Texas EBT Card Balance: Everything to Know about Lone Star Card
Many Texans struggle to make ends meet every month. There’s still nothing left after paying for rent, utilities, transportation, and child care to buy healthy food.
But that shouldn’t be the way it is. Every month, hundreds of thousands of families across the state turn to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC).
For help in feeding their families through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ( SNAP).
The Texas Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) network uses the Lone Star Card to provide access to food benefits and cash benefits of the Supplementary Nutrition Assistance Program ( SNAP)
And Temporary Assistance for Vulnerable Families (TANF).
The Lone Star Card is used along the same lines as every other debit card. Swipe your Lone Star Card through the store’s machine and insert your Personal Identification Number ( PIN)
To pay for accepted SNAP or TANF products.
The purchase amount is deducted from your Lone Star Card account.
If you apply and are eligible for TANF or SNAP benefits, you will receive a Lone Star Card from the benefits office or by mail from your local Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC).
So, if you have a Texas EBT card and you need to check your account balance, we’ve listed everything you need to know about your Texas EBT card and how to test your balance in this article.
What’s the Lone Star Card?
- The Lone Star Card is Texas’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.
- Lone Star Card = 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.
- You’ll get the Lone Star Card once you’re approved for benefits.
- Texas’s EBT customer service number is 1-800-777-7328.
About Lone Star Card
SNAP is a federally sponsored initiative that allows families with low incomes to purchase healthy food from local grocery stores.
SNAP assistance is available for eligible households, the disabled, and single adults. Applicants must reside in Texas and have to apply to the county they reside in.
Eligibility
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) establishes all eligibility and certification policies. Your eligibility for benefits will depend on your situation on the following criteria:
- Residence
- Citizenship
- Employment Services
- Work Requirement (for individuals aged 18-50)
- Resources
- Income
- Social Security Numbers
Although Benefits.gov has the ability to pre-screen your eligibility at a high level, you must work with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) office in your local county to confirm your eligibility.
You will need to apply for benefits to do this, and participate in an interview in person / by phone.
Program Requirements
To qualify for this benefit program, you must be a Texas resident and fall into one of two groups:
(1) those with a current bank balance (savings and checks combined) below $2,001, or
(2) those with a current bank balance (savings and checks combined) below $3,001 who share their household with a person or persons 60 years of age or over.
Or with a person with a disability (a person with a disability)
To qualify, you must have an annual household income that is less than or equal to the following amounts (before taxes):
| 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.
Texas EBT Payment Schedule
The Texas 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 the Last digit of your EDG Number is | Benefits are deposited on the |
| 0 | 1st of the month |
| 1 | 3rd of the month |
| 2 | 5th of the month |
| 3 | 6th of the month |
| 4 | 7th of the month |
| 5 | 9th of the month |
| 6 | 11th of the month |
| 7 | 12th of the month |
| 8 | 13th of the month |
| 9 | 15th of the month |
Once your benefits are deposited into your account, you can begin using them with your Texas EBT card to purchase eligible food items.
Stores that Take EBT Online for Delivery
As you may be aware, a pilot program (Online Purchasing Pilot) has been launched by the United States Department of Agriculture.
To allow select grocery stores to start accepting online 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
What Can I Buy with EBT?
Food stamps may be used to purchase foods, snacks, and seeds or plants that grow food. You can not use food stamps to purchase alcohol.
Tobacco products, supplements, live animals, frozen foods, or other household things that are not foods.
WIC food packages (Women, Girls & Girls) usually contain rice, coffee, eggs, milk, peanut butter, dried and canned beans, tofu, fruits and vegetables, and whole wheat bread.
WIC packages include canned fish and cheese for breastfeeding moms, as well as baby food. For a full list of foodstuffs approved see the Food Stamps Eligible Food List here.
Tips for Using your Card
- Take your card to each WIC appointment so staff can reload your food benefits. Use your Texas WIC card at most grocery stores.
- Ask your WIC staff which stores accept the Texas WIC card.
- Use all of your benefits before the end of the month. Any food benefits left on your WIC card don’t roll over to the next month.
- If your Texas WIC card doesn’t work, call your local WIC staff or take it to the clinic.
- If your card is lost or stolen, call and report it to 800-942-3678 so we can protect your benefits by canceling your card. It can take up to six business days to replace your card at the WIC clinic.
How to Check your Texas EBT Card Balance
There are three options for checking your Lone Star Card balance. Here they are:
Option 1 – Last Purchase Receipt
If you maintained the last receipt for payment, you will look at the bottom of your receipt and find the latest balance on your EBT account.
That is one of the best ways to get your card’s most up-to-date balance. In addition, you can also get used to having your EBT purchase receipts in the same location to make potential transactions easier.
That way, you can reference your last payment receipt if you’re confused about your card balance.
Option 2 – Call Customer Service
You also have the right to call customer service line Texas EBT Card and get your card balance. Telephone number is 1-800-777-7328.
Option 3 – Check Your Balance at the Store
You can even test your balance at a store before buying anything if you’re approved to do so by the shop.
To do so, show your card to the cashier and ask if they are in a position to test your card’s balance before making a purchase.
Disagreeing with the Balance
If you think the balance is incorrect, you’ll need to contact the HHSC to provide the department with as much detail as possible to check it.
HHSC will send a letter to your home reminding you of the results after the analysis ends. You should always keep the most recent receipt with your Lone Star Card to avoid any disputing balances.
Conclusion
Through your online account at YourTexasBenefits.com, you can view recent card activity and check the balance of your Lone Star Card. When visiting YourTexasBenefits.com, click “Log In” and then “Create a new account” if you don’t already have one.
We hope this article has been helpful to you! Please let us know in the comments section below if you have any additional questions about the Texas EBT card or need help finding your EBT balance.
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