Louisiana EBT Card Balance: Steps to Check your Louisiana EBT Balance
– Louisiana EBT Card Balance –
Children’s and Family Services Department of Louisiana (DCFS) is responsible for providing Louisiana Food Stamp benefits to licensed low-income households.
Such benefits enable households to purchase the food they need for healthy living. If you are eligible for food assistance in Louisiana, your benefits will be automatically deposited on an EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) card.
The Louisiana EBT card is similar to a standard ATM or debit card, also known as the Louisiana Purchase Card. Benefits from food stamps are deposited on your Louisiana Payment Card within the first 14 days of the month.
You can access the Purchase Card benefits by 5AM the morning after they are posted to your EBT Card account.
Benefits can be used to make approved purchases of food at qualifying retail locations. Many grocery stores in Louisiana all over accept the Louisiana Purchase Card as payment.
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Louisiana Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ( SNAP) provides monthly benefits that help low-income households purchase the food they need for healthy living.
he program’s goal is to promote the general welfare of all eligible households and to safeguard the health and well-being of the population by giving benefits. In
most families, SNAP payments pay for just a fraction of their food budgets; they often need to use their own funds to purchase food enough to last the entire month.
The Food and Nutrition Service of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) bases the number of SNAP benefits that a household is entitled to receive on the amount of the Thrifty Food Plan established.
These are existing estimates of the real costs of delivering healthy yet affordable meals for a family. Those are the maximum sums a family with zero net monthly income will earn each month in the SNAP benefits.
If a household meets all eligibility criteria, the size of the SNAP benefits depends on both the number of individuals in the household and the size of net monthly income left after all eligible deductions have been subtracted.
What’s the Louisiana Purchase Card?
- The Louisiana Purchase Card is Louisiana’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 Louisiana Purchase Card once you’re approved for benefits.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for this incentive plan, you must be a resident of the state of Louisiana 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 individual or persons 60 years of age or older, or with an individual with a disability;
For 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 | $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.
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Louisiana EBT Payment Schedule
The Louisiana EBT Card (also known as the Louisiana Purchase Card) carries the food assistance benefits assigned to you each month. Your benefits will be deposited into your EBT card according to the schedule below:
| If your Social Security Number ends in | Benefits are deposited on the |
| 0 | 5th of the month |
| 1 | 6th of the month |
| 2 | 7th of the month |
| 3 | 8th of the month |
| 4 | 9th of the month |
| 5 | 10th of the month |
| 6 | 11th of the month |
| 7 | 12th of the month |
| 8 | 13th of the month |
| 9 | 14th of the month |
Once your benefits are deposited into your account, you can begin using them with your Louisiana EBT card to purchase eligible food items.
Stores That Take EBT Online for Delivery
As you may know, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has started a pilot program (Online Purchasing Pilot) to allow select grocery stores to start accepting EBT cards online for grocery shopping, including delivery to your doorstep.
The grocery stores listed below have been approved for the pilot that will offer the ability for EBT cardholders to buy food online for delivery.
- 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 Louisiana EBT Card?
You cannot use your Louisiana 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 Louisiana 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.
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How to Check your Louisiana EBT Card Balance
There are three options for checking your Louisiana Purchase Card balance. Here they are:
Option 1 – Locate Your Last Purchase Receipt
One of the best ways to check the balance of your Louisiana EBT Card is to find the most recent transaction receipt or ATM receipt (only for TANF receivers).
You’ll find the current balance at the bottom of the receipt on your account. Be sure to save all of your recent Louisiana Purchase Card receipts to check your balance using this method.
Option 2 – Check Your Purchase Card Balance Via Phone
Another choice is to test your card balance by calling toll-free phone number 1-888-997-1117 for the Louisiana EBT Purchase Card Customer Support support.
Representatives are available 24 hours a day , 7 days a week to help you get your current card balance back.
Make sure your EBT Card number, 4-digit PIN, and Social Security Number (SSN) are ready before you call. To provide details on your Purchase Card balance, you must include this details.
Option 3 – Check Your Purchase Card Balance Online
The last option online to check the balance on the Louisiana Purchase Card is. Louisiana Connect EBT website helps you to find out your EBT Card balance online. Once you are on the site, enter your User ID and Password to access your balance on your Purchase Card.
Upon complete, click on the “Login” button. Select the Create a Louisiana Connect EBT User Account button on the homepage if you do not have a Louisiana Connect EBT address. You can see instructions for creating an account to access your Louisiana EBT Payment Card online.
Louisiana EBT Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of the most frequently asked questions about the Louisiana EBT Card.
I Have Seen People Purchase Non-Food Items with An EBT Card. I Thought Snap Was only For Food?
Indeed, the SNAP payments are for food only. Some people have an EBT card for their TANF (cash help) benefits, however.
You can use the TANF advantages to buy food and non-food items. Contact your local government Benefit Assistance office for information on eligibility for TANF.
Can I Use My EBT Card in Other Counties and Other States?
Your EBT card should operate at any store or ATM in the United States that accepts EBT cards, as well as the District of Columbia, USA. And Guam and the Virgin Islands.
There are no rules against using your EBT card outside your home state. However, you are expected to inform your local county public assistance office of any change of address.
What Do I Do if I Suspect Someone Has Stolen Benefits from My EBT Purchase Card Account?
If your EBT card has been stolen or compromised call the Louisiana Purchase Customer Service telephone number immediately.
The toll-free helpline for your Purchase Card is 1-888-997-1117. A customer service representative will have your Purchase Card cancelled and a new one sent to you.
Replacement cards are to be issued within three to five business days. To warn them, you can also contact your DFCS caseworker, and file a police report.
Can I Have Someone Else Help Me Shop Using My EBT Account?
Ask your Louisiana Food Stamps local caseworker about creating an Approved Representative (AR). The AR would have its own account number and PIN with a separate wallet.
Additionally, the EBT system can track at any time which card is being used. The AR will be granted access to all of your benefit account.
Can I Go to A Bank Teller and Withdraw Money from My EBT Account?
No, you can only withdraw money from an ATM at a participating store or by cash-back / cash-only withdrawal. Furthermore, bank tellers do not have access to EBT accounts or records.
How Much Will I Get on My EBT Card Each Month?
The amount of benefits you receive on your Purchase Card each month is determined by your income and household size.
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.
Are There Any Fees for Using My Louisiana Purchase 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 Purchase Card?
Here’s how to use your Purchase Card to purchase food items:
- Swipe your card at the store’s payment machine.
- Then select “EBT” from the card options.
- Next, enter your 4-digit PIN.
- Complete the transaction and take your receipt – it will show your current Purchase Card balance at the bottom.
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We hope this article has been informative on how to test your Louisiana 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 Purchasing Card including the eligibility and verification process of the Louisiana SNAP, please leave those in the comments below. We’re just happy to assist!
