|
Virginia Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT)Welcome to the Virginia EBT website! EBT stands for Electronic Benefits Transfer. If you have been approved to receive benefits from one of the programs listed below, you can use this website to view your benefit balance(s). Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. This website can also be used to view your transaction history, learn more about EBT, and go to other websites that may be useful in answering additional questions you may have. The Virginia EBT card is a "debit" card that your SNAP and/or cash benefits are put on each month. Now, Let's Get Started: To use this website you must first create an account. If you do not have an account or need to change your password, click on "Create User Account." You must:
VA EBT CUSTOMER SERVICE: SNAP 1-866-281-2448 Misuse of Your Snap Benefits is a Violation of State and Federal Laws. What should I know about my Food Stamp account? It does not cost you anything to use the Virginia EBT Card for Food Stamps. You do not ever get cash back when you use it. You can buy the following items with your EBT card:
Food stamp purchases are not charged sales tax. You may use manufacturer's cents-off coupons to reduce the cost of your groceries, but you will have to pay sales tax on the value of the coupons. You cannot buy non-grocery items with the Virginia EBT card, such as cleaning products, pet food, paper products, alcohol, or tobacco. You will have to pay for those items with cash, by check, or a credit or debit card. You cannot access cash from a grocery store or ATM with your Virginia EBT card. Ongoing monthly benefits will be available on the first day of each month regardless if the first is a weekend or a holiday. You can use your Virginia EBT Card even if your Food Stamp case is closed as long as you have benefits left in your account. How do I use my Virginia EBT card to shop?
What is a PIN? PIN stands for Personal Identification Number. You must have a 4-digit PIN to use your Virginia EBT Card. Call Customer Service to select a PIN to begin using your EBT card. You will need your:
Choose a PIN that is easy for you to remember, but hard for someone else to guess or figure out if you lose your card. Never tell anyone else, including a grocery store cashier your secret PIN. Never write your PIN on your card or card sleeve. Do not write your PIN on anything you carry with you like your wallet or purse in case it is lost or stolen. If you forget or want to change your PIN, you must call customer service and follow the automated PIN selection/change instructions. When entering your PIN to make a purchase, be sure no one else can see what number you are entering. If someone else learns your PIN and uses your card, your benefits will not be replaced. If you think someone else has learned your PIN, call customer service immediately to choose a new PIN. Your EBT card and benefits will not change. How do I select my PIN? You can select or change your PIN after login to this online portal Or call the customer service number at 1-866-281-2448 and follow the prompts to select or change your PIN. If the SNAP case is in your name, or if you are an authorized representative with access to someone else’s SNAP benefits you will need the following information to select your Personal Identification Number (PIN): To select your new PIN, you will need your:
What do I do if my EBT card is lost, stolen or damaged? If your Virginia EBT Card has been lost, stolen or is no longer working, you can report this after login to this online portal or contact local office or call customer service at 1-866-281-2448 for a new EBT card. They will immediately disable the old card and arrange for the mailing of replacement EBT card to your address. The mailing process takes from 7-10 business days. You may also go to your local Department of Social Services office to receive a replacement card in person. The office worker will also be able to disable your old card and either mails you a new card or issue a replacement card to you right at the office. Your benefits will be protected as soon as you report it lost or stolen and a new card will be issued to you so you can access your remaining benefits. Your current PIN is transferred to your replacement card so you do not need to call customer service unless you want to change your current PIN. A $2 fee is deducted from your available balance for each replacement card issued. Misuse of your Food Stamp benefits is a violation of state and federal laws. DO NOT: Sell, trade or give away your Food Stamp benefits, PIN or Virginia EBT Card. Allow a retailer to buy your food benefits in exchange for cash. Use someone else’s food benefits or Virginia EBT card for your household unless authorized by Department of Social Services to do so. Important: You must not give false information or hide information to get food stamps. You must not trade or sell EBT cards. You must not use food stamp benefits to buy non-food items, such as alcohol, tobacco or paper products. You must not use someone else’s EBT card for your household. If you intentionally break any of these rules you could be barred from the Food Stamp Program for 12 months (1st violation), 24 months (2nd violation), or permanently (3rd violation); subjected to $250,000 fine, imprisoned up to 20 years, or both; and suspended for an additional 18 months and further prosecuted under other Federal and State laws. If you intentionally give false information or hide information about identity or residence to get food stamps in more than one locality at the same time, you could be barred for 10 years. If you are convicted in court of trading or selling food stamps of $500.00 or more, you could be barred permanently. If you are convicted in court of trading food stamps for a controlled substance, you could be barred for 24 months for the 1st violation, permanently for the 2nd violation. If you are convicted in court of trading food stamps for firearms, ammunition, or explosives, you could be barred permanently for the first violation. Lost or Stolen Card If your Virginia EBT Card has been lost, stolen or is no longer working, you should call customer service at 1-866-281-2448 for a new EBT card. They will immediately disable the old card and arrange for the mailing of replacement EBT card to your address. The mailing process takes from 7-10 business days. You may also go to your local Department of Social Services office to receive a replacement card in person. The office worker will also be able to disable your old card and either mails you a new card or issue a replacement card to you right at the office. Your benefits will be protected as soon as you report it lost or stolen and a new card will be issued to you so you can access your remaining benefits. Your current PIN is transferred to your replacement card so you do not need to call customer service unless you want to change your current PIN. A $2 fee is deducted from your available balance for each replacement card issued. Other Links Virginia Website (Home page for the Commonwealth of Virginia) http://www.virginia.gov VDSS Website (Home page for the Virginia Department of Social Services) http://www.dss.state.va.us FNS Website (Home page for the Food and Nutrition Service, a division of the United States Department of Agriculture) https://www.fns.usda.gov/ FNS Nutritional Information http://www.mypyramid.gov/ PayPerks Virginia FoodSmarts https://www.payperks.com Program Materials
You will need Adobe Reader to view these documents. You can click here to download a free version. ACS ONLINE PRIVACY STATEMENTGeneral ACS is committed to the privacy and security of personal information you provide to us through the use of ACS Web Sites. This Online Privacy Statement ("Statement") informs you of the information practices for ACS Web Sites, including the type of personal information we collect from your use of ACS Web Sites, how the information is used, and with whom the information is shared. By using our Site, you agree that your use is subject to the terms of this Statement and you consent to the collection, use and storage of your information by ACS in accordance with this Statement and as may be more specifically explained on each Site. ACS may change this Statement at any time and will display the changes here on this Site. Because your use of this Site after changes have been posted indicates your agreement with those changes, we encourage you to visit this Statement on a regular basis. If you are not comfortable with using this Site in accordance with this Statement, please exit the Site immediately. You may have accessed this Site as a result of a link from another ACS Site. This Statement applies to all ACS Sites linked to this Site except where more specific information is provided on the linked Site with respect to the collection, use and storage of personal information. This Statement is effective June 2, 2004. Collection and Use of Information You may visit this Site and certain other ACS Sites without registering or disclosing personally identifiable information, although some areas of this Site or other Sites may require a password. ACS may ask you to provide personal information, such as when you are asked to complete an online form or a request with regard to a product or service from ACS. This information may include name, physical address, phone number, email address and other personal information that you choose to provide. ACS uses this information for purposes of communications with you, to respond to requests you may have, and for marketing purposes. If you wish to update information you provided through this Site in connection with regular mailings or you wish to have your name removed from a mailing list, you may do so by sending an email or by submitting an updated form through the same communication channel you initially submitted the information. Certain ACS Sites allow for the electronic submission of resumes if you are interested in employment opportunities with ACS. Resumes received by ACS are used only for employment purposes or such other purpose you may request. If you wish to delete or update employment-related information you submitted through this Site, you may do so by using the profile management function that is available or contact ACS Human Resources. When you visit this Site, we may automatically collect certain information relating to you, such as your Internet address, Internet service provider, type of operating system, the time and date you accessed the Site, and the Internet address from which you arrived at our Site. Also, when you visit our Site we may collect information through the use of a "cookie". A cookie is a small file that a web site can send to your browser and then is stored on your computer. This type of technology is designed to tell us when you reenter our Site, where you visit within our Site, and the type of browser you use. You are not required to accept any cookie we might use, although some areas of a Site may not be operational without the use of cookies. You can disable cookies on your computer by changing the settings in your browser. The information collected helps us identify data relating to usage and trends, address any problems with Site administration, and to further improve this Site. Sharing of Information with Third Parties ACS will not sell or give your personal information to third parties for their use for purposes unrelated to ACS without your permission. ACS may share personal information about you with our subsidiaries and affiliated companies. We also may share personal information with our suppliers, contractors and agents who perform functions on our behalf, or in connection with products and services offered by ACS or a request made by you. ACS may disclose your personal information as we consider necessary to comply with the law or governmental authorities, in connection with litigation, dispute resolution, or administration of this Statement or a possible violation of this Site's Terms of Use or the rights of ACS or a third party. In addition, ACS may disclose or receive personal information in connection with a possible sale, purchase, merger or other reorganization of a business. Retention ACS will retain personal information collected by a Site for as long as it is needed to fulfill the purpose for which the information was provided, to maintain a record of communications with you, or as required by applicable law. Security To protect the personal information we receive ACS uses certain security measures designed to guard against the loss, misuse and alteration of that information. It should be recognized, however, that we cannot guarantee that transmission of data over the Internet will be absolutely secure. Due to the open nature of the Internet the information you provide may be in environments that do not have adequate security measures and may be accessed and used by persons other than those intended. As a result, while protection of your personal information is important to us, ACS is not able to ensure the security of information you transmit to us and you assume the risk of any third party obtaining that information. Upon receipt of your information ACS will strive to ensure its security on our systems. Links to Other Web Sites This Site may contain links to other web sites, not maintained by ACS. If you choose to access those sites, please review the privacy Statement applicable to each site. The links to other sites are made available as a convenience to you and ACS is not responsible for the privacy policies and information collection practices of those sites. ACS Client Web Sites In the course of providing services to its clients, ACS may operate web sites for certain clients that involve the collection, use and retention of personal information. For example, if you are a health plan member, health plan provider, a patient or other individual who does business with an ACS client, ACS may collect, use and maintain personal information in order to provide you with services on behalf of the client. Those activities are conducted by ACS under a contract between ACS and the client. This Statement is not intended to modify the terms of the contract between ACS and the client. If you have questions about the handling of your personal information that are not addressed on the specific web site through which ACS conducts those activities on behalf of the client, please use the contact information listed on that site or communicate with the ACS client. Global Presence ACS has employees, customers and suppliers in many countries around the world. The management, operational and technical processes and systems used by ACS may involve transfer of information across borders. For example, personal information you give to ACS may be sent to systems outside the country in which you initially provided the information, and it may be processed and stored in a different country. Regardless of where you provide your personal information, ACS will take steps to handle it in a secure manner in accordance with this Statement and all applicable laws. Children ACS does not market its products or services to children under thirteen years of age. We do not intend to collect personal information from children and request that children do not submit personal information to us. Scope of Statement This Statement describes the online privacy practices for ACS Web Sites maintained by Affiliated Computer Services, Inc. and its subsidiaries ("ACS"). It does not modify any agreements ACS may have with our customers, suppliers or other third parties. Contact Information Please direct any questions you might have about this Statement to the ACS Privacy Office. |
Electronic Benefit Transfer |
|