Food Stamp Program

Food Stamps Services

What foods can you purchase with Food Stamps?
Your clients CAN use Food Stamp benefits to buy foods such as:

• Breads and cereals
• Fruits and vegetables
• Meats, fish, and poultry
• Dairy products
• Seeds and plants which produce food for the household to eat

Your clients CANNOT use Food Stamp benefits to buy:

• Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes, or tobacco
• Any nonfood items, such as:
  • Pet foods
  • Soaps
  • Paper products
  • Vitamins and medicines
• Food that will be eaten in the store
• Hot foods

What happens if my client’s Food Stamps are lost or stolen?
If an EBT card is lost or stolen, your clients should report it to the food stamp office as soon as possible. The food stamp office will provide your clients with a 24-hour hotline to report lost or stolen cards. Once the call is received, the food stamp office will cancel the card so that the benefits cannot be used. The food stamp office must replace the EBT card within two business days. At that time, your clients will again have access to their benefits.

For states that are not yet using the EBT system, replacement of food stamps depends on the circumstances under which they were lost or stolen. The food stamp office will replace coupons lost or stolen through the mail before your clients received the coupons. The food stamp office will not replace food stamp coupons lost or stolen after your clients received them.