The Providers guide to EBT in North Carolina (2024)

FAQs

What disqualifies you from getting food stamps in North Carolina? ›

You must be a North Carolina resident and a U.S. citizen or have certain legal status. Undocumented immigrants are not eligible. You must have a Social Security number or have applied for one. People convicted of certain drug-related felonies may not be eligible.

The amount of benefits each household receives is based on several eligibility factors such as number of people in the household, total income, and allowable deductions. Most households do not receive the maximum benefit amount. How did COVID-19 change FNS benefits?

It was formerly known as the Food Stamp Program. The average SNAP benefit for a single person in 2023 is $195 per month, with a maximum of $281. The average benefit for a family of four is $684, with a maximum of $939, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP).

If you do not agree to pay the amount of overpayment, DSS could sue you for the amount owed. If this happens, you can call our office for further assistance. To pay an overpayment, you can agree to pay the amount in monthly installments. Usually, DSS will ask you to pay off the overpayment in one year.

Once we receive your application, it can take up to 30 days to receive your Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, which is how you'll receive your benefit payments. The application requires documents and information about your household that you may need to gather.

While P-EBT ends this summer, the FNS program is still available to North Carolina families. Families with children under 5 may be eligible for the WIC program and can learn more at www.ncdhhs.gov/ncwic. For more information on P-EBT, frequently asked questions or additional updates, visit www.ncdhhs.gov/PEBT.

An adult ages 19-64 may be eligible if the family income is $2,351/month or less. An adult ages 65+ may be eligible for full Medicaid if the family income is $1,704/month or less, and for other programs if the family income is $2,300/month or less. Additional requirements apply.

Do NC SNAP benefits expire? ›

Any SNAP benefits in your SNAP Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) account at the end of the month will be carried over into the next month. However, if you do not use your SNAP benefits at all for 9 months, then they will be permanently removed from your account.

Generally speaking, the EBT cards are used to distribute welfare cash benefits function like any other debit card. They can be used at any retail establishment that accepts debit cards and can withdraw cash.

North Carolina 's Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, called Work First, is based on the premise that parents have a responsibility to support themselves and their children. Through Work First, parents can get short-term training and other services to help them become employed and self-sufficient .

If a subsequent conviction of a Class H or I controlled substance felony occurs during the six-month disqualification period, the individual is ineligible to receive FNS benefits until six months has elapsed from the most recent conviction.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

All adults ages 16 to 59 who are not otherwise exempt must comply with a general work requirement to receive SNAP benefits: they must register to work, accept a job if offered, and not quit a job without good cause.

If you are an ABAWD between the ages of 18 through 52 and you do not comply with the work requirements or meet an exemption, your food stamp benefits may end after you received them for 3 months.