Electronic Benefits Transfer is an electronic system that allows a SNAP participant to pay for food using SNAP benefits. When a participant shops at a SNAP authorized retail store, their SNAP EBT account is debited to reimburse the store for food that was purchased. EBT is in use in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Guam.
This memo clarifies processes to reflect system updates for state agencies pursuing additional verification through the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements program that have caused an area of SNAP regulations to become outdated and no longer applicable. This memo also explains how to request information on SNAP applicants who are claiming Cuban-Haitian Entrant designation.
The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will discontinue the requirement for vendors to use high security seals to secure USDA Foods deliveries as of July 1, 2023.
This memorandum describes the provisions of the Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act that affect SNAP. Section 2502 of the Act provides that Afghan nationals, citizens, or those who last habitually lived in Afghanistan who are granted parole between July 31, 2021, and Sept. 30, 2022, are eligible to receive resettlement assistance, entitlement programs (including SNAP), and other benefits available to refugees admitted under section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act.