Accept EBT Cards - Food Stamp and Cash Benefits for your business.

The government mandated that every state in the United States implement an EBT program by 2002, and most states have already complied. The most well known instance of EBT is the food stamp program. This program was influenced several years ago by the USDA requiring that states switch from paper food stamps to electronic transfer. Consumers can swipe a debit card in the debit card terminal, instead of keeping up with paper coupons. 42 states are fully online with EBT for food stamps and most of the rest are pending.

The Food Stamp Program helps low-income people and families buy the food they need for good health. You apply for benefits by completing a State application form. Benefits are provided on an electronic card that is used like an ATM card and accepted at most grocery stores and farmers markets.

Merchants in nearly every state now have the opportunity to accept customer payments via an EBT card. This payment option enables customers to access funds electronically from their government-authorized food stamp or cash benefit accounts. The EBT card eliminates paper coupons and checks for these programs, which annually account for $500 billion in government-dispersed benefits.

EBT cards generally are linked to a food stamp and / or cash benefits account. EBT cards can be linked to two accounts - a checking and a savings account.

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Applicants & Recipients

State Food Stamp Information/Hotline Numbers

Have you LOST your EBT card?

Contact the USDA offices not us.

How to become Authorized to accept EBT cards as payment from your customers:

Retail Merchants

How can I obtain an application to accept EBT Cards at our business?

You have four ways in which to obtain an application for authorization:

You can call USDA's automated retail application hotline toll free telephone number at 1-877-823-4369 (within the Continental United States)
Stop by your local USDA, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) field office that services your area
Complete the on-line request form to have an application package mailed to you
Click here for further details from the USDA Web site.

EBT

Farmers' Market EBT Projects

FAQ's for Retail Merchants about EBT

Get Retail Application Form to accept EBT cards

Get Merchant Services Application Form to process EBT cards

Need an EBT compatible terminal?

Would you like it for FREE*?

MerchantSource® has partnered

with Total Merchant Services to offer

clients the ability to participate in their

FREE! Terminal Placement program

(landline or wireless).

The terminal offers the ability for merchants

to process all credit cards, ATM/debit cards and

EBT cards thru the same terminal.

Read more

Interested in a Full Merchant Services Program which includes accepting EBT cards?

Print out the FNS Application from the USDA Website. Complete it sign and mail to the address indicated in the instruction coversheet.
Obtain the Full Services Merchant credit and ATM/debit card processing application from Robb at Total Merchant Services. You can call direct at (239) 985-0776 or email your request to be contacted to robb@merchantsource.com.
You, the merchant, must then provide a copy of your acceptance letter with the FNS number with your Merchant Application submission.

EBT Program Options:

Merchants may offer customers one or both of the following EBT programs.

Food Stamp EBT replaces paper coupons.

The recipient will receive a plastic card and PIN to access food stamp benefits electronically.

Cash Benefit EBT replaces various paper checks that are issued to pay out benefits.

There are a variety of cash benefit types, such as state and local welfare payments, unemployment and housing or energy assistance, as well as childcare costs that are not available through the EBT program.

The Food Stamp Benefits:

Supermarkets, grocery stores and convenience stores - which have been authorized for food stamp acceptance by the USDA-FNS - are the primary target markets for the food stamp EBT program.

The Cash Benefits:

Any type of retail merchant can accept cash benefit EBT cards. Most states have no set qualifying criteria, although a few states do have restrictions on EBT card use for purchasing nonfood items and for using the card in gambling establishments.

Some states or cities (e.g., Texas, Illinois, California, San Diego) require merchants to have a food and nutrition service (FNS) number to process EBT. Since an FNS number requires the merchant to accept food stamps, processing cash benefits is an option for only food-related businesses in these locations.

After the merchant selects the appropriate transaction to run (food stamp or a cash benefit purchase) and runs the transaction, the funds are transferred to the merchant's bank via ACH deposit.

Accepting and processing EBT cards electronically has proven to be a terrific means of reducing fraud and paperwork, while speeding the reimbursement process. An added security - No More chargebacks !

Easily and conveniently a merchant can process credit card, debit card, and EBT transactions all on one (1) credit card terminal with a printer and pin pad.

Farmers Markets:

Farmers market vendors are growing the demand for Wireless EBT processing. State EBT programs have become very popular and are being used to promote healthier eating by offering the opportunity for consumers to purchase fresh produce from local farmers markets. By purchasing produce locally, it helps to grow the economy locally. Farmers / Vendors that use the wireless technology help to remove any stigma that exist between EBT consumers and credit card customers. Through our partnership program with a merchant services provider, we are happy to offer you the ability to participate for free equipment. Read More

Credit Card Terminals which support EBT are:

nurit8000

Our Newest Wireless equipment Nurit 8000GPRS

or choose a stationary terminal Hypercom T4100

IMPORTANT TO NOTE:

If a state mandates EBT and provide the terminal/printer to the merchants for free - then the equipment is restricted to process only EBT transactions!

If ATM machines offer EBT and if the state or financial institution allows surcharges, then the EBT cash withdrawal can be surcharged just like another transaction.

Products:

EBT

Farmers' Market EBT Projects