S.C. Code Regs. § 114-2750

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 07, July 26, 2024

Section 114-2750 - EBT Services Interaction

The EBT process requires interactions between Food Stamp Program recipients (households), SCDSS, authorized food retailers and the EBT Contractor.

A. Food Stamp Program Household/SCDSS Interaction

(1) When Program eligibility and benefit levels are established, each Food Stamp Program household will go through the following process:

(a) Be scheduled for EBT training in the SCDSS county office;

(b) Be present on the scheduled training date for EBT training including viewing of an EBT video;

(c) Have EBT card issued by SCDSS county staff;

(d) Independently selects a PIN by means of an online Customer Activated PIN Selection (CAPS) device;

(e) If needed, participate in the question and answer phase of training.

(2) Through SCDSS' automated eligibility system, food stamp benefits are passed online to the EBT Contractor's database for immediate availability;

(3) Each Food Stamp Program household receives EBT training, its EBT card, and selects a PIN in the SCDSS office in the county where the household resides.

B. Food Stamp Program Household/Authorized Retailer Interaction

(1) Following Food Stamp Program eligibility approval, issuance of the EBT card, and PIN selection, a Food Stamp Program household is able to purchase eligible food at an authorized retail store by use of the EBT card and the PIN;

(2) Households are able to purchase eligible foods up to but not exceeding the amount of benefits in its EBT account;

(3) Retailers are required to provide other EBT services to households such as crediting an account when a household wishes to return items and performing manual food sales transaction in the event of system failure or the retailer does not have an online connection to the EBT Contractor's database. An example is a traveling authorized food vendor.

C. Food Stamp Program Household/EBT Contractor Interaction

(1) Food Stamp Program households can obtain an account balance by use of a twenty-four (24) hour a day, seven (7) days a week toll free hotline operated by the EBT contractor. This number is made available to each household through brochures and other EBT related documents issued at training and it is also shown on the protective sleeve used to place the card in;

(2) Food Stamp Program households can report an EBT card as lost, damaged, or stolen by use of a twenty-four (24) hour a day, seven (7) days a week toll free hotline operated by the EBT contractor. Such a report will result in a replacement card being available to the household in the SCDSS county office within three (3) work days following the initial report;

(3) Food Stamp Program households may use their EBT card in any county within the State where EBT is used as the method of food stamp issuance. Households are not necessarily restricted to using the EBT card in the county of residence.

S.C. Code Regs. 114-2750

Added by State Register Volume 19, Issue No. 4, eff April 28, 1995. Amended by State Register Volume 21, Issue No. 6, Part 2, eff June 27, 1997.