Kentucky Electronic
Benefits Transfer (EBT)
Accessing Food Benefits and
Allowable Purchases with EBT
Vol. II, MS 8000-8299
Benefit Issuance
• Initial Food Benefits are added to the
recipient’s EBT account overnight when
the application is processed
• Monthly issuance is automatically
available on the EBT card per the regular
monthly issuance schedule.
Monthly Issuance
Benefits are available at 5:00 am EST on the
following day of the month, based on the last
digit of the recipient’s SSN, as follows:
 SSN ends in 0 – benefits available on the 1st
 SSN ends in 1 - 2nd
 SSN ends in 2 - 3rd
 SSN ends in 3 - 4th
 SSN ends in 4 - 5th
 SSN ends in 5 - 6th
 SSN ends in 6 - 7th
 SSN ends in 7 - 8th
 SSN ends in 8 - 9th
 SSN ends in 9 - 10th
The EBT Card
•The Kentucky card has 16
digits beginning with 507709
•The Federal EBT card looks the same, except
the number begins with 507688
•The Case name is listed under the number.
•Only one EBT card is issued for each SSN.
The Flip Side
•On the back of the card is a magnetic
stripe containing the card number in
electronic form, and a signature stripe for
additional identification.
• The Customer Service
number and client
website are also listed.
Receiving the EBT Card
• The EBT card is mailed within 3 days
after a case is approved.
• Additional information on how and
where to use the card, and how to
protect it, is also included in this packet.
Activating the EBT Card
• Cards are mailed with an inactive status.
• An attached sticker tells the recipient to
call the Customer Service Representative
(CSR) to activate the card.
• The card does not work until activated!
To Activate the EBT Card:
1. On the Customer Service line, select either
the English or Spanish option.
2. Provide the 16-digit EBT card number, the
Head of Household’s date of birth.
3. Select a PIN. This must be entered twice to
confirm the correct PIN.
Securing the Personal
Identification Number (PIN)
• No one else should know this number, and
it should not be given to anyone except
the Authorized Representative.
• If the household opts to have an
authorized representative for EBT, enter this
individual on the KAMES system.
EBT Representatives
• Naming an EBT representative allows that
person to contact the Customer Service line
on the household’s behalf.
• If the household designates two reps (one to
apply and the other to use the EBT card),
have the client specify which will use EBT.
Entering the EBT Representative
• If two reps are selected, the individual who can apply for
benefits is listed first, using code “A” to “Apply” for HH
• Enter the EBT representative second, with “P” for EB T.
• Authorized reps do not receive their own EBT card.
Using the EBT Card
• Recipients may use the EBT card at FNSapproved retailers displaying a QUEST sign
with a grocery bag labeled “food stamps”
in the bottom-left hand corner.
• The EBT card looks like, and is used, the
same way as a bank debit card.
Point Of Sale (POS)
• The EBT system distributes benefits to
recipients through POS terminals at
authorized FNS retailers.
• In addition, EBT can also be used at
authorized retailers who do not have a
POS terminal.
• These retailers are trained in how to
complete these special EBT requests.
Time to Shop!
Recipients should know their account
balance before they shop!
They can do this by:
 Keeping their most recent receipt
 Calling Customer Service
 Checking their balance at a POS
machine, if that function is available.
Forgotten PIN
• Recipients who forget their PIN may try 4
times to enter the correct number.
• After the 4th incorrect attempt, the card is
locked until the following day.
Changing the PIN
• If a recipient cannot remember the PIN,
he/she can select a new one by calling the
Customer Service Representative (CSR).
• If a recipient wants to change the PIN, this
can be done on the EBT Website as long as
he/she enters the old PIN first.
Customer Service
Representative (CSR)
• The Customer Service toll-free number is
operational 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week and is voice-automated.
• If calling from a rotary dial phone, the
recipient is instructed to stay on the line
to speak with a CSR.
Customer Services Available
Recipients can use CSR to:
• Activate the EBT card
• Report the card lost, stolen, or damaged
and request a new EBT card
• Check their benefit balance
• Review their last 10 transactions
• Select a new PIN
• Dispute a transaction
Internet Access to EBT
• Recipients have access to EBT account
information on a secure website at:
www.ebtaccount.jpmorgan.com
• There is no additional cost to the client.
• This site can be viewed from any computer
with internet access (home, library, etc.)
EBT Website Features
Clients can use this website to:
−
−
−
−
Check their EBT balance
Review transaction history
Change their PIN
Contact Customer Service
The client can login to this site using EBT card
number and PIN, or register to establish a
userid and password.
Retailer Assistance
• FNS certified retailers also have a toll-free
assistance number, used when a problem arises
with POS equipment or completing a transaction.
• A manual voucher can be used when a POS
terminal is not available or not operational.
EBT Inquiry for Workers
• The staff inquiry system for EBT is located
on the InTRAnet at: https://ebt.chfs.ky.gov
• After selecting the appropriate option,
you will be asked to log on.
• Enter “KY” then your 7-digit HR userid and
password.
Forget Your Password?
• On the third wrong attempt to remember
the password, the worker will be locked out
of the EBT Intranet site.
• The worker must then call the CHFS Help
Desk at (502) 573-5831, option 2 for help
getting back into this site.
Intranet Site Options
Staff can use the EBT Inquiry System to:
• See if an EBT card was issued and when
• See if a PIN was selected
• Check for discrepancies between KAMES
and the EBT system
• Review benefit information, and assist in
resolving concerns that could not be
solved by the CSR
Using the Intranet Site
To view information, use “Cardholder
Search” and enter either:
− The recipient’s last name
− The recipient’s Social Security Number
− The 16-digit EBT card number
− The 14-digit EBT case number
EBT Inquiry on KAMES
Option X on the Case/Pending Inquiry Menu
has limited information on EBT accounts.
The information displayed on this screen is:
−The 14-digit EBT case number
−The latest data transmitted to the EBT system
−Case status on the EBT system
−Date an EBT card was returned as undeliverable
On the Road Again...
• Recipients may now use their EBT card in
FNS approved stores in any state in the US,
except Ohio and Wyoming.
• In these two states, the EBT card will only
work at national chain stores.
• An FNS approved store will display the
Quest sign on a door or window.
Discontinuance of Food Benefits
• The discontinuance of the Food Stamp
Benefits case has no impact on the EBT
account or the benefits issued.
• As long as there are benefits in the
account, the recipient can use those
benefits.
Reapplication for Food Benefits
• When a recipient reapplies for benefits, the
caseworker needs to check the status of
that person’s EBT card through the EBT
Inquiry System.
• Do NOT assume the old EBT card still works.
When to Order a New EBT Card
• If the status is anything other than “Active01” or “Inactive-00”, or if the EBT card
number is blank, the caseworker should tell
KAMES to issue a new EBT card.
• Be sure to tell the recipient that the old
card will not work.
EBT Time Limits: MS 8110
• Benefits may carried over from month to
month, but must be used within 12 months
of issuance.
• The EBT account must be debited by the
recipient at least once every 12 months.
Time Limits on Use of Benefits
• If the card is not used for 12 months,
benefits in the account issued more than
12 months prior will be expunged and
cannot be retrieved.
• KAMES will send a notice at 12 months to
notify the recipient of loss of benefits.
• Staff will also receive a related spot check.
Policy Search
• Use the Online Policy Manuals to fill in the
blanks and answer the remaining questions
on your Notes Pages.
• When you have finished this activity, return
to Blackboard to complete the final
activities for this segment.