New York EBT Card FAQs

We know our readers have various questions regarding the New York Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card, also called the Common Benefit Identification Card (CBIC). We decided to set up this New York EBT Card FAQs page to address the most common questions we get.

More questions will be added as and when we receive reader feedback.

Here are the most frequently asked questions about the New York EBT Card program:

What is New York EBT?

An EBT (electronic benefits transfer) card is a plastic card that acts like a debit card that is used to distribute public assistance benefits.

The New York EBT Card also called the Common Benefit Identification card is used for the delivery of benefits such as food stamps (SNAP benefits) and Cash Assistance.

Once you are approved for food stamps or one of the programs listed above, you will receive your benefits each month on a New York EBT Card.

Who is Eligible for New York SNAP?

Youmay be able toget New York Food Stamp Benefits if you:

Work and get low wages
Have little or no income
Are elderly or disabled
Get Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Temporary Assistance
Are homeless (even if you are staying with someone
temporarily or you are staying at a shelter temporarily)

Also, even if you own a home and a car you may still be able to get Food Stamp Benefits. See instructions for how to apply below.

How much will I get in Food Stamps in New York?

If you are approved for SNAP benefits, how much you will receive depends on your household size and net income.

The table below provides the maximum monthly benefit and theestimated averagemonthly benefit based on household size.

The amount you receive may differ from these amounts due to your income and other factors.

A SNAP budget must be calculated for your householdin order todetermine your SNAP eligibility and benefit amount.

Household Size	Maximum SNAP Benefit	Estimated Average Monthly Benefit
1	$250	$175
2	$459	$334
3	$658	$520
4	$835	$638
5	$992	$748
6	$1,190	$869
7	$1,316	$941
8	$1,504	$1,137
Each additional member	(+$188)

How to Check the Balance on your New York EBT Card

There arethree ways to check your P-EBT Balance– Over the phone, via your last transaction receipt, and online.

You can check your New York P-EBT Card balance by calling the Customer Service number on the back of your card.

Here’s the phone number to call: New York P-EBT Customer Service Number: 1-888-328-6399.

Also, you can check the balance on your New York P-EBT card through your last transaction receipt.

Additionally, once you have set up a PIN to access your P-EBT food benefits, you can check your P-EBT card balance by visitingwww.connectebt.com.

How Do I Activate My New York EBT Card?

Here’s how to activate your New York EBT Card

Once you are approved for SNAP or Cash benefits, you will receive a New York EBT (also referred to as CBIC card) in the mail.

If your card has not yet arrived, call the New York EBT Customer Service Helpline at 1-888-328-6399.

Follow the steps below to activate your EBT Card:

Step 1 – Make Sure You have a PIN

When your EBT card is first mailed to you, you will also receive a PIN.

However, New York EBT card and your initial PIN for the card are mailed separately.

Therefore, you will receive the two mailings within a few days of each other. They are sent separately for security reasons.

You May Change Initial PIN

You can change your EBT Personal Identification Number (PIN) code by phone by calling 1-888-328-6399.

However, in order to do this, you will need the case head’s Social Security Number.

Alternatively, you can use the Social Security Number of the oldest child on the case if you are the parent or guardian of a child who receives benefits but not on the case yourself).

Additionally, PIN numbers may also be changed at an HRA center if you live in New York City. Click here to locate one.

Step 2 – Follow Instructions Sent with Your Card to Activate

Next, follow the instructions that came with your EBT card in the mail to activate the card.

Here’s some important information to remember about your EBT Card:

Your PIN is your electronic signature. It contains four (4) numbers.
The EBT card will not work without your PIN.
If you forget your PIN or want to change your PIN at any time, call 1-888-328-6399. You will be asked to provide certain information for security purposes. You may also change your PIN at most Social Services Officesand NYC SNAP Centers.
Never write your PIN on your card or on the card sleeve.
If someone else uses your card or card number and PIN, your EBT BENEFITS WILL NOT BE REPLACED.
If you need a family member to have access to your EBT benefits, contact your local agency about naming an Authorized
Representative on your case. A separate EBT card will be provided for you to share with the Authorized Representative you have selected.

How to Use Your New York EBT Card at the Store

Your New York EBT card can be used at most food stores to buy eligible food items, including at:

Grocery stores
Convenience stores
Supermarkets (like Walmart and Target)
Farmers markets
Pharmacies (that sell food)

Most will display “EBT Cards Accepted Here” signs.

Also, some will display the Quest Logo.

If you do not see the Quest® logo, your EBT card may still be accepted. Check with the store before shopping.

Follow these steps to use your EBT card at a store:

At check-out, your card is swiped through the machine by you or the store cashier.
Follow the directions on the machine to enter your PIN. Only you should enter your PIN.
The cashier or the machine will provide you with the purchase amount. You may also enter the amount yourself.

Always check your receipt to make sure that the amount on the EBT purchase is the same as the grocery receipt.

Also, if your card cannot be swiped because it is damaged, contact EBT Customer Service (1-888-328-6399) and report the card as damaged.

A replacement card will be mailed to you. You can also request a replacement card at most Social Services Officesand NYC SNAP Centers.

How to Use Your New York EBT Card at an ATM

If you are receiving cash assistance benefits, your EBT card can be used at an ATM to get cash.

Here’s how:

First, be sure to choose an ATM in a place where you feel safe.
Next, follow the directions on the ATM.
Start by putting your EBT card in the machine.
Enter your PIN.
Press Withdrawal.
Press Checking.
Enter the dollar amount you want.
Take your cash, card, and receipt so you will know how much you have left in your account.

Check the receipt to make sure the amount of cash you received is printed on the receipt.

Also, never let anyone see you enter your PIN while you are at the ATM. This is to keep your funds secure.

You will have two (2) free ATM withdrawals each month at ATMs that do not surcharge (surcharge-free ATMs).

After the first two, you will be charged a $.45 fee for each ATM withdrawal. The fee will only be charged when using
a surcharge-free ATM.

This fee will be automatically taken out of your cash benefit account. You will not receive any notification that this fee is being charged.

How do I contact New York EBT Customer Service?

You can reach New York EBT Customer Service at 1-888-328-6399.

You can call this toll-free number 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week.

Business Hours: Monday – Friday: 8 AM – 5 PM

Staff is available through the automated phone system during business hours.

When you call, your call will be answered by an automated system.

The auto-attendant will guide you through menu options to help direct your call.

You may use the helpline to:

Check your SNAP or cash account balance information.
Hear your last ten transactions.
Request a printed 2-month statement of your account history.
File a claim if you suspect that a transaction error occurred.
Change your PIN.
Report damaged, lost, or stolen cards, and request a replacement card be mailed to you.

When are EBT Benefits Deposited?

TheEBT deposit schedule for New Yorkdepends on whether you live in New York City or outside New York City.

For those who live outside NYC, here’s how it works:

For those outside NYC, benefits are sent out over the first 9 days of every month, based on the last digit of your case number.

Here’s the schedule:

All NY Counties Except New York City

All Counties Except NYC
If your Case Number ends in	Benefits are deposited on the
0 or 1	1st of the month
2	2nd of the month
3	3rd of the month
4	4th of the month
5	5th of the month
6	6th of the month
7	7th of the month
8	8th of the month
9	9th of the month

New York City Residents SNAP Issuing Schedule

SNAP Benefits for NYC recipients are deposited based on a completely different schedule.

The actual dates change from one month to month. The citypublishesa six-month schedule showing the exact availability dates.

See the schedule below

NYC EBT Pickup Schedule 2021 (January – December 2021)

The schedule below is for both Cash Assistance and SNAP Recipients.

January – June 2021

Toe Digit

January CA & SNAP

February CA & SNAP

March CA & SNAP

April CA & SNAP

May CA & SNAP

June CA & SNAP

1/2

1/16

2/1

2/16

3/1

3/16

4/1

4/16

5/1

5/17

6/1

6/16

1/4

1/19

2/2

2/17

3/2

3/17

4/2

4/17

5/3

5/18

6/2

6/17

1/5

1/20

2/3

2/18

3/3

3/18

4/3

4/19

5/4

5/19

6/3

6/18

1/6

1/21

2/4

2/19

3/4

3/19

4/5

4/20

5/5

5/20

6/4

6/19

1/7

1/22

2/5

2/20

3/5

3/20

4/6

4/21

5/6

5/21

6/5

6/21

1/8

1/23

2/6

2/22

3/6

3/22

4/7

4/22

5/7

5/22

6/7

6/22

1/9

1/25

2/8

2/23

3/8

3/23

4/8

4/23

5/8

5/24

6/8

6/23

1/11

1/26

2/9

2/24

3/9

3/24

4/9

4/24

5/10

5/25

6/9

6/24

1/12

1/27

2/10

2/25

3/10

3/25

4/10

4/26

5/11

5/26

6/10

6/25

1/13

1/28

2/11

2/26

3/11

3/26

4/12

4/27

5/12

5/27

6/11

6/26

July – December 2021

Toe Digit

July CA & SNAP

August CA & SNAP

September CA & SNAP

October CA & SNAP

November CA & SNAP

December CA & SNAP

10A

10B

11A

11B

12A

12B

7/1

7/16

8/2

8/16

9/1

9/16

10/1

10/16

11/1

11/16

12/1

12/16

7/2

7/17

8/3

8/17

9/2

9/17

10/2

10/18

11/3

11/17

12/2

12/17

7/3

7/19

8/4

8/18

9/3

9/18

10/4

10/19

11/4

11/18

12/3

12/18

7/6

7/20

8/5

8/19

9/4

9/20

10/5

10/20

11/5

11/19

12/4

12/20

7/7

7/21

8/6

8/20

9/7

9/21

10/6

10/21

11/6

11/20

12/6

12/21

7/8

7/22

8/7

8/21

9/8

9/22

10/7

10/22

11/8

11/22

12/7

12/22

7/9

7/23

8/9

8/24

9/9

9/23

10/8

10/23

11/9

11/23

12/8

12/23

7/10

7/24

8/10

8/25

9/10

9/24

10/9

10/25

11/10

11/24

12/9

12/27

7/12

7/26

8/11

8/26

9/11

9/25

10/12

10/26

11/12

11/26

12/10

12/28

7/13

7/27

8/12

8/27

9/13

9/27

10/13

10/27

11/13

11/27

12/11

12/29

Once your benefits are deposited into your account, you can begin using them with your SNAP EBT card to purchase eligible food items.

If you need help finding your Case Number or Toe digit, please contact your local SNAP office.

For New York City SNAP Centers,click here.

For all other counties,click hereto see the list of Department of Social Services Offices by county.

How do I log in to New York EBT Card Account Online?

EBT cardholders can obtain information in English and Spanish about their accounts by going to https://www.connectebt.com.

Login using your most recent active card number and PIN.
Create an account ID and password.

Once you sign in with a valid card number and PIN, you can perform the following functions online with your account:

Check your SNAP or cash account balance information.
Review up to 15 months of transaction history.
Request a printed 2-month statement of your account history.
Change your PIN.
Report damaged, lost, or stolen cards, and request a replacement card be mailed to you.

How Do I Change my New York EBT Card PIN?

Here’s how to change the PIN code for your NY EBT card.

First, call the EBT Customer Service helpline at 1-888-328-6399.

When prompted, select your preferred language from those offered.

For English, press ‘1’.

Next, you’ll be asked to enter the 19-digit number from the front of the card using your phone’s keypad.

After entering the card number, you will hear a series of options.

Press ‘1’ to create your PIN or if you have forgotten your previously selected PIN, ignore the prompt to enter your PIN number and press ‘2’ to create a new PIN.

You will be asked to enter the last four digits of the cardholder’s Social Security Number.

The Cardholder is the person whose name is on the front of the card.

Be sure to enter only the last 4 digits of that person’s Social Security Number.

After entering the cardholder’s Social Security Number, you’ll be asked to enter your zip code.

Finally, you will be asked to select your new 4-digit PIN.

Enter a 4-digit number using your phone’s keypad.

Memorize this number. Like when using a debit card, you’ll be asked to enter it whenever you make a purchase using your EBT Card/

What should I do if my New York EBT Card is not working?

If your New York EBT card is not working, follow the steps below to troubleshoot the issue.

First, call the EBT Customer Service Representative at 1-888-328-6399 to check your account balance to
make sure there are benefits in your account.

Customer Service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The telephone number is also located on the back of your card.

If you have benefits in your account and your EBT card still does not work, tell EBT Customer Service that your EBTcard will not work.

Representatives are available through the automated phone system during business hours (Monday – Friday: 8 AM – 5 PM).

They will instruct you to call your local district SNAP office to request a card replacement.

However, if EBT Customer Service cannot solve the problem, call your local SNAP office.

They will check to see if there is a problem with the card and if there are SNAP Benefits in the system.

If your card needs to be replaced, they will need your name, social security number, and address.

Please note that It will take about 5 to 7 days to receive your replacement card.

New York EBT Card FAQs Summary

We hope this post on New York EBT Card FAQs was helpful.

Still Have Questions?

To apply for SNAP benefits in New York, click here:New York SNAP Eligibility Guide.

For New York Food Stamps Income Limit, click here:New York SNAP Income Limits.

If you have questions about New York EBT Card (CIBC), click here:New York EBT Card Guide.

You may qualify for a FREE phone with your SNAP Benefits. Click here: Free phone with SNAP.

For details on Restaurants that take food stamps in New York, click here:What Fast Food Restaurants Take SNAP in New York?

If you have further questions about New York EBT Card or SNAP benefits, please let us know in the comments section below.

Be sure to check out our other articles about New York Food Stamps New York EBT, including:
Get Free Admissions with New York EBT Card
How to Get a Replacement New York SNAP EBT Card
New York to Get 25% SNAP Increase
New York P-EBT Extension for 2021

New York EBT Card FAQs - NY SNAP EBT (2023)