City Year LA Orientation Guide May. 2015 | Page 34
How do I use my EBT card?
1. Choose your groceries and go to the checkout lane.
Depending on the store, you may need to separate your eligible food items from non-eligible
items. Tell the clerk which benefits you want to use, “food stamp” or “cash.” You may use both
but you must swipe your card for each transaction.
2. Swipe your card through the Point-of-Sale (POS) terminal or hand your EBT Card to the clerk.
3. Enter your Personal Identification Number (PIN) on the keypad.
The terminal will show **** instead of the numbers you entered.
4. Press the “ENTER” key. If you’re using cash benefits and you want to get cash back, tell the clerk the
amount of cash you want to get back.
5. The clerk enters the amount of your food stamp or cash benefit purchase. If the amount is correct, you
press the “OK” or “YES” key.
6. You will get a copy of a printed receipt
7. Get and keep your receipt showing:
Store name and address
Amount of your purchase
Your new balances
*You cannot be charged a fee to use your food stamps.
How can I check my benefits account online? You can check your EBT benefits on the EBT
Client Website. This website is a resource for California EBT cardholders to:
check individual account balances
view transaction history detail
check claim status
Locate retailers and automated teller machines (ATMs) that accept the EBT card.
You must have a User ID and password to log into your account. To establish or change a User ID and
password for this site OR if you do not remember your password or have replaced your card, please visit the
EBT Client Website.
Which stores accept the EBT card? Most supermarkets, convenience stores, and food co-ops
accept EBT cards. Look for the Quest® mark, or a "We Accept EBT" or "We Welcome EBT Benefits" sign.
1. You can use the EBT Retailer Locator to find stores in your
area that accept EBT benefits: EBT Retailer Locator
(USDA)
a. Click the "Select Location" button
b. Enter your street address or zip code
c. Click "Locate Retailers."
2. You can also use California’s EBT Client Website Locator to
locate stores and ATMs that accept EBT benefits: California
EBT Locator – Where Can I Use My EBT Card?
a. Enter the zip code
b. Enter the city or county
c. Specify what you are looking for (food, cash, and
restaurant meals locations).
Many farmers' markets also accept EBT cards. Please see the following section on how to locate EBT-friendly
farmers’ markets.
34 | C o r p s M e m b e r O r i e n t a t i o n & R e s o u r c e G u i d e
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