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Food & Nutrition Services, EBT and LIEAP
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The Food Stamp Program has a new name! In 2007, the Food Stamp program was renamed the Food and Nutrition Services Program. The name change reflects the elimination of paper "food stamps" and the use of eletronic benefit transfer cards to access benefits.
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Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) is the method North Carolina uses to issue Food & Nutrition Services benefits. The FNS benefits are placed in an EBT or E-Funds account each month. FNS recipient households use a plastic magnetic stripe card, much like a credit or debit card, to buy food at USDA authorized grocery stores. Once an FNS application is processed, the head of household is sent an EBT card.
Recipients who are handicapped or physically unable to shop for themselves can name someone they trust as an authorized representative. The representative will get an EBT card that has full access to the recipient's account and be able to shop for them. Anyone needing such a representative should contact his/her Case Manager to obtain the necessary paperwork.
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As long as the FNS case is active, the benefits will be available in the EBT account by 9:00 a.m. on the same day each month (even if that day is a weekend or a holiday.) The availability schedule is based on the last digit of the head of household's Social Security number.
To check the balance in an EBT account or to report an EBT card has been lost, stolen or damaged, recipients should call E-Funds Customer Service at 1-888-622-7328. Balances can be checked online at the E-Funds web site.
Want more information?
Frequently Asked Questions about EBT
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