Maine EBT Card Balance: How to Check your Maine Pine Tree Card

If you don’t know how to check your Maine EBT Card Balance, you could be left out when food stamps are available to low-income families who meet the eligibility requirements for federal revenue. Read down to find out all you need to know before it’s too late!

Overview of Maine EBT Card Balance

The Food Supplement Program offers essential nutritional and food assistance for eligible low-income and vulnerable households.

Your benefits will be deposited electronically on an EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) card if you are accepted for the Maine Food Supplement Plan.

The Maine EBT card is identical to a regular ATM or debit card, also known as the Maine Pine Tree Card. Each month, food stamp benefits will be deposited on your EBT Card the same day.

You will use the Maine EBT Card benefits by 5 AM the morning after they are added to your EBT Card account.

Benefits can be used to make approved purchases of food at qualifying retail locations. Most department stores in Maine accept the Maine Pine Tree Card as payment.

About Maine’s EBT Card

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ( SNAP) offers savings of food aid that help low-income families purchase the food they need for healthy living.

The amount of benefits each household receives from food assistance is based on the Thrifty Food Plan, the US model diet plan. Department of Agriculture ( USDA) uses various household sizes to estimate the cost of food for one month.

Under SNAP rules, resources are weighed in deciding whether a household is eligible for SNAP, such as bank accounts, cash real estate, personal properties, cars, and so on.

Some resources are counted against the permissible threshold and others are not. The worker at the SNAP must explain what is counted.

The services of people seeking public assistance, SSI, and general assistance in certain areas are not counted toward the cap.

Eligibility Criteria for Maine EBT

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

(1) Those with a current bank balance (savings and checks combined) of less than $2,001.

(2) Those with a current bank balance (savings and checks combined) of less than $3,001 who share their household with an individual or persons 60 years of age or older, or with an individual with a disability.

To qualify, you must have an annual household income that is less than or equal to the following sums (before taxes):

Annual Household Income Limits (before taxes)
Household Size*	Maximum Income Level (Per Year)
1	$23,107
2	$31,284
3	$39,461
4	$47,638
5	$55,815
6	$63,992
7	$72,169
8	$80,346

Extra $8,177 for households with more than eight individuals. To ensure the most reliable recommendations always consult with the correct managing department.

All households may have countable resources worth up to $ 2,000 and are still eligible. Households can be liable for up to $3,000 if at least one member is 60 or older.

Most households must have income before and after deductions are permitted, at or below certain dollar limits.

However, households in which all members receive public assistance or SSI (or general assistance at certain locations) do not have to follow the eligibility requirements on income.

Maine EBT Payment Schedule

If the Last digit of your Birth Day ends in	Benefits are deposited on the
0 or 9	10th of the month
1 or 8	11th of the month
2 or 3	12th of the month
4 or 7	13th of the month
5 or 6	14th of the month

Once your benefits are deposited into your account, you can begin using them with your Maine EBT card to purchase eligible food items.

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 Buying Pilot) to encourage selected grocery stores to begin accepting electronic EBT cards for grocery shopping, including delivery to your doorway.

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

Where Can’t I use my Maine EBT Card?

You cannot use your Maine EBT Card at the following locations:

Casinos
Poker Rooms
Card Rooms
Smoke & Cannabis Shops
Adult Entertainment Businesses
Nightclubs/Saloons/Taverns
Tattoo & Piercing Shops
Spa/Massage Salons
Bingo Halls
Bail Bonds
Racetracks
Gun/Ammo Stores
Cruise Ships
Psychic Readers

Foods and Products not Eligible for Purchase with the Maine EBT Card

Hot foods from deli/foods to be eaten in-store
Vitamins or medication
Pet food
Paper or cleaning products
Alcohol/tobacco products.

For a full list of approved food items, see the Food Stamps Eligible Food List here

What’s the Maine Pine Tree Card?

The Maine Pine Tree Card is Maine’s 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.
You’ll get the Maine Pine Tree Card once you’re approved for benefits.
Maine’s EBT customer service number is 1-800-477-7428.

How to Check Maine EBT Card Balance

It is important to know the current EBT card balance on your Maine Pine Tree Card. This can help you plan out your grocery purchases throughout the month until the next time your state refills your EBT card.

There are different ways to check how much you have on your card. Here’s how to check the balance on your Pine Tree Card.

Option 1 – Check your Last Receipt

The first way to check the balance on the Pine Tree Card is to search for your last receipt. This is the fastest and simplest way to find the current balance on your Maine EBT Card.

Your balance will be displayed 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 still have a fast way to test your balance.

Option 2 – Login to your PinetreeCard Account

The second choice to test your Maine EBT Card balance is available online through the PinetreeCard website. Visit the PinetreeCard website to sign in, then enter your User ID and Password.

You will be able to access your current balance and transaction history once you’ve signed in. You can create a User Account. if you do not have a PinetreeCard account.

Option 3 – Check by Phone

The last way to check your Card balance is by telephone. Call your card back with the EBT Customer Service number (1-800-477-7428).

Hotline Customer Support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Type your sixteen (16) digit EBT card number after you call and you can hear your new food assistance or cash account balance(s).

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Maine EBT Card Balance: How to Check Your Maine Pine Tree Card