What is EBT vs SNAP?

SNAP and EBT are related but not the same thing, and the distinction is important. SNAP stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which is the federal program that provides nutrition assistance to low-income households. It was formerly called the Food Stamp Program. EBT stands for Electronic Benefit Transfer, which is the electronic system and the physical card used to deliver benefits. Think of SNAP as the program and EBT as the payment method. When a household is approved for SNAP, their monthly benefits are loaded onto an EBT card, which works like a debit card at authorized retailers to purchase eligible food. EBT is also used to deliver other programs, such as TANF cash assistance and Summer EBT, so not all EBT funds are SNAP funds. Some states also use EBT cards for other assistance programs. In short, SNAP is the policy and funding source that determines who qualifies and how much they get, while EBT is the technology that allows recipients to access and spend those benefits securely and discreetly at the store.