How to Check a Food Stamp Balance
Gone are the days of paper vouchers that resembled dollar bills for food purchases. Until recently, government assistance for grocery bills was call "food stamps." A plastic card known as an EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) card has replaced the old book of paper checks over the past few years. The traditional "food stamp program" is now known as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and benefit amounts can be checked in a number of ways.
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Instructions
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Create an online account to view your benefits. JP Morgan Chase is the provider of the EBT cards and handles the government distribution of grocery funds into recipient's accounts. JP Morgan Chase maintains a website specifically for the convenience of electronic benefit recipients at https://www.ebtaccount.jpmorgan.com/JPM_EFS/. Once your account is registered and confirmed by entering your name, account number and pin, you can view your balance in a matter of seconds by following the appropriate links.
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Call the number on the back of the card, if going online is not a convenient method for you. An automated voice will prompt you through a series of several short commands, consisting of entering your card number and the pin number provided to you by your local SNAP department. With very little wait time, you will hear your account balance.
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Swipe your card through almost any ATM machine. Since the EBT card is a bank card, of sorts, as it is distributed by JP Morgan Chase, you can use your card at almost any ATM. Accessing your balance at an ATM is free of charge and does not deplete your food stamp funds. The advantage of using an ATM for finding out your balance is that you will not need to enter the card or account number, as you would on the phone or online. Instead, you will simply enter your card's PIN number, and receive an onscreen or paper print-out of your food stamp balance.
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