Destruction of Unusable EBT Cards Returned by Households
Unusable EBT cards shall be destroyed by the local office provided that the destruction is accomplished by burning, shredding, or tearing and two (2) persons witness the EBT card destruction. Form FNS-471 (EBT Card and Destruction Report, as incorporated by reference in section 4.707.5, A, above) shall be completed and signed by the required witnesses and mailed to the state department. Form FNS-135 (Affidavit for Return or Exchange of EBT Cards, as incorporated by reference in section 4.708.2, above) completed for the return of unusable EBT cards by clients or for claims payments and Form FNS-471 completed on destruction of unusable EBT cards improperly manufactured or mutilated in shipments are supporting documents for necessary EBT card destruction. Local offices must report the destruction of improperly manufactured or mutilated EBT cards on Form FNS-471 and submit it with Form FNS-250, as incorporated by reference in section 4.707.6, C, above, for the appropriate month. For EBT cards received from recipients, the original copy of Form FNS-135 must be attached to a copy of Form FNS-471 and retained in the office for future review and audit purposes. The destruction of EBT cards received from claims collections that are the result of payment of household claims must be reported on Form FNS-471. Form FNS-135 will act as a receipt on exchange of unusable EBT cards returned by clients or returned for claim payments.