Getting your EBT program Up and running
Getting your EBT program Up and running
Sorting out the terminology: LINK, EBT, SNAP, and Food Stamps
Sorting out the terminology: LINK, EBT, SNAP, and Food Stamps
● SNAP: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as "food stamps”● Administered by the USDA office of Food and Nutrition
Services(FNS).● Federal program that helps low-income individuals and
families buy the food they need for good health.● EBT: Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) is an
electronic system that allows recipients to access their SNAP benefits using a card similar to a credit card.
Sorting out the terminology: LINK, EBT, SNAP, and Food Stamps
Sorting out the terminology: LINK, EBT, SNAP, and Food Stamps cont..
• LINK: The name for the Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) system used in Illinois to distribute food and cash assistance benefits, including SNAP.
• The card used to redeem benefits is known as a Link card. Each state has a different name for its EBT system-- for example, Louisiana Purchase, Golden State Advantage (California), Oregon Trail, Lone Star (Texas), or Hoosier Works (Indiana).
Assists People in Transition
48%of all
participants are children
$711 is the average gross monthly
income per SNAP
household
79% of all benefits
go to households
with children
58% of households with children
are headed by single parents
National Characteristics of SNAP Households
Characteristics of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Households: Fiscal Year 2009, USDA FNS
Helps Families Make Healthier Choices
Households CAN use SNAP
benefits for:
• Breads and cereals• Fruits and vegetables• Meats, fish and poultry• Dairy products• Fruit or Vegetable producing plants/seeds
Households CANNOT use
SNAP benefits for:
• Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes or tobacco• Any nonfood items, such as pet foods, soaps, paper
products• Vitamins and medicines• Food or hot meals that will be eaten on-site or in
the store
SNAP-Eligible Food Purchases
SNAP Benefit $$$ in Billions FY 2011 preliminary numbers
71.8
2.99
US Illinois
Persons receiving SNAP BenefitsFY 2011 preliminary numbers
0
5,000,000
10,000,000
15,000,000
20,000,000
25,000,000
30,000,000
35,000,000
40,000,000
45,000,000
44,708,721
1,793,866
US Illinois
Is a LINK Program Feasible for your Market?
* Staffing and support● LINK/EBT coordinator
– Works the LINK booth/tent/table– Keeps track of receipts, tokens, incentive program– Prepares accounting reports
Is a LINK Program Feasible for your Market?
● Backroom Accounting– Processes checks for vendors– Pays transaction fees if any– Between 2-4 hours work per week
How SNAP/LINK works in the Market
● Needs a special redemption system● Since most farmers/vendors do not have a machine
at their stand for processing, a method of exchanging food for payment needs to be in place.– Token, Script, or Receipt?
Token Paper Receipt
Redemption systemsToken or Paper?
● Easier for Customers to use, more back end accounting for you.
● Accounting– Keep good accounting of stock – do 3 counts and record!
● 1st of complete stock.● 2nd of Tokens given out.● 3rd of tokens coming back from Farmer.
Redemption systems“CHITs”
● Easier for Market Manager, more work for shopper
● Be sure to have extra Generic CHITs on hand.● Keep all returned CHITs for accounting at end
of day.
Farmer John 01
$10.00Apples
●
Ideas on Improving your existing program? Incentive Programs
LINK Up Illinois Double Value Coupon Program (modeled after Wholesome Waves DVCP) helps to increase a SNAP recipients buying power for food at Farmers Markets.
This is basically a 2 for 1 program
(up to a certain amount)
●
Ideas on Improving your existing program?Incentive Programs
● Helps to grow your market by reaching new customers who could not otherwise afford to purchase fresh and wholesome foods.
What did customers buy?SNAP purchases 2011 season
Fruits & Veggies61%
Baked Goods19%
Dairy6%
Honey3%
Meats6%
Value Added Products5%
Data from 11 of the 20 LINK Up Illinois supported markets.
a program of
What did customers buy?DVCP purchases 2011 season
Fruits & Veggies70%
Baked Goods14%
Dairy5%
Honey3%
Meats5%
Value Added Products2%
Data from 11 of the 20 LINK Up Illinois supported markets.
a program of
Basic First Steps● Apply to with Food and Nutrition Service
http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/retailers/application-process.htm
● Online application.● Turn around time less then 45 days, faster for Farmers Markets.
● Determine How to process payments● Free EBT only Machine from FNS
– Need phone line and electricity● Voucher
– Can combine with EBT machine● Buy, rent, or get FREE Wireless Machine from third party
processer– Responsible for processing fees
For help with bringing EBT/LINK to your market contact…
Corey Chatman
LINK Up Illinois Program Manager
Email [email protected]
(o) 773-241-6044
(cell) 773-896-4450
Experimental Station
6100 S. Blackstone
Chicago Il 60637