What Are SNAP EBT Cash Benefits and How Can You Apply?
Written by
Dawn Allcot
Edited by
Nicholas Morine
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Many people are familiar with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly called food stamps, which delivers money in the form of an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card to low-income families. The program allows low-income families to purchase food, non-alcoholic beverages, seeds, and ingredients used to make meals at home.
However, you may not have heard of the EBT Cash Benefits program, which provides funds to low-income families to use for a variety of living expenses. The most common EBT Cash program is the federally managed Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.
The program is federally funded but run by individual states. Previously known as welfare, TANF delivers funding to eligible individuals and families to help pay for food, housing, home energy and other utility bills, childcare, job training, transportation, and other living expenses. The funds are designed to help families and individuals who have fallen on hard times get back on their feet and recover financially.
TANF funds are distributed through an EBT Cash benefits card, which can be used for purchases at any store or website that accepts EBT as a form of payment. An EBT Cash card, unlike the EBT card issued for SNAP benefits, can also be used to withdraw cash from an ATM.
Who Qualifies for TANF or EBT Cash Benefits?
Income qualifications vary based on the state where you live. To qualify for TANF, you must be a resident of the state in which you are applying. Individuals who are either U.S. citizens, legal aliens, or qualified aliens may apply for TANF benefits.
Additionally, according to Benefits.gov, to qualify for TANF you must:
- Have a child 18 or younger or,
- Be pregnant or,
- Be 18 or younger and qualify as a head-of-household.
How Can You Apply for EBT Cash?
To apply for TANF benefits, you’ll want to reach out to the Department of Social Services or Family Assistance for your state. Each state has a different name for the administrators of the TANF program. You can find the contact information, including a phone number and website, for each state at the Office of the Administration for Children & Families website.
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