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Virginia EBT Card Balance: Steps to Knowing your EBT Card Balance

 – Virginia EBT Card Balance – 

The Supplementary Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a perfect way to combat hunger for the citizens of Virginia. It helps low-income families purchase coupons for healthy food and Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards.

Virginia EBT Card Balance

SNAP recipients spend their benefits on buying qualifying food in any authorized retail food stores. The system is the pillar of services for food assistance which offers good support to poor families and others who make the transition from welfare to employment.

To qualify for this benefit plan, you must be a resident of the state of Virginia and fall into one of two groups:

(1) those with a current bank balance (savings and checks combined) of less than $2.001, or

(2) those with a current bank balance (savings and checks combined) of less than $3.001 who share their household with a person(s) 60 years of age or older, or with a person with a disability.

What’s the Virginia EBT Card?

  • EBT = electronic benefits transfer.
  • EBT card = a card that looks and works like a debit or credit card but is loaded with food stamps and/or cash benefits. You can use it at stores that accept EBT.
  • Virginia’s EBT customer service number is 1-866-281-2448.
  • You’ll get the Virginia EBT Card once you’re approved for benefits.

How to Qualify & be Approved

In order to qualify for the Virginia EBT, you must have an annual household income (before taxes) that is less than or equal to the following amounts:

Annual Household Income Limits (before taxes)
Household Size* Maximum Income Level (Per Year)
1 $16,237
2 $21,983
3 $27,729
4 $33,475
5 $39,221
6 $44,967
7 $50,713
8 $56,459

*For households with more than eight people, add $5,746 per additional person. Always check with the appropriate managing agency to ensure the most accurate guidelines.

List of Stores That Take EBT Online for Delivery

As you may know, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has introduced a pilot program (Online Purchasing Pilot) to allow select grocery stores to start accepting electronic EBT cards for grocery shopping, including home delivery to your house.

The grocery stores listed below have been approved for the pilot which will give EBT cardholders the opportunity to buy food for delivery online.

  • Amazon
  • Dash’s Market
  • FreshDirect
  • Hart’s Local Grocers
  • Hy-Vee, Inc.
  • Safeway
  • ShopRite
  • Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
  • Wright’s Markets, Inc

Virginia EBT Payment Schedule

The Virginia EBT Card holds the food assistance benefits assigned to you each month. Your benefits will be deposited onto your EBT card according to the schedule below:

If your Case Number ends in Benefits are deposited on the
0-3 1st of the month
4-5 4th of the month
6-7 7th of the month
8-9 9th of the month

Once your benefits are deposited into your account, you can begin using them with your Virginia EBT card to purchase eligible food items. For a full list of approved food items, see the Food Stamps Eligible Food List here.

How to Check Virginia EBT Card Balance

How to Check Virginia EBT Card Balance

Here’s how to check the balance on your Virginia Benefits Identification Card.

Option 1 – Check your Last Receipt

The first way to check the balance on your VA EBT Card is to search your last receipt. Here is the fastest and simplest way to check the new balance on the Virginia EBT Card.

Your balance will be shown at the bottom of your most recent grocery store or receipt from an ATM. You can get used to having your most recent EBT receipt, so before you shop, you always have a fast way to test your balance.

Option 2 – Login to your Connect EBT Account

The second way to test the balance of your Virginia EBT Card is online. The Virginia Connect EBT website helps you to find out your EBT Card balance online.

Type your User ID and Password on the left side of the page once you are on the web. To access your Virginia EBT Card balance, click the “Login” button when it is complete.

You will be able to access your current balance and transaction history once you’ve signed in. If you don’t have an EBT account Linked, you can build a user account.

Option 3 – Check by Phone

The last way to check your balance on your Virginia EBT Card is by phone. Call the EBT Customer Service Number at the back of your card (1-866-281-2448). Hotline Customer Support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Make sure your EBT Card code, 4-digit PIN, and Social Security Number (SSN) are ready before you call. To obtain your current information about the balance, you must include this information.

Type your sixteen (16) digit EBT card number after you call and you can hear your new food assistance or cash account balance(s).

Virginia EBT Frequently Asked Questions

Here is a list of the most frequently asked questions about the Virginia EBT Card.

Can I Use My EBT Card in Other Counties and the Other States?

Your EBT card can operate at any store or ATM in the United States that accepts EBT Cards, as well as the District of Columbia, the United States.

And Guam and the Virgin Islands. Furthermore, there are no rules against using the EBT card outside of the home state.

Nevertheless, you are expected to inform your local county public assistance office of any change of address.

How Much Will I Get on My Ebt Card Each Month?

The amount of benefits you receive on your EBT Card each month is determined by your income and household size.

You can use the Maximum Monthly SNAP Amount Chart to find out the highest amount of benefits you can receive each month.

I Have Seen People Purchase Non-Food Items with An Ebt Card. I Thought Snap Was only For Food?

Yes, SNAP benefits are only for food. However, some people have an EBT card for their TANF (cash assistance) benefits.

You can use TANF benefits to purchase food and non-food items. For information on TANF eligibility, contact your local government benefits assistance office.

Can I Have Someone Else Help Me Shop Using My EBT Account?

Ask your local Virginia Food Stamps caseworker about setting up an Authorized Representative (AR). The AR will have a separate card with his or her own account number and PIN.

In addition, the EBT system is able to track which card is used at any time. The AR will have access to your entire benefit account.

If I Don’t Use All of The Benefits I Received This Month, Will These Benefits Still Be Available to Me Next Month?

Yes, benefits that are not used in the month issued will stay in the EBT account. You may use these benefits in the following months.

What Do I Do if I Suspect Someone Has Stolen Benefits from My Ebt Card Account?

If your card is lost, stolen or damaged, please call toll-free at 1-866-281-2448 to call the Virginia EBT Card Customer Service number.

After claiming that your card has been lost, stolen or damaged, you will be sent a replacement.

Replacement cards are to be issued within three to five business days. You can also contact your nearest caseworker at DSS to inform them of this.

How Do I Report a Store or Person that I Think Is Misusing Food or Cash Benefits (committing Fraud)?

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, click here.

What Items Am I Allowed to Purchase with My EBT Card?

For information on items that you are allowed to purchase with EBT food benefits, click here. Cash aid may be used to purchase anything that can be legally purchased with currency (cash).

Can I Go to A Bank Teller and Withdraw Money from My EBT Account?

No, you may only withdraw money from an ATM or through a cash-back/cash-only withdrawal at a participating store. Additionally, bank tellers do not have information or access to EBT accounts.

Are There Any Fees for Using My Virginia EBT Card?

There is never a charge for using your card to buy food. However, any Bank surcharges (if any) for using cash machines will be taken from your account.

How Do I Buy Food and Items with My EBT Card?

Here’s how to use your EBT Card to purchase food items:

  1. Swipe your card at the store’s payment machine.
  2. Then select “EBT” from the card options.
  3. Next, enter your 4-digit PIN.
  4. Complete the transaction and take your receipt – it will show your current EBT Card balance at the bottom.

Conclusion

We hope that this article has been helpful on how to test your Virginia EBT Card Balance. If so, by using the “Share this” button below, we invite you to share this article with anyone who might also find it helpful.

If you have more concerns about the EBT Card and the qualifications and verification process for the Virginia SNAP, please leave them in the comments below. We’re just happy to assist!

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