What number do i call for food stamps

To check your balance, reset your PIN or report a lost/stolen EBT card, call the EBT Vendor at 1-888-328-9271.

HHSC gives Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food benefits and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) cash help payments through the Lone Star Card. It's a plastic card that's used like a debit card to pay for items.

If your card is lost or stolen, or if you forgot your PIN, call us as soon as you can at 800-777-7328.

HHSC gives SNAP food benefits and TANF cash benefits through the Lone Star Card. This is a plastic card that's used like a debit card. Each month, your approved monthly benefit amount is placed in the card's account.

You must apply and get approved for SNAP or TANF benefits. After you are approved, we will give you a card to use.

To learn how to apply for benefits, visit YourTexasBenefits.com.

Call the Lone Star Card Help Desk at 800-777-7328.

If you have a hearing or speech disability, call 7-1-1 or any relay service.

Call your local 2-1-1 or log into YourTexasBenefits.com.

If you need someone else to help you buy things, you should ask for a second card to give to someone you trust. The money that person spends on the second card will come out of your Lone Star Card account.

You are the only person who can use your card and PIN. The person with the second card is the only person who can use the second card and PIN.

Before you can use your card, you must:

Activate your card.
Call 800-777-7328 to activate your card.
Pick or change your PIN.
- You need 4 numbers for your PIN.
- Pick numbers that are easy for you to remember, but hard for others to guess.
- If you already have a Lone Star Card PIN, you can keep it or change it.
  *Important: Don't write your PIN on your Lone Star Card. Don't keep your PIN with your Lone Star Card.
  Sign the back of your card.

You can't use your card until you sign it.

You can use your card as soon as you have your PIN and your benefits are in your account. To make sure benefits are in your account, call 800-777-7328.

SNAP benefits will be put into your account once a month. The day you get benefits is printed on your award letter (TF0001).

TANF benefits will be put into your account once a month. The last number in your TANF Eligibility Determination Group number tells what day you get your benefits.

You can find your EDG number on the TF0001 form we sent you saying that you can get TANF benefits. If you can't find it, call us at 800-777-7328.

When you get your TANF benefits each month

If your TANF EDG number ends in	You will get your benefits on the
0, 1, 2, 3	1st
4, 5, 6	2nd
7, 8, 9	3rd

You can buy food, seeds and plants to grow food.

You can't use SNAP to buy alcoholic drinks, tobacco products, hot food or any food sold to eat in the store. You also can't use SNAP to buy items that are not food, such as soap, paper products, medicines, vitamins, supplies for the home, grooming items, pet food and cosmetics. You can't use SNAP to pay for deposits on refundable containers.

To learn more, visit the USDA's SNAP website.

If you get TANF benefits:

You can use TANF to buy food and other items such as clothes, housing, furniture, transportation, laundry, medical supplies and supplies for the home.

You can also use TANF to get cash from a store. There might be a fee and some stores only let you take out a certain amount at one time.

Lone Star Card fees

Using SNAP to buy items	No fee
Using TANF to buy items	No fee
Getting cash back when using TANF to buy items	No fee
Taking $49 or less out of your TANF account	No fee
Taking $50 or more out of your TANF account	Two free per month, then 50 cents each

You can't use TANF to buy things such as alcoholic drinks, tobacco items, lottery tickets, adult entertainment, guns ammunition, bingo and illegal drugs.

You can use your card at any store that has a Lone Star Card sign. If you don't see it, ask a store employee.

This is what the Lone Star Card sign looks like:

Most large and medium-sized chain stores and many smaller stores that sell food items take the Lone Star Card. Find a store near you that takes SNAP.

Swipe your card in the store's payment machine.
Pick "EBT".
Enter your PIN. The cashier cannot enter your PIN for you. Never give your PIN to anyone.
Keep the receipt — it shows the amount left on your card.

Your last receipt will show your balance.

To find out how much is in your account, you can:

Call 800-777-7328.
Check your receipt after buying something.
Check your balance at the store before buying anything, if the store allows it.

You can also check your Lone Star Card balance and view recent card activity through your online account at YourTexasBenefits.com. If you do not have an account, you can set one up by going to YourTexasBenefits.com, clicking "Log in" and then "Create a new account."

Texas HHS does not support using another website or mobile app to check your Lone Star Card balance or review card activity, and doing so could expose you to security or fraud risks.

Call 800-777-7328 and let us know.

Always get your receipt from the store clerk and keep it. If you think there is an error on your Lone Star Card account, call 800-777-7328. You must let us know within 90 days from the date the error was made. If you report an error, we will send a letter telling you what action we took on your account.

Call us right away at 800-777-7328.

Your card will be "canceled". This means that no one — not even you — can use your card.

If you need a new card, we will mail you one. You'll get it in seven calendar days. Your PIN and balance will transfer to your new card.

If someone steals your benefits before you call us at 800-777-7328, you lose those benefits. Someone can steal your benefits if they have your card and know your PIN.

Call us right away at 800-777-7328.

You can pick your new PIN by calling any time, day or night.

Getting a new PIN makes the old one not work anymore. If you are unable to pick a PIN by phone, you can ask us to send you a new PIN in the mail. You'll get it in about a week.

If you need help, give the cashier your card and tell them which account to charge — SNAP or TANF.

Don't give your PIN to the cashier. Never give your PIN to anyone.

You won't lose your benefits if you don't use them all in one month. Benefits you don't use stay in your account for a year from the date they are put into your account. The next time benefits are put into your account, they are added to what is still in there.

Take your Lone Star Card with you.

If you are moving out of state or do not intend to return to Texas, you must report your status change within 10 days by calling 2-1-1 or logging into YourTexasBenefits.com.

If you get SNAP benefits:

You should be able to use your card at stores that take food benefits in other states. If it doesn't work, call 800-777-7328.

To find a store in another state that takes food benefits, you can:

If you get TANF benefits:

You should be able to use your card at stores that accept cash benefits in other states.

To be safe, withdraw your money from your cash account before you leave Texas.

Before shopping at a store, find out if the store charges a fee and how much they charge.

If your card doesn't work, call 800-777-7328.

Misusing benefits on purpose is a federal crime.

If you misuse benefits, your benefits can be taken away.

To report a store or person misusing benefits, call the Office of Inspector General at 800-436-6184.

If you wish to report a change of address within Tennessee, please download the Change Report Form, fill it out, and provide verification of your new address or contact the Family Assistance Service Center. Address verification documents can include electric bill, gas bill, lease/rent receipt, etc.

If you wish to report your move out of Tennessee, you should contact the Family Assistance Service Center.

You can reach the Family Assistance Service Center at 1-866-311-4287 Monday - Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m Central Time.

To check the status of your case, You could first try our CaseConnect app on the One DHS Customer Portal. If you do not already have a One DHS Customer Portal account, you will need to create one to access services (e.g. CaseConnect).

Otherwise, please send us an email (form below).

If possible, be prepared to provide your case number and/or Social Security Number to the DHS Representative so that they can quickly access your case information.

To check to see if your benefits are open, try our CaseConnect app on the One DHS Customer Portal. If you do not already have a One DHS account, you will need to create one to access services (e.g. CaseConnect).

Otherwise, please send us an email (form below).

If possible, be prepared to provide your case number and/or Social Security Number to the DHS Representative so that they can quickly access your case information.

You can apply by submitting an application online, visiting your local county office, or by downloading and printing an application (English, Spanish, Arabic, and Somali) and mailing the application to the local office. You can also have an application mailed to you. It is important that you file an application as soon as possible since your benefits may go back to the date of your application. If you have received benefits in another state benefits will not go back to date of application. Once the local county office receives your application, they will then schedule for an appointment within 7-10 days. If you have not received a reply within that time, please contact the Family Assistance Service Center at 1-866-311-4287.

If you are applying for SNAP (food stamp) benefits, the documents listed below may be needed to complete the application process.

YOU MAY NEED PAPERS THAT SHOW:

Social Security Number
Your Identification (Example: driver's license, school ID with photo, Passport, Resident Alien Card, I-94 card, voter's registration card)
Where you live (Example: lease agreement, utility bill, phone bill, or driver’s license with your address on it)
Income (Example: check stubs, employer statement, award letters)
Shelter costs (Example: mortgage payments, property tax, homeowner’s insurance, rent receipt, lease agreement)
Costs of utilities (Example: electric bill, water bill, gas bill)

You may be asked to provide more information during your interview. Your eligibility counselor will explain what information is needed, how to get it and help you if you need assistance.

Please contact the Family Assistance Service Center at 1-866-311-4287 to speak with a DHS Representative prior to the time of your appointment.

Program Evaluation is a quality control process setup by the Federal government to gauge how well Tennessee is managing the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP) program. Each month, cases are randomly selected for review. If your case is selected, a reviewer will look over your case and make an appointment to see you. During this interview, the reviewer will ask about your living situation and request copies of verifications. If you receive SNAP, you are expected to cooperate with the State or Federal reviewers who conduct the program evaluation. Failure to cooperate could result in a penalty or loss of your SNAP benefits.

To pick up an application at the county office, please use the Family Assistance Office locator to locate your county office. You can also have a friend or relative pick up an application and bring it to you.

To have an application mailed to you, please call the Family Assistance Service Center at 1 (866) 311-4287. You can also use the Family Assistance Office locator to contact your county office. It is important to confirm that the office has your correct address.

To print an application at home, please access the online application in English, Spanish, Arabic, and Somali. Once you print your application, fill out the information to the best of your knowledge and provide the completed application to your county office by mail, fax, or in-person. Please use the Family Assistance Office locator to locate the address and/or fax number of your county office.

Appointment times

If you missed your appointment and were asked to reschedule, please call the Family Assistance Service Center at 1 (866) 311-4287 as soon as possible.

If you would like to change your appointment time, please call the Family Assistance Service Center at 1 (866) 311- 4287 prior to your appointment time.

If your appointment time arrived and you did not receive a phone call, there may be an issue with your appointment time. To check the status of your appointment, please use the Family Assistance Office locator to contact your county office. You can also call the Family Assistance Service Center at 1 (866) 311-4287.

Checking SNAP (Food Stamps) or TANF (Families First) case status

To check the status of your case, you may use CaseConnect on the One DHS Customer Portal, or you may call the Family Assistance Service Center at 1 (866) 311-4287. If possible, be prepared to provide your case number and/or Social Security Number to the phone representative so that they can quickly access your case information.

If you do not already have a One DHS account, you will need to create one to access services (e.g. CaseConnect).

Additionally, you may also use the Family Assistance Office locator to contact your county office.

Confirming verification status

Your case manager has up to 10 days to process your verifications. To check whether or not your case manager received and processed your verifications, please call the Family Assistance Service Center at 1 (866) 311-4287.

Reporting a lost, damaged, or stolen EBT card

To get a new EBT card ordered, please call the EBT Customer Service Center at 1 (888) 997-9444. It is important to confirm that the address they have listed for you is correct.

Changing your address/transferring your case

To change your address or transfer your case, please call the Family Assistance Service Center at 1 (866) 311-4287. It is important to confirm that the office has your correct address.

Additionally, you may also use the Family Assistance Office locator to notify your county office.

What happens to your SNAP (Food Stamps) or TANF (Families First) benefits after moving out of Tennessee

If you no longer live in the state that issues your benefits, you need to report your move to your county office. You are no longer eligible to continue receiving benefits from Tennessee if you move; however, you can still use any EBT benefits that remain on your card.

To provide feedback about SNAP or Families First, please call the Family Assistance Service Center at 1 (866) 311-4287.

To provide feedback about your EBT card, please call the EBT Customer Service line at 1 (888) 997-9444.

Need help finding the right information? Click the chat icon in the red circle located in the lower right corner of this screen to find many answers related to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs(SNAP), Families First Program and contact information.