Page 335

Page | 334 Local staff will be recruited and trained as the need arises. 21200 INITIAL EBT CARD ISSUANCE When a customer applies for SNAP, they will indicate on the first page of the application if they need a SD EBT card. All applications must be entered on the same day as received to ensure the EBT card is received timely. If they answer “Yes” or do not answer the question, then an EBT card will be sent to the household. If they answer “No” then an EBT card will not be sent to them unless they do not have any history of being on SNAP.

If an application is received indicating “N” for an EBT card, the Benefits Specialist should ask follow- up questions to ensure that this is correct. If the person has not had any SNAP history for at least 12 months, then a new card must be requested as the old card will no longer work.

In order for new applicants or re-applicants to receive an EBT card, the Benefits Specialists must initiate the card request by updating the “EBT CARD REQUEST” field on the APPL screen on ACCESS:  Enter “Y” to issue a new EBT card, or  Enter “N” if no card is needed. If there is no history of SNAP on the case, the benefits specialist must answer “Y” to the “EBT CARD REQUEST” field.

The “EBT CARD REQUEST” field on the APPL panel is mandatory and must be completed in order for the benefits specialist to move forward. This field can only be updated when a new SNAP application or re-application on a late renewal is completed. The field can be updated on the same day the application is entered. The field is then locked overnight and cannot be updated after that occurs.

Once an EBT card is sent to the household, the field will display an “S” indicating that a card was sent. If no card was requested, the field will continue to display an “N.”

All EBT cards will be sent to customers through the mail from the EBT vendor. It will take approximately 5-7 days to receive the card.

21210 INITIAL EBT CARDS SENT TO LOCAL OFFICES There may be times when an EBT card needs to be sent to the local DSS office due to the customer’s concerns about receiving mail at their current address. The local office may choose to input the local DSS office’s address if the customer requests their initial EBT card be mailed to the office. The local office must then ensure the customer’s address is changed back to his/her actual residential/mailing address on ACCESS the next day.

When a customer’s initial EBT card is mailed to the local DSS office, the following steps must be taken: 1. Track the EBT cards in a spreadsheet (a sample tracking sheet is available on the P drive here: P:\Division of Economic Assistance\(1) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Note: Benefits Specialist can check EBT Edge to see if a card is active with their current case number.

Remember that if P-EBT benefits were issued, a new card may have been sent to the household with a different case number (starting with a P). If this is the situation, then a new card would need to be requested.