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Resource | Technical Assistance Retailer Instructions for SNAP EBT Chip Card Transactions at Point of Sale

Retailer notice with instructions for SNAP EBT chip card transactions at point of sale. Customers who have EBT chip cards should always attempt a chip (insert or tap) transaction first. The transaction may need to be completed with a swipe of the magnetic stripe, but the first transaction attempt should always use the chip. 

04/02/2025
Resource | Policy Letter to Governors - SNAP EBT Chip Cards

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack issued a letter today encouraging all governors to invest in SNAP EBT cards with chip technology for their states.

11/15/2024
Resource | Policy Letter to Commissioners - SNAP EBT Chip Cards

FNS is pleased to announce that the X9 Committee ratified and published revised EBT standards in August 2024. Finalizing these standards is a significant step towards modernizing SNAP EBT technology and combating benefit theft. These technical standards provide the opportunity for states to implement EBT cards with chip technology.

10/28/2024
Resource | Webinars/Videos Webinar: Community Eligibility Provision 101

A webinar for state agency and school food authority staff focused on the community eligibility provision. 

02/29/2024
Resource | Factsheets Community Eligibility Provision Factsheet

The Community Eligibility Provision is a National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program meal service option that allows schools and school districts located in high poverty areas to offer breakfast and lunch at no cost to all enrolled students.

02/21/2024
Resource | Guidance Documents CEP Planning and Implementation Guidance

A final rule, Child Nutrition Programs: Community Eligibility Provision-Increasing Options for Schools (88 FR 65778), was published on Sept. 26, 2023, with an effective date of Oct. 26, 2023, that established the 25 percent minimum ISP threshold.  As a result, more students, households, and schools have the opportunity to experience CEP’s benefits, such as increasing access to school meals at no cost, eliminating unpaid meal charges, minimizing stigma, and streamlining meal service operations.

02/12/2024
Resource | Webinars/Videos Webinar for State Agencies: IFR for Non-Congregate Summer Meal Service

This webinar is geared towards state agencies and will address key provisions in the Interim Final Rule as related to providing non-congregate summer meals in rural areas.

01/31/2024
Resource | Webinars/Videos Webinar for Sponsors and Program Operators: IFR for Non-Congregate Summer Meal Service

This webinar is geared towards sponsors organizations and program operators and will address key provisions in the Interim Final Rule as related to providing non-congregate summer meals in rural areas.

01/31/2024
Resource | Policy Summer EBT Questions & Answers for EBT Processors

This question and answer document provides technical assistance on issues directly related to SNAP EBT processors – and those working with such processors – on implementing Summer EBT.

11/16/2023
Resource | Webinars/Videos Webinar on Final Rule: CEP- Increasing Options for Schools

A webinar for state agency and school food authority staff focused on the Final Rule: Child Nutrition Programs Community Eligibility Provision — Increasing Options for Schools. 

10/12/2023
Page updated: October 14, 2021