Special SNAP Services in North Carolina

North Carolina offers specialized SNAP services for residents facing urgent needs. These programs provide faster aid, disaster relief, benefit replacement, and simplified access for seniors in certain situations.

Expedited Food And Nutrition Services (Emergency SNAP)

This fast-track option gets food benefits to households in severe financial crisis. Approved applicants can receive aid within seven days, much faster than the standard processing period for regular applications.

Households in North Carolina may qualify under specific conditions. Eligibility is met if your household's situation matches one of the following criteria:

• Gross monthly income is under $150 and liquid resources are below $100.

• You are a migrant or seasonal farmworker with under $100 in liquid resources.

• Combined income and resources are less than monthly rent or mortgage and utilities.

To apply, file a regular FNS application with your county’s Department of Social Services (DSS) or online via ePASS. You must ask for an “expedited” screening. Proof of identity is required upfront, but other documents can be submitted later.

Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP)

D-SNAP provides one month of food benefits following a federally declared disaster. The program helps families who lost income, property, or food afford groceries while they focus on recovery.

Aid is available only in counties approved by the USDA after a disaster. Applicants must live in the affected area, show proof of identity, and have disaster-related expenses or income loss. You must also fall within special income and resource limits set for the disaster.

Current FNS households receive supplements automatically and should not apply. For others, applications are only accepted during a short D-SNAP window announced by NCDHHS. You can pre-register online at ePASS or apply through an interview with your county DSS.

FNS Replacement/Supplement For Food Loss Or Stolen Benefits

This service replaces benefits when food purchased with EBT is lost. This can happen due to power outages, fires, floods, equipment failure, theft under duress, or EBT skimming fraud.

Current FNS or Simplified Nutritional Assistance Program recipients are eligible. You have 10 days from the date of the loss to request a replacement for the value of the food lost.

You must complete and sign the DSS-1678 affidavit form and submit it to your county DSS office. For losses due to EBT fraud, you must follow the special instructions provided by the DHHS for card skimmers.

Simplified Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) For Seniors On SSI

This program streamlines SNAP rules for low-income North Carolinians aged 65 or older who receive SSI. It provides modest, predictable food benefits with significantly less paperwork and fewer reporting requirements.

To qualify, you must be a one-person household, age 65+, receive SSI, and live in North Carolina. You cannot be in an institution, must buy and prepare food separately, and cannot already be receiving regular FNS benefits in any state.

The benefit amount is based on shelter costs. You can apply for the Simplified Nutritional Assistance Program through your county DSS or by starting an application online in ePASS. The process is shorter than regular SNAP.

How to Use Your SNAP Benefits in North Carolina

Once approved for SNAP, you need to know how to use your benefits, including what you can buy and where.

What is an EBT Card and How to Use it?

An Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card is how you receive and spend your SNAP benefits. It functions much like a regular debit card. Each month, your food assistance funds are loaded directly onto the card, eliminating the need for paper food stamps.

When you shop at an authorized store, you simply swipe your EBT card at the checkout terminal and enter your personal identification number (PIN) to complete the purchase. The amount is then deducted from your SNAP balance.

What Can You Buy with SNAP Benefits?

SNAP benefits are intended for purchasing food items for your household to prepare and eat at home. This includes most grocery staples that form the basis of a healthy diet, along with seeds and plants that produce food.

• Fruits and vegetables

• Meat, poultry, and fish

• Dairy products

• Breads and cereals

• Snack foods and non-alcoholic beverages

Conversely, some items are not eligible for purchase with an EBT card. These restrictions cover non-food goods, alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and foods that are sold hot and ready to eat at the point of sale.

• Alcoholic beverages or tobacco products

• Vitamins, medicines, and supplements

• Hot foods ready for immediate consumption

• Non-food items like pet food, cleaning supplies, or cosmetics

Where Can You Use Your EBT Card?

Your EBT card is accepted at most authorized retailers across the state. This includes major grocery chains, supermarkets, and many corner stores. Look for the Quest or EBT logo displayed on the door or at the checkout lane. Many farmers’ markets also welcome EBT payments.

You can also use your benefits for online grocery shopping. A growing number of retailers, including Amazon and Walmart, accept EBT for online orders in North Carolina. This allows you to buy eligible food items for pickup or home delivery, offering more flexibility.

Download Benny for Free and Earn Cash Back on EBT

With the Benny app, you can stretch your budget further by earning cash back on your groceries. Shop at participating stores like Target, Walmart, and Dollar Tree, or use services like Uber and Lyft, to get money back on your purchases. It’s a simple way to add value.

Download Benny for free, connect your EBT card, and start earning cash back as you shop.