Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Cards

Please note: A federal provision that provided federal funds to replace SNAP Food Assistance and TANF Cash Assistance benefits stolen through skimming, card cloning and other similar methods expired on Dec. 20, 2024. It was not extended with the 2025 American Relief Act and state funding is not available to replace stolen benefits.

At this time, stolen EBT benefits cannot be replaced. Click here to learn more about protecting your EBT card and benefits.

An electronic benefit transfer card or EBT card, also called the Kansas Benefits Card, provides recipients of SNAP Food Assistance, SUN Bucks, TANF Cash Assistance, and Child Care Assistance access to their benefits.

EBT Card Frequently Asked Questions

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General EBT Card Information

When do my benefits get added to my EBT card?

Each month that you are eligible for benefits, your benefits will be added to your Kansas EBT account automatically. As your monthly benefits are added to your account, the balance on your card will go up. As you use your benefits, the balance will go down.

TANF Cash Assistance benefits and Child Care Assistance benefits are available on your card after 6 a.m. on the FIRST calendar day of the month, even if it is a weekend or a holiday.

SNAP Food Assistance benefits are issued based on the first letter of the primary applicant’s last name. Benefits are available at 6 a.m. on the benefit date, even if it is a weekend or holiday.

If your last name starts with:	You will get your benefits after 6:00 a.m. on the:
A or B	1st day of the month
C or D	2nd day of the month
E, F or G	3rd day of the month
H, I or J	4th day of the month
K or L	5th day of the month
M	6th day of the month
N, O, P, Q or R	7th day of the month
S	8th day of the month
T, U or V	9th day of the month
W, X, Y or Z	10th day of the month

How will I know the balance on my EBT card?
There are several easy ways to check how much you have left in your account:
- Check your receipt from your last purchase; it shows your available balance. Always keep your receipts.
- Log on to the Cardholder Login at ebtEDGE.com or use Fidelity Information Service's (FIS) official ebtEDGE mobile app.
- Call the toll-free EBT Customer Service number at 1-800-997-6666.
- Use a Point-of-Sale (POS) machine. If you have your card with you, ask if the retailer or your provider will do a balance inquiry at the POS machine.
Can my EBT card be used in other states?

The EBT card can be used in all states to access SNAP Food Assistance and SUN Bucks benefits. Some states may have restrictions that apply to the types of food items you can purchase with your SNAP Food Assistance and SUN Bucks benefits. Click here for more information on restrictions.

TANF Cash Assistance benefits cannot be used for online purchases or purchases at points of sale outside of Kansas.

Child Care Assistance can only be used to pay DCF-enrolled child care providers. Learn more about Child Care Assistance and how to find and select a DCF-enrolled child care providers at https://childcareinkansas.com.

How can I manage my EBT card account?

You can manage your EBT card by using (FIS) ebtEDGE mobile app or through the Cardholder Portal at ebtEDGE.com.

By using the ebtEDGE mobile app or website, you will have access to protection features to help keep your benefits safe, such as the ability to freeze your card or block your SNAP Food Assistance benefits and SUN Bucks benefits from being used online or in another state.

FIS is DCF’s contractor for EBT. Third-party EBT apps do not provide the same protection features as ebtEDGE. The ebtEDGE app can be accessed in the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.

Click here for more information on the ebtEDGE mobile app.

What if my EBT card does not work?

Call EBT Customer Service at 1-800-997-6666 and they will assist you. The EBT Customer Service phone number is also found on the back of your EBT card. They are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
How can I receive a new EBT card?

If your card is lost, damaged, or stolen, call EBT Customer Service at 1-800-997-6666 or submit a request in the ebtEDGE app or at ebtEDGE.com to get a replacement card.
Who do I contact if I moved to a new address?

EBT Customer Service cannot assist you with your address change. If you have moved, call DCF at 1-888-369-4777 to report your new address.
Who do I contact with questions about my EBT card?

For questions about your EBT card, call EBT Customer Service at 1-800-997-6666. The EBT Customer Service phone number is also found on the back of your EBT card. EBT Customer Service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

DCF and FIS will never ask for your personal bank account information or routing number and does not offer EBT sweepstakes.

SNAP Food Assistance, SUN Bucks and My EBT Card

How do I use my EBT card to access my SNAP Food Assistance or SUN Bucks benefits?

EBT cards function a lot like debit cards. Simply swipe your card at the store when purchasing food, enter your PIN, and the cost is electronically subtracted from the card's balance.

You can also use your SNAP Food Assistance and SUN Bucks benefits at select farmers markets in Kansas to purchase fresh, locally grown fruit and vegetables. Breads, jams, meat, plants to grow food and other food items may also be purchased at farmers markets. Double Up Food Bucks provides information on how to double SNAP Food Assistance dollars at select grocery stores and farmers markets in Kansas and Missouri.

You can also use SNAP Food Assistance and SUN Bucks benefits to purchase groceries online at multiple retailers. Click here to find retailers that accept these benefits.

While EBT cards function like debit cards, they do not have the same protections. Click here to learn more about protecting your EBT card and benefits.
Do I have to use all of my benefits in the same month I get them?

SNAP Food Assistance benefits stay in your account until you use them. However, if you do not use SNAP Food Assistance benefits for nine consecutive months, some (or all) of your benefits may be removed from your account for non-use. Once the SNAP Food Assistance benefits have been removed from your account for non-use, you cannot get them back.

SUN Bucks benefits expire 122 days after they are issued, regardless of usage, so families must act quickly once the benefits are distributed.
Where can I find more information about SNAP Food Assistance and SUN Bucks?

Click here for additional information on SNAP Food Assistance.

For additional information on SUN Bucks, visit SUNBucks.dcf.ks.gov.

TANF Cash Assistance and My EBT Card

How do I use my EBT card to access my TANF Cash Assistance benefits?

EBT cards function a lot like debit cards. Simply swipe your card at the store when making a purchase, enter your PIN, and the cost is electronically subtracted from the card’s balance. Stores can also provide cash back. (Not all stores’ policies are the same and some may choose not to offer cash back. Kansas does not regulate individual store policies for cash back.)

TANF Cash Assistance benefits can also be withdrawn at an ATM. For each withdrawal from an ATM, there will be a $1.00 transaction fee taken out of your cash account. Other ATM surcharges may apply. Kansas does not regulate individual ATM policies.

For more information, review the Kansas Benefits Card User Brochure (Spanish).
What can I buy with my TANF Cash Assistance benefits?

You can use your TANF Cash Assistance benefits to purchase both food and non-food items.

These benefits cannot be used in any retail liquor store, casino, gaming establishment, jewelry store, tattoo parlor, massage parlor, body piercing parlor, spa, nail salon, lingerie shop, tobacco paraphernalia store, vapor cigarette store, psychic or fortune telling business, bail bond company, video arcade, movie theater, swimming pool, cruise ship, theme park, dog or horse racing facility, pari-mutuel facility, or sexually oriented business or any retail establishment which provides adult-oriented entertainment in which performers disrobe or perform in an unclothed state for entertainment, or in any business or retail establishment where minors under age 18 are not permitted.
Do I have to use all of my benefits in the same month I get them?

These benefits roll over to the next month and remain available for use. TANF Cash Assistance benefits will expire if they are not used over a 120-day period.
Where can I find more information about TANF Cash Assistance?

Click here for additional information on TANF Cash Assistance.

Child Care Assistance and My EBT Card

How do I use my EBT card to pay my child care provider with my Child Care Assistance?
You have several options for making Child Care Assistance payments to your provider.
- Payment at a point-of-sale (POS) machine at the provider’s location if available.
- Call EBT Customer Service at 1-800-997-6666 and use the automated line to transfer funds over the phone.
- Log on to the Cardholder Login at ebtEDGE.com to view transactions and transfer funds.
- Transfer funds to your child care provider using the ebtEDGE mobile app.
What if my Child Care Assistance doesn’t cover all of my child care expense?

If you have TANF Cash Assistance benefits available, you can use your cash benefits to pay your child care bill by using the POS machine at your provider’s location. You may also withdraw your cash benefits at an ATM or store to pay your provider in cash.

If you do not have TANF Cash Assistance benefits, you can pay your provider with your own money by paying with cash or writing a check.
Do I have to use all of my benefits in the same month I get them?

These benefits roll over to the next month and remain available for use. Child Care Assistance benefits will expire within 120 days from the date they were issued and will be removed from your account.
Can I withdraw my Child Care Assistance as cash?

Child Care Assistance can only be used to pay child care providers and cannot be withdrawn as cash.
Where can I find more information about Child Care Assistance?

Learn more on the Child Care Assistance page or by visiting childcareinkansas.com.

Protecting My EBT Card and Benefits

How do I protect the benefits on my EBT card?
Never share your card number or Personal Identification Number (PIN) with anyone!

DCF and our EBT Card Contractor, FIS, will never call or text cardholders and explicitly ask for their card number or PIN nor will either party offer a sweepstakes.
Monitor your account and protect your benefits using the available features on the ebtEDGE mobile app or the ebtEDGE Cardholder Portal at ebtEDGE.com. You can:
Freeze the EBT card when not using it. You must unfreeze the card when you are ready to make a purchase.
Block out-of-state and online transactions. You will have to unblock these transactions when you want to make an out-of-state or online purchase.
Keep your four-digit PIN (personal identification number) private and change it regularly. Never give your PIN to retailers or child care providers. Always enter your PIN yourself when making a purchase.
Third-party EBT apps do not provide the same protection features as ebtEDGE. The ebtEDGE app can be accessed in the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.
How do I login to ebtEDGE and turn on protective features?

For information on downloading and using the ebtEDGE app or Cardholder Portal at ebtedge.com, refer to this resource guide.
What is skimming?

Skimming occurs when devices are illegally placed on point-of-sale terminals in stores, gas pumps and ATMs. These devices are difficult to detect because they’re designed to look like they’re part of the system. Skimming devices steal personal card information and capture the cardholder’s PIN entry.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Skimming web page provides information about skimming scams and what to look for on POS devices.

Below are some examples of skimming devices.
What is phishing, smishing, and vishing?

Phishing
A scam where scammers use email or other tactics to trick people into sharing personal information. For example, they may send an email posing as a DCF employee telling the victim they need to click on a provided link to confirm their status to maintain their eligibility or risk losing their benefits.

Vishing:

Thieves are calling EBT cardholders claiming their EBT card is locked or invalid and to respond or call a number to maintain access to benefits. This type of scam is a form of phishing, called vishing (short for voice phishing).

These thieves may even spoof or steal the real DCF or EBT Cardholder Support number to make their call or message seem even more real.

When you call back, an automated message instructs you to enter your EBT card number and PIN.

DO NOT EVER provide your card number or PIN over the phone. 

Smishing:

Similar to phishing, smishing (SMS or text phishing) uses text messages to bait victims into urgently clicking a link or calling a number. The thief will usually ask to provide personal information like your EBT card number or PIN.

Do not share your EBT card information or the PIN over the phone or via text message.
How do I report EBT card fraud?

Report suspected fraud and request a new card by calling EBT Customer Service at 1-800-997-6666, using the ebtEDGE app or online at ebtEDGE.com. It takes 5-7 business days for a new card to be issued. During this time, you will not have access to your benefits.
What should I do if my EBT card is lost or stolen?

Call EBT Customer Service at 1-800-997-6666 to report the card lost, stolen, or damaged before a replacement card will be reissued. You can also report your card to be lost, stolen or damaged and request a new EBT card in the ebtEDGE app or at ebtEDGE.com. It takes 5-7 business days for a new card to be issued. During this time, you will not have access to your benefits.
What if I forget my Personal Identification Number (PIN) or my PIN is compromised?

Reset your PIN by calling EBT Customer Service at 1-800-997-6666, through the web portal at ebtEDGE.com, or by using the ebtEDGE mobile app.
How do I change my PIN?

If you forget your four-digit PIN or want to change it, call EBT Customer Service at 1-800-997-6666 to select a new PIN. You can also select a new PIN using the Cardholder Portal at ebtEDGE.com or the ebtEDGE mobile app.

Choose a combination of four numbers that is easy for you to remember, but hard for someone else to guess. Common PINs such as 1234 or 1111 are not allowed. PINs including important dates such as birthdays or anniversaries should also be avoided.
Will I be reimbursed if my benefits are stolen via skimming, cloning, or phishing scams?

A 2022 law that provided federal funds to replace SNAP Food Assistance and TANF Cash Assistance benefits stolen through card skimming, card cloning and other methods expired on Dec. 20, 2024. The law was not extended as part of the American Relief Act of 2025 bill signed into law on Dec. 21, 2024.

That means federal funds are not available to replace benefits, and DCF cannot reimburse Kansas cardholders for stolen money.
What can retailers that accept DCF benefits do to protect EBT cardholders from scams?

Monitor your card readers, in-store ATMs and gas pumps for skimming devices. If you find a skimmer, do not touch or attempt to remove it. Simply shut down the register and call law enforcement.

Remind cardholders that they should never share their EBT card number or PIN number when making a purchase in a store, over the phone or via text message.

If an EBT cardholder visits your store and has had their benefits stolen, have them call the EBT Customer Support number (1-800-997-6666) to replace their card and report it as compromised.

EBT Card Resources

Kansas Benefit Card User Brochure

Spanish

Protect Your EBT Card Flyer

Reminders for EBT Cardholders Flyer

Card Skimming for Retailers

Card Skimming Informational Video

Social Media Materials

Help spread the word about common EBT scams. Download and share the images and copy below on your social media channels.

Skimming: Facebook, X and LinkedIn

Skimming: Instagram
Skimming: Instagram. Beware of Skimming devices. Types of Electronic Card Machine

Skimming Copy:

Thieves are using skimming devices and benefits are being stolen from EBT cards across the country and even here at home in Kansas.

Before you swipe your card, inspect all card readers for a skimming device. These devices look like the card reader they are placed on. Examples are in the graphic. Learn more about protecting your EBT card and benefits at: ebtcards.dcf.ks.gov.

Scam Phone Calls and Text Messages: Facebook, X and LinkedIn

Scam Phone Calls and Text Messages: Instagram

Scam Phone Calls and Text Messages Copy:

DCF may call or text to provide updates or work with you on your case, but DCF will NEVER ask for your EBT card number or PIN by phone, text or email. Even if a call appears to be from the DCF or EBT Cardholder Support phone number, it could be a scammer. These thieves are smart; they can spoof real phone numbers to make their calls look legitimate. Never share your EBT card number or PIN with anyone. Learn more: ebtcards.dcf.ks.gov.