Texas EBT Card FAQs

You can also apply in person at your local Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHS) office. Find the closest Texas HHS county office near you.

Option 3 – By Mail

To complete your Texas SNAP Application by mail, call the Texas HHS Information Line (1-877-541-7905) or 2-1-1 (choose Option 2) to have an application mailed to you.

You can complete and return it to your local HHS County office. Find the mailing address for the Texas HHS county office near you.

For more information check out our articles on Texas food stamps eligibility and Texas SNAP income limits.

The video below, from Texas HHS, does an excellent job of explaining the process of applying for Texas food stamps and other benefits using the YourTexasBenefits online portal.

How Much Will I Receive in Texas SNAP EBT Benefits?

Once you are approved for Texas food stamps, you probably want to know how much in benefits your household will get on a monthly basis.

Due to a law signed by President Biden in August 2021, Texas Food Stamps maximum benefits will increase by 25%.

This increase will be effective from October 1, 2021, through September 30, 2022.

You can use the table below to find out how much your household will get in maximum benefits for your household size.

The Texas food stamp increase went into effect on October 1, 2021.

To find out exactly how much you can expect to receive in monthly Texas SNAP benefits, use the Texas Food Stamps Calculator.

How do I Check my Texas EBT Card Balance?

Here’s how to check the balance on your Texas Lone Star EBT Card.

Option 1 – Check your Last Receipt

The best way to check your Texas EBT Card balance is to refer to your last receipt.

This is the easiest and quickest way to locate the current balance on your Texas EBT Card.

Once you locate your last receipt, the card balance will be listed at the bottom of your grocery store receipt or the ATM receipt if you also get cash benefits.

You should get in the habit of keeping your most current EBT receipt, that way, you always have a quick way to check your balance before you shop.

Option 2 – Check Texas EBT Balance by Phone

Lastly, you can check your Texas EBT Card balance is by phone.

Call the EBT Customer Service number (1-800-777-7328) on the back of your card.

The Customer Service Hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

After you call, enter your EBT card number and you will hear your current SNAP or cash account balance(s).

Option 3 – Check check at an ATM or POS machine

Here is another option to check your SNAP EBT balance or Cash Benefits EBT card balance:

First, you can check your cash account balance at an ATM or POS machine.

Additionally, you can check your SNAP account balance at a POS machine (cashier) at a store before making a purchase.

It is important that you always know your EBT card account balance before you shop.

How do I get a Replacement Texas EBT Card?

If your Texas EBT card is lost, stolen, or damaged, you can get a replacement card by calling EBT Customer Service.

Call the Texas EBT Customer Service at 1-800-777-7328.

The Customer Service Hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

When you call, your Texas EBT Card will be “frozen”. This means that no one – not even you – can use your card.

If you need a new card, they will mail you one. Your Texas EBT Card replacement should arrive within 5 -7 business days.

What Fast Food Places Take Texas EBT/Food Stamps/SNAP?

The Restaurant Meals Program (RMP) is a federal program that enables qualified elderly, disabled, and homeless food stamps recipients to buy food at authorized restaurants. Any state or county can enroll in the Restaurant Meals Program.

The purpose of the program is to help expand food access to those who do not have a place to store and cook food, who may not be able to prepare food or who don’t have access to a grocery store.

Not all states participate in the RMP.

Currently, the Restaurant Meal Program is running in the following states:

• California
• Arizona
• Illinois
• Maryland
• Michigan
• New York
• Rhode Island

Unfortunately, the state of Texas does not currently participate in the Restaurant Meals Program. We will update you as soon as the state joins the program.

Can you shop with Texas EBT Card online for Delivery?

Yes, you can use your Texas EBT Lone Star Card to shop for groceries online with your food stamp benefits.

As of January 2023, you can use your Texas EBT card to make purchases online for pick-up and/or Delivery at the following grocery stores:

• Albertsons
• ALDI
• Amazon
• Brookshire’s Food and Pharmacy
• Central Market
• FRESH by Brookshire’s
• H-E-B
• Joe V’s Smart Shop
• Lewis Food Town
• Randalls
• Sam’s Club Scan and Go
• Spring Market
• Sprouts Farmers Market
• Super 1 Foods Brookshires
• Target
• Tom Thumb
• Walmart
• Whole Foods

Is there a Texas EBT App?

Yes, the Texas HHSC has created a mobile application, called the “Your Texas Benefits App” to make it easy to access benefits.

The Your Texas Benefits Mobile App, which is free to use, is available for download at the App Store for Apple devices or on Google Play for Android devices

The Your Texas Benefits app is for people in Texas who have applied for or get:

• SNAP food benefits
• Health-care benefits (Medicaid and CHIP)
• TANF cash help

With the Your Texas Benefits Mobile App app, you can perform the following tasks by phone:

• View your cases
• Manage account settings
• Send files to the HHSC
• View alerts and case history
• Report changes
• Find HHSC benefit offices

How do I contact Texas EBT Card Customer Service?

Here’s what the Texas EBT Support center can help you with:

• • Reporting Lost or Stolen EBT Card
  • Getting a Replacement Texas EBT Card
  • How to Change Your Pin

• Transaction Disputes
• Using Your Card out of State

Texas EBT Customer Care Center

Contact a customer service representative for help with your Texas EBT card by calling the phone number below.

Texas EBT Phone Number

1-800-777-7328

If you need further assistance with your SNAP benefits, you can contact your local HHSC office.

Can I use my Texas EBT benefits out of state?

Your Texas EBT card will work throughout Texas at any store that is approved to accept EBT.

Additionally, it will also work outside of Texas in almost every state in the country.

Therefore, if you are temporarily visiting family and friends, you can also use your SNAP benefits while out of state.

Look for the Quest® symbol. If you don’t see one, look for a sign that says “EBT” or that the store accepts food stamps.

However, If you are not sure if a particular store accepts EBT, ask the store manager.

What is Pandemic EBT (P-EBT)?

P-EBT is provided to families whose children lost access to free or reduced-price school meals while schools were closed to in-person learning due to COVID-19.

According to available data, P-EBT benefits serve 3.6 million children in Texas, 40% of whom lived in SNAP households and 60% of whom lived in non-SNAP households.

In Texas, P-EBT benefits are put on the Lone Star Card (EBT card) and can be used at any establishment that accepts SNAP.

Texas families who relied on the Pandemic EBT card — which previously provided a one-time benefit of $285 for students receiving free and reduced-price meals — can apply for another round of food aid for the 2021-22 school year up to $1,200 per student. https://t.co/eDHjFVeejY

— Texas Tribune (@TexasTribune) May 26, 2021

Who is Eligible for P-EBT in Texas?

There have been three rounds of P-EBT benefits issued in Texas since the spring of 2020.

Each round of P-EBT issuance is described in detail below.

However, here are the general eligibility requirements:

• Children must be enrolled in a Texas school in grades K through 12 to be considered for eligibility
• Those certified for free or reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) are eligible
• Families with children born after Aug. 1, 2014 who receive SNAP food benefits are eligible
• Applicants must meet income eligibility guidelines for free or reduced-price school meals and report that to their school through a socioeconomic form or school meals application.
• Applicants who attend a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) or Provision 2 (P2) school where all students receive free meals are eligible
• Families who previously received the 2020-21 school year P-EBT benefits will automatically receive the summer P-EBT benefits without taking action
• Children born after August 1, 2014 who received SNAP food benefits at any time between June 2021 and August 2021 will automatically receive summer P-EBT benefits on their Lone Star Card without taking action.

For more on Texas P-EBT for 2021/2022, click here: Texas P-EBT Extension for 2021/2022.

To learn more about Summer P-EBT, click here: Texas Summer P-EBT benefit.

To see the reload dates for P-EBT benefits, click here: Texas P-EBT Reload Dates.