Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services
Skip Navigation
Behavioral Health Children and Family Services Developmental Disabilities Medicaid and Long Term Care Public Health Veterans' Homes

Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) Program

Subscribe Subscribe to this page

Food Stamp Program clients use their EBT card to buy food at authorized stores.   Nebraska’s card shows the State Capitol’s Sower statue outlined against a blue sky.

EBT Operations

Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) employees determine if a household is eligible to receive Food Stamp Program benefits, and what amount the benefits will be. This information is sent to J. P. Morgan Electronic Financial Services to establish an account for the household. DHHS employees mail the EBT cards to clients.

To purchase food, the client slides the EBT card through a terminal or Point of Sale (POS) device at the store’s checkout counter. The client enters a unique number (the personal identification number or PIN) to verify identity. The transaction deducts the purchase amount immediately from the client’s EBT account.

Each day J. P. Morgan totals all food stamp purchases and deposits funds into the bank accounts of the food retailers.

Picture of EBT Card

pdf file Instructions to Change PIN

pdf file Get a Replacement Card

Client EBT Account Information

Retailer Information

pdf file EBT Materials Request Form

Food Stamp Benefit Issuance Schedule

If you qualify, your benefits are added to your EBT card between the 1st and the 5th calendar day of each month. Benefits are available at 8:00 a.m. Central Standard Time on the scheduled date. The last digit of the head-of-household’s Social Security Number (SSN) determines the date your benefits are available.

If last digit of SSN (head of household) is: Benefits are available on the:

1 or 2

1st of each month

3 or 4

2nd of each month

5 or 6

3rd of each month

7 or 8

4th of each month

9 or 0

5th of each month

Advantages to the EBT System

The EBT system provides many advantages to food stamp clients, food retailers, banks, and the general public. 

  • Food stamp clients enjoy increased security and reduced stigma.
  • Food stamp benefits are issued over the first five calendar days each month (even weekends or holidays).
  • The Nebraska EBT card may be used in any other state of the USA, the District of Columbia, Guam and the Virgin Islands.
  • All transactions are efficient, accurate, and traceable.
  • Stores do not give cash change back to clients.
  • Stores receive deposits to their bank accounts automatically.

Top of Page

History

Federal legislation in 1996 required all states to change from paper food stamp coupons to an EBT card by October 1, 2002. The EBT card functions much like a debit card but can only be used for purchasing food items.

Nebraska converted its 93 counties from paper food coupons to the current EBT system February through September of 2002.

Top of Page

Useful links:

Nebraska Food Stamp Program (Information and Application Form)

Local DHHS Offices (Where to send your Food Stamp Application)

U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Stamp Program

Special Investigations Unit (File a complaint about suspected Food Stamp/EBT fraud)

Top of Page

For more information, contact:
Tom Ryan, EBT Coordinator
DHHS - Financial Services
P.O. Box 95026
Lincoln, NE 68509
Phone: (402) 471-8043
E-mail: tom.ryan@dhhs.ne.gov

Documents in pdf file PDF format require the use of Adobe Acrobat Reader
which can be downloaded for free from Adobe Systems, Inc.

Financial Services Page