SNAP benefits: How many EBT cards can one person have? And one family?

The US has various economic aid initiatives for low-income families, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, popularly known as SNAP. Through this, the government provides food stamps to the neediest families through a deposit on an electronic benefits transfer or EBT debit card.

Who administers SNAP?

Although SNAP is a federal program, its administration falls under state governments, who are in charge of issuing payments and granting the respective cards to beneficiaries.

The deposit of SNAP coupons is made monthly, while the exact amount will depend on the situation of each family, as well as the number of members in the household.

EBT cards are accepted in stores, markets on wheels and selected supermarkets. You can also enter them as a payment method in various online purchases whenever you purchase food for the home, such as fruits, vegetables, cereals, seeds, meat, poultry, fish or bread.

READ ALSO: Walmart will compensate scammed customers

SNAP benefits: How many EBT cards can one person have? And one family?

Because SNAP is a form of financial support provided by the government, EBT cards are limited to one active account per person. In other words, eligible people can only have one active EBT card in their name. This rule was implemented to prevent abuse and reduce scams, in addition to guaranteeing the delivery of benefits to those who really need them.

READ ALSO: Yes, you have to pay taxes on a side job

There are specific cases where a family consisting of more than one adult can have access to more than one EBT card, but that will depend on the state’s eligibility rules. If your family meets certain requirements in your state, your household may be issued two cards.

There are also situations in which a person may have more than one EBT card in their name, either because they receive other benefits or because their card had to be replaced due to a theft or state card transfer.