9093 Administering Delaware's EBT System

Statutory Authority CFR 272.4(c); 7 CFR 274.1; 7 CFR 274.8 Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) is the method by which Delaware Health and Social Services (DHSS) issues food benefits to households participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). . The EBT system allows eligible households to electronically access their food benefits. A. Food benefits are available on a reusable plastic EBT card. B. Households use an EBT card and a personal identification number (PIN) to purchase food items at the point of sale at authorized retailers. . The EBT system performs the following functions: A. Authorizing and issuing food benefits and EBT cards to eligible households; B. Establishing and maintaining EBT accounts and benefit issuance records; C. Ensuring eligible households can access and redeem their available benefits; D. Securing household information, benefits, EBT accounts, and EBT system data; E. Processing and verifying EBT purchases and benefit transactions; F. Managing retailer participation; and G. Crediting retailers and financial institutions for redeemed benefits. . DHSS is responsible for the coordination and management of Delaware's EBT system. A. DHSS partners with an EBT vendor to operate the EBT system. B. DHSS ensures that Delaware's EBT system and EBT vendor meet all federally required issuance, reconciliation, reporting, performance, and technical standards. C. DHSS separates EBT issuance functions by dividing EBT responsibilities to prevent any single individual from having complete control over the certification of food benefits and the maintenance and issuance of EBT cards. i. DHSS divides EBT responsibilities as described in policy section DSSM 9093. ii. DHSS ensures that EBT responsibilities are either: a. Divided between at least 2 individuals; or b. Reviewed by a second party to verify inventory, reconciliation, and issuance records if issuance functions in an office are handled by 1 individual. 15 DE Reg. 1030 (01/01/12) 27 DE Reg. 111 (08/01/23)