Food and Nutrition Services
Food and Nutrition Services Emergency Allotment Waiver Ending
On December 29, 2022, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 was signed into law. As a result, emergency allotments will be ending effective March 2023. February 2023 will be the final month for emergency allotments. General notices will be issued to households that have active FNS cases. A press release regarding the ending of Emergency Allotments will be posted to the NC Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS) website on January 12, 2023. Emergency allotments benefits will no longer be issued, benefits will go back to regular monthly benefit amounts prior to the pandemic, starting March 2023. In addition, if updates were made retroactively to a household's case for February 2023 or prior, the FNS emergency allotment will be adjusted along with the normal monthly allotment, as appropriate. NC FAST will continue to run monthly catch-up batches for households to receive the correct emergency allotment amounts.
HEARINGS
Households do not have the right to request a fair hearing solely to dispute the end of FNS emergency allotments, as states were instructed by the federal government to end emergency allotments. Disputes that are solely regarding the end of the emergency allotment will be denied and the State is not obligated to continue benefits at the previous level per federal regulation 7 CFR 271.1(f). However, households may request a fair hearing only if the issue being contested is that FNS eligibility or benefits were improperly computed or that Federal law or regulation is being misapplied or misinterpreted by the State agency (federal regulation 7 CFR 273.15(k)(1). Households have the right to request a fair hearing 90 calendar days from March 1, 2023, to ask for a hearing. If the household does not ask for a hearing by May 30, 2022, the household cannot have one. Households can request a fair hearing by letting their local county department of social services know of the request. Hearings may be requested in person, by telephone, or in writing. The hearing may be requested by any member of the Food and Nutrition Services unit or by a representative, including an attorney obtained at the household's own expense.
RESOURCES:
North Carolina State Nutrition Action Coalition, www.ncdhhs.gov/foodresources
If you have children under 5 or are pregnant/breastfeeding, you may be eligible for WIC. Learn more about WIC at www.ncdhhs.gov/ncwic and complete a WIC referral online www.ncdhhs.gov/ncwicreferral.
The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) https://www.fns.usda.gov/tefap/emergency-food-assistance-program is a federal program that helps supplement the diets of low-income Americans by providing them with emergency food assistance at no cost. Visit www.nc211.org or dial 211 to be connected to community resources. List of the local Food Banks, Helping Agencies, etc.
FNS recipients can check their FNS/emergency allotment balance and transaction history three ways:
- Visit website www.ebtedge.com
- Download and use the EBT Edge mobile app (can be downloaded on Google Play or Apple Store).
- Contact the North Carolina EBT Call Center at 1-888-622-7328 and follow the prompts.
For the full notice of emergency benefits ending click here
New EBT Card Security Option - "Freeze" Lost Cards
If you think you may have lost your FNS card, you can now place a "freeze" on the card by logging into your Cardholder Portal or EBT Mobile application. This gives you a chance to look for your card before ordering a new one. While "frozen" no new purchases, withdrawals, PIN changes, or benefit inquiries can be made (pending transactions will still be processed). You will still continue to receive your benefits. If you find your card you can unfreeze it throught he same app.
Use Your EBT Card and FNS Benefits to Order Online
Update: You may now purchase groceries through Instacart from Food Lion. Once items are added to your cart, you will be able to select your FNS benefits and how much you like to apply to the order. Through March 16th Instacart is waiving all delivery and pickup fees on your first three orders using FNS benefits.
North Carolina FNS recipient can now use their EBT card to order food online through Amazon and Walmart. Your order can be delivered or picked up at a local store. Online purchases using EBT follow the same guidelines as in-store purchases. You will not be able to use FNS benefits to pay for delivery or service charges. If an order is not eligible for free pick up or delivery, you will need to provide another payment (credit card, Pay Pal, etc). This new way to use your FNS benefits is not limited to the COVID-19 pandemic and will continue after the crisis has ended.
Walmart Grocery Accepts SNAP/FNS
Amazon - Pay with FNS/SNAP EBT
Are you a retailer who would like to accept SNAP/FNS benefits online? You must apply directly with the USDA at the SNAP Retailer Service Center.
ebtEDGE Mobile Application Now Available
Food and Nutrition Services and Work First recipients can now access account information through a free mobile application called ebtEDGE. The app allows individuals in the FNS and WF programs to use their smartphone to look up real time account balances, deposit/transaction history, benefit schedules, and locate EBT retailers. Recipients are still able to use existing channels, such as calling the EBT Call Center at 1-888-622-7328.
The ebtEDGE application is available through Google Play and iTunes.
Food and Nutrition Services
Food and nutrition services, (formerly known as food stamps), assist eligible households with the purchase of food. A household may consist of an individual person or multiple families living together in one dwelling. Eligibility for food and nutrition assistance is based on income and reserve guidelines.
Citizens now have a choice to come into the office to apply, fill out a paper application, or use the new electronic application EPass! Click on the link below, create an account with NC FAST, fill out the application (be sure to designate Montgomery County as your county of residence), and electronically send the application to the agency. Our dedicated staff will process the application and contact you if there are further needs to assist in the approval process!
http://epass.nc.gov/CitizenPortal/application.do
New, online ePASS account features are now available to food and nutrition customers. Click here to learn more in English or Spanish.
If you wish to speak to someone please feel free to contact the Food and Nutrition Supervisor:
Ada Jackson, Supervisor
Office: 910-576-6531 x 1128
FAX: 910-576-5016
102 East Spring Street Drawer N
Troy NC, 27371