FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES

What are Food and Nutrition benefits?
 

Food and Nutrition benefits help low income individuals purchase food.  Authorized Food and Nutritrion benefits are placed into an account.  The benefits are accessed at grocery stores using an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card.

Can I get Food and Nutrition benefits?

To get Food & Nutrition benefits, your income and your other resources have to be under certain limits.

• Income:  Your total income, before taxes or any other subtractions, is called gross income.  However, the program allows certain deductions to be subtracted from your gross income.  The deductions include housing costs, child support, medical expenses (for elderly or disabled people), or childcare costs.  the amount of income left is called net income.

• Resources:  Your resources are things like bank accounts.  To qualify for Food and Nutrition benefits, your household may have up to $2,000 in resources.  If your household has a person who is aged 60 or older or who is disabled, you may have up to $3,000 in resources.

Resources that don't count are your home, land, buildings, most vehicles and the resources of people who receive WFFA or SSI.

How do I apply for Food and Nutrition benefits?

To make an application, come into the New Hanover County Department of Social Services located at 1650 Greenfield Street.  An Economic Services Caseworker will conduct an interview with you to start the process.  To help speed the process along, please bring the following verifications:

• Identification
• Social Security Cards or numbers for all (including children)
• Proof of Residence - (Lease, rent or mortgage receipts, Utility Bill)
• Proof of Income - (Pay stubs, SSI, Social Security, Work First, Pensions or Other)
• Bank Accounts - (Recent bank statements and or passbooks, etc.)
• Utility Bills - (Gas, Electric, Phone, Water, and Sewer, etc.)
• Tax Bill/Insurance - If Homeowner
• If Elderly/Disabled - (Unpaid medical bills, Prescriptions, Health and Hospital Insurance)
• Name and phone number of at least 1 person who can verify who lives with you.
• Proof of Child Care Costs - (If employed or in school full time).
• If you are unable to come into the office, you can appoint someone you trust to represent you in the office or an application can be taken over the phone or by a home visit.

What can I buy with Food and Nutrition Benefits?

You can only use food and nutrition benefits for food and for plants and seeds to grow food for your family to eat.  Food and Nutrition benefits cannot be used to buy:

• Alcoholic beverages
• Tobacco or cigarettes
• Household supplies, soaps, and paper products
• Disposable diapers
• Medicines or vitamins
• Any other non-food items
• Hot foods that are ready to eat, such as barbecued chicken
• Pet foods

When will my Food and Nutrition benefits go into my account?

Your benefits will be available after 6:00 a.m. on the same day each month according to the last digit of the head of household's Social Security Number, even if that day is on a weekend or a holiday.  For instance:

To assign yourself a PIN (Personal Identification Number) and Activate:

Call the E-FUNDS toll free customer service number, 1-888-622-7328.  They are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

What is the EBT Customer Service Number?

The toll free number is 1-888-622-7328 and they are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.