some states, such as Texas, have their own app for mobile benefits. If you live in a state that doesn't use ConnectEBT, check with your local benefits office to find out if there's another app you can use. [5] X Research source

Validate your identity to use the app. The app will ask you some questions to confirm that you're the person connected to the account—typically your full name as it appears on your card, your address, and your Social Security number. It might also send you an email or text message to help verify you. [6] X Research source

• If your state uses a different mobile app, follow the prompts to set up your account there. It might require you to create a different username and password than the one you use on the website. [8] X Research source

View your account balance through the app. Just open the app—it displays your account balance right there on your home screen. If you've been logged out of your account, you might have to enter your username and password again. [9] X Research source

Offline Methods

• If you don't have your EBT card handy or it doesn't have a number on the back, click on your state on the USDA directory to see what it is.

Go down to the local SNAP office for assistance. If you're in the neighborhood, it might be easier for you just to walk into the local SNAP office and get someone to look up your balance. Keep in mind that you might have to wait if you don't have an appointment, though. If the office is super-busy, this might not be your quickest option. [11] X Research source

• If you're near a grocery or convenience store, a clerk can also check your balance for you and print out a receipt with the information.

• You don't lose your benefits just because you lose your card! When you get your new card, any benefits you had left in your account will still be there.

Community Q&A

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Yes. If you don't use all of your benefits, they carry over to the next month. You'll still get the full amount of benefits that you're allotted for each month, regardless of the balance on your account.

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The "mm" stands for month. It's doubled to indicate it should always be written in two digits, not one. If the month has only one digit, place a zero in front of it. (January - 01, February - 02, March - 03, etc.) The "dd" stands for day, and it also requires two digits. (03, 04, 05, etc.) The "year" should always be four digits. (2016, 2017, 2018, etc.) So if your birthday were March 4, 1997, you would write it as 03/04/1997.

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Tips

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1. ↑https://fns-prod.azureedge.us/sites/default/files/media/file/EBTCustomerServiceInfo.pdf
2. ↑https://www.connectebt.com/
3. ↑https://www.connectebt.com/paebtclient/
4. ↑https://jobs.utah.gov/customereducation/services/financialhelp/family/connectebtapp.pdf
5. ↑https://www.hhs.texas.gov/services/financial/lone-star-card
6. ↑https://www.nj.gov/humanservices/news/pressreleases/2021/approved/20211014.html
7. ↑https://www.nj.gov/humanservices/news/pressreleases/2021/approved/20211014.html
8. ↑https://www.hhs.texas.gov/services/financial/lone-star-card
9. ↑https://jobs.utah.gov/customereducation/services/financialhelp/family/connectebtapp.pdf

1. ↑https://otda.ny.gov/programs/publications/5004.pdf
2. ↑https://www.nj.gov/humanservices/njsnap/home/contactus.shtml
3. ↑https://otda.ny.gov/programs/publications/5004.pdf
4. ↑https://www.nj.gov/humanservices/njsnap/home/contactus.shtml

About This Article

This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Jennifer Mueller, JD. Jennifer Mueller is an in-house legal expert at wikiHow. Jennifer reviews, fact-checks, and evaluates wikiHow's legal content to ensure thoroughness and accuracy. She received her JD from Indiana University Maurer School of Law in 2006. This article has been viewed 391,838 times.

In many states, you can check your food stamp balance online. To check if your state is eligible, visit the U.S. Food and Nutrition Service website. You might need to log in to your Electronic Benefit Transfer account or register for one if it’s your first time, but some sites only ask for your social security number and card number. Once you’re on your account, go to your account summary and view your balance. If you’re using a shared computer, make sure you log out after viewing your balance so no one else can access your details. If you can’t check your balance online in your state, call customer service and ask for your current balance. You can also see your balance on store receipts if you pay with your benefits card. For more tips, including how to order a new benefits card, read on.