North Carolina EBT and Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) (SNAP)
North Carolina calls SNAP Food and Nutrition Services (FNS), and state pages also say "food stamps"1. NCDHHS sets the rules; your case sits with your county's department of social services (DSS), one of 10026. You apply, renew and report changes in ePASS2. For FY2027 most households qualify with gross income up to 200% of the poverty line5,6, and each household's deposit day, from the 3rd to the 21st, follows the last digit of a Social Security number1.
Official links and numbers
| Apply, renew or report a change | ePASSepass.nc.gov |
|---|---|
| See your EBT balance, freeze the card or block online use | ebtEDGE cardholder portalebtedge.com |
| Lost or stolen card, PIN, balance (24 hours) | 1-888-622-7328 |
| Questions about FNS, interpreters, SUN Bucks | 1-866-719-0141Mon-Fri 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. |
| Find your county DSS office | Local DSS directoryncdhhs.gov |
StateEBT is an independent guide, not a government website. Applications, logins and balances are handled only on the official sites above, run by North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), Division of Child and Family Well-Being, with the 100 county departments of social services and its EBT contractor.
ePASS accounts: basic, enhanced and linked
ePASS handles FNS, Medicaid, Work First and energy assistance applications, and you sign in with an NCID, which needs a working email address21,22,23. A basic account can apply and check status. To renew, report changes or see case details online, the account must also be "enhanced" and "linked" to your case11,12.
If you get FNS and Medicaid, enhance it yourself under Dashboard, "Enhance your ePASS account," with text or email codes for two-factor sign-in. If you get FNS only, your caseworker or county DSS must enhance and link it. Without a Social Security number, take ID to DSS11. Uploads can be PDF, JPG, TIF or BMP up to 30 MB; each is marked Accepted, Rejected or Partially Rejected11.
The North Carolina EBT Card and ebtEDGE
Check your balance on your last receipt, in ebtEDGE or its app, or at 1-888-622-7328. You can also link your phone under "Messaging Registration" in ebtEDGE and text BAL to 42265 (MINI shows the last five transactions)3,4. Four wrong PINs in a row lock the card until you choose a new PIN or wait until after 12:01 a.m.3.
NCDHHS reports thieves re-setting PINs through the cardholder portal and spending benefits, mostly online4. In ebtEDGE, "Freeze Card" stops all use, and "Protect My Account" blocks out-of-state and online purchases; only the official ebtEDGE app has these controls, and the state says to delete other benefit apps4. A replacement card after fraud is free and takes about three to five business days4.
Stolen benefits are not replaced: federal replacement ended December 20, 2024, and reporting theft to DSS does not restore them4. The state's card pages, checked October 16, 2026, do not mention chip cards3,4.
- Card customer service: 1-888-622-7328
- Cardholder website: ebtEDGE
- Cardholder app: ebtEDGE (iPhone, Android)
- EBT processor: FIS
North Carolina SNAP and EBT phone numbers
| For | Number | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EBT Call Center (card, PIN, balance, lost or stolen card) | 1-888-622-73283 | 24 hours, 7 days |
| NC EBT Call Center (FNS questions, complaints, interpreters) | 1-866-719-01411 | Mon-Fri 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; closed weekends and holidays |
| SUN Bucks call centerChoose your language, then option 2 (option 1 for a new card) | 1-866-719-014116 | — |
| Relay NC | 7112 | — |
| NC Medicaid Contact Center | 1-888-245-017922 | — |
| NC WIC (find your local clinic) | 1-844-601-688124 | — |
Applying for FNS through ePASS or your county DSS
- Send the application early, even if it is incomplete. Benefits count from the day DSS receives your application, even an incomplete one. Use ePASS, go to county DSS, or mail or drop off form DSS-82071,2.
- Collect what you can. ID for the head of household; Social Security numbers, birth dates and citizenship for everyone; bank balances, pay proof, monthly bills, and medical bills for anyone 60+ or disabled2.
- Do the interview with a caseworker. A caseworker contacts online applicants within a few days. It can be by phone, video or in person, or done by someone you choose2. Missed it? A DSS-8650 notice follows; reschedule before day 3010.
- Send proof and watch your mail. Upload proof in an enhanced ePASS account, or mail, fax or bring it to DSS11. Decisions take up to 30 days; the card comes by mail2.
Expedited service covers households with under $150 gross income and $100 or less in cash and bank accounts, households whose income plus that money is below rent plus utilities, and destitute migrant or seasonal farmworkers9. The state manual has counties approve these cases by the 4th calendar day so you can buy food by the 7th; only identity must be proven first9. DSS schedules the interview within 3 calendar days for expedited cases and 10 for others. You may ask for an in-person interview, and one is not required if it is a hardship10. Free interpreters: 1-866-719-01412.
North Carolina's 200% income chart from October 1, 2026
| Household size | Gross income limit (200%) | Net income limit (100%) | Maximum benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2,660 | $1,330 | $306 |
| 2 | $3,608 | $1,804 | $562 |
| 3 | $4,554 | $2,277 | $808 |
| 4 | $5,500 | $2,750 | $1,023 |
| 5 | $6,448 | $3,224 | $1,217 |
| 6 | $7,394 | $3,697 | $1,463 |
| 7 | $8,340 | $4,170 | $1,616 |
| 8 | $9,288 | $4,644 | $1,841 |
| Each additional person | +$948 | +$474 | +$225 |
Gross limit: as published by North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), Division of Child and Family Well-Being, with the 100 county departments of social services5. Net limit and maximum benefit: USDA FY2027 cost-of-living adjustments. All states compared.
Every state application tells you about TANF-funded services, so a household at or below 200% is categorically eligible from the day it applies6. The October 1, 2026 figures come from change notice 04-2026, dated September 21, 202625,5. After approval, the 130% line ($1,729 for one person) matters: going over it for your household size is a reportable change5,8.
Utility allowances rise with household size: the heating and cooling allowance is $659 for one person and $944 for five or more. The shelter deduction cap is $769, with no cap for households with an elderly or disabled member5.
Net income test. Under the state manual, households in "expanded (200%) categorical eligibility" skip both the gross and net income tests, although a household of three or more can still be denied for a $0 benefit6. A household with a member 60+ or disabled whose income is above 200% must pass only the 100% net test, $1,330 a month for one person from October 1, 20265.
Assets. Categorically eligible households pass the resource test automatically, and vehicles are never counted6,7. Otherwise the limit is $3,000, or $4,750 with a member 60+ or disabled; that applies when a member has an intentional program violation or drug felony disqualification, or the head of household has a work sanction6,7. Lottery or gambling winnings of $4,750 or more end eligibility for the whole household7,8.
Deposit days by the last digit of your SSN
On odd-numbered days from the 3rd to the 21st, by the last digit of your Social Security number; without an SSN, the 3rd.
| SSN ends in | Benefits available |
|---|---|
| 1 | 3rd |
| 2 | 5th |
| 3 | 7th |
| 4 | 9th |
| 5 | 11th |
| 6 | 13th |
| 7 | 15th |
| 8 | 17th |
| 9 | 19th |
| 0 | 21st |
Benefits can be used after 6 a.m. on your day, on the same date every month even on weekends and holidays1,3. If the card has no purchase for 9 months in a row (274 days), NC FAST mails a warning 30 days ahead and then removes the benefits for good; any purchase restarts the count20.
Six-month renewals and the three changes you must report
Most households renew every six months; households of only elderly or disabled members with no earnings renew every 128. The month before benefits end, form DSS-2435 (Notice of Expiration and Interview Recertification Form) arrives by mail or ePASS eNotice, and an enhanced ePASS account can renew online from the first day of the last month11. If an interview is needed, nothing is issued until it is done, and you must reschedule a missed one11.
Between renewals you report only three things by the 10th of the next month: income above the 130% figure on your DSS-8550 change report form, a time-limited adult falling below 80 work hours a month, or winnings of $4,750 or more8. Phone, email, fax, ePASS and office visits all count8,12. If benefits are cut, you have 90 days from the letter's date to ask for a hearing13.
Rules specific to North Carolina
Work rules for ages 18-64 since December 1, 2025
Since December 1, 2025, adults 18 through 64 with no child under 14 at home get only 3 months of FNS in 36 unless they work, volunteer or train 80 hours a month or are exempt. North Carolina's 36-month period runs January 1, 2025 to December 31, 202714,13. The state counts VA disability at any rating as an exemption, and gig workers can prove hours with app records or a signed log14. More Than a Job NC offers free training. A separate Medicaid work rule starts January 1, 2027; meeting the FNS rule meets it13.
Fewer noncitizens eligible from February 1, 2026
From February 1, 2026, refugees, asylees and most parolees no longer qualify on that status. Lawful permanent residents past the 5-year wait (or exempt), Cuban and Haitian entrants and citizens of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands and Palau still do. County DSS reviews existing cases at the next renewal13.
Simplified Nutritional Assistance Program for SSI recipients 65 and older
People 65 or older on SSI who buy and cook food separately can be moved into this separate program; the state finds them through Social Security data and mails an application. Income is not counted and cases last 36 months15. From November 1, 2026 (change notice 05-2026) it pays $125 a month with no housing cost, $174 with $0.01-$199, and $215 with $200 or more. Regular FNS may pay more if shelter or medical costs are high15.
SUN Bucks summer benefits for 2026
SUN Bucks paid $120 per eligible child once for summer 2026, on a separate card that expires 122 days after issue16. Children approved for free or reduced-price meals, and children 7 to 16 in FNS, Work First, Medicaid under 185% of poverty, foster care, McKinney-Vento or the Cherokee Tribal Food Distribution Program, were enrolled automatically. The 2026 application deadline was August 15, 202616.
No soda ban and no restaurant meals option
North Carolina is not on USDA's food restriction waiver list (updated October 13, 2026), so soda and candy remain eligible17. It is not on the Restaurant Meals Program list either (updated August 7, 2026)18. Online, FNS works at USDA-listed retailers for the state such as ALDI, Amazon, Food Lion, Harris Teeter and Walmart19.
Other assistance in North Carolina
| Program | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Work First Family Assistance (TANF) | Cash help and job services for families with children; apply in ePASS or at county DSS |
| NC Medicaid | Health coverage; apply in ePASS (listed as "Medical Assistance"), at DSS, or through HealthCare.gov |
| HealthCare.gov | The federal marketplace North Carolina uses for private health plans |
| Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) | One-time heating bill payment; December sign-up for 60+ and disabled, January-March for others |
| Crisis Intervention Program (CIP) | Help with a heating or cooling emergency, July 1 to June 30 while funds last |
| NC WIC | Food, nutrition help and breastfeeding support for pregnant women, infants and children under 5; FNS counts as income proof |
| More Than a Job NC | Free FNS job training and education that can count toward work hours |
Sources
- Food and Nutrition Services (Food Stamps), NCDHHS. Checked 16 October 2026.
- Apply for Food and Nutrition Services (Food Stamps), NCDHHS. Checked 16 October 2026.
- Electronic Benefit Transfer, NCDHHS. Checked 16 October 2026.
- Card Skimmers and Stolen FNS Benefits, NCDHHS. Checked 16 October 2026.
- FNS Certification Manual, FNS 360 Determining Benefit Levels (Change #04-2026, effective October 1, 2026), NCDHHS Division of Child and Family Well-Being. Checked 16 October 2026.
- FNS Certification Manual, FNS 220 Categorical Eligibility (Change #04-2026, effective October 1, 2026), NCDHHS Division of Child and Family Well-Being. Checked 16 October 2026.
- FNS Certification Manual, FNS 390 Resources (Change #04-2026, effective October 1, 2026), NCDHHS Division of Child and Family Well-Being. Checked 16 October 2026.
- FNS Certification Manual, FNS 500 SR Category and Reporting Requirements (Change #04-2026, effective October 1, 2026), NCDHHS Division of Child and Family Well-Being. Checked 16 October 2026.
- FNS Certification Manual, FNS 425 Expedited Service Processing (March 1, 2024), NCDHHS Division of Child and Family Well-Being. Checked 16 October 2026.
- FNS Certification Manual, FNS 415 Interviewing, NCDHHS Division of Child and Family Well-Being. Checked 16 October 2026.
- Online FNS and SNAP Recertifications, NCDHHS. Checked 16 October 2026.
- Online FNS and SNAP Change of Circumstance, NCDHHS. Checked 16 October 2026.
- Changes to Food and Nutrition Services, NCDHHS. Checked 16 October 2026.
- Work Requirements for Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents, NCDHHS. Checked 16 October 2026.
- FNS 600 Simplified Nutritional Assistance Program (Change #05-2026, effective November 1, 2026), NCDHHS Division of Child and Family Well-Being. Checked 16 October 2026.
- SUN Bucks, NCDHHS. Checked 16 October 2026.
- SNAP Food Restriction Waivers (page updated October 13, 2026; read via the agency's CDN copy), USDA Food and Nutrition Administration. Checked 16 October 2026.
- SNAP Restaurant Meals Program (page updated August 7, 2026; read via the agency's CDN copy), USDA Food and Nutrition Administration. Checked 16 October 2026.
- SNAP State Directory: North Carolina (page updated July 22, 2026; read via the agency's CDN copy), USDA Food and Nutrition Administration. Checked 16 October 2026.
- FNS Certification Manual, FNS 165 Inactive EBT Accounts Report (Change #06-2022), NCDHHS Division of Child and Family Well-Being. Checked 16 October 2026.
- Work First Family Assistance, NCDHHS Division of Social Services. Checked 16 October 2026.
- How To Apply for NC Medicaid, NC Medicaid, NCDHHS. Checked 16 October 2026.
- Low Income Energy Assistance, NCDHHS Division of Social Services. Checked 16 October 2026.
- Apply for WIC, NCDHHS Community Nutrition Services Section. Checked 16 October 2026.
- Change Notice 04-2026: 2026-2027 COLA and SUA Policy Updates (September 21, 2026), NCDHHS Division of Child and Family Well-Being. Checked 16 October 2026.
- Local DSS Directory, NCDHHS Division of Social Services. Checked 16 October 2026.