Food and Nutrition Services (Food Stamps)

Food and Nutrition Services is a federal food assistance program that provides low-income families the food they need for a nutritionally adequate diet. Benefits are issued via Electronic Benefit Transfer cards (EBT cards). There are three ways to apply for Food and Nutrition Services (Food Stamps):

1. Apply online with ePASS.
2. Apply in person at your county Department of Social Services (DSS) office. It helps to fill out as much of the application as possible ahead of time.
3. Fill out a paper application Open PDF and mail to or drop it off at your county DSS office.

The NC FAST ePASS website now includes a Spanish translation option, as well as the ability to complete the full application process in Spanish online, previously only possible using a paper form. These improvements will remain in place beyond the COVID-19 pandemic and do not impact previously submitted applications.

• ePass Flyer in English
• ePass Flyer in Spanish

Watch this video to learn about ePass in Spanish. 

Call your county DSS office if one of these methods will not work for you. Watch the video below to learn about applying online through ePass.

Apply for Food and Nutrition Services (Food Stamps) in NC
Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT)
Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed)
Food and Nutrition Services Employment and Training Program (FNS E&T)
Simplified Nutritional Assistance Program SNAP
North Carolina State Nutrition Action Coalition
Food and Nutrition Services Brochure - English
Food and Nutrition Services Brochure - Spanish
 

Eligibility

Income: You may be eligible for Food and Nutrition Services if your total income falls below the appropriate gross income limits for your household size. Eligibility workers determine which income limit applies to your household.

The maximum benefit amount for households receiving Food and Nutrition Services increased for the period of October 1, 2022 through September 30, 2023. 

Household Composition: Some individuals must participate in Food and Nutrition Services as one household even though they purchase and prepare their meals separately.
Individuals who must participate as one household include:

• Individuals living together who purchase/prepare their food together
• Spouses living together or individuals representing themselves as a married couple
• Individuals under the age of 22 living with a parent
• Individuals under 18 under the parental control of an adult living in the home
• Two unmarried adults living in the same home who are parents of a mutual child

Citizenship/Immigration Status: All individuals receiving Food and Nutrition benefits must be US citizens or immigrants admitted to the United States under a specific immigration status.

Public charge rules that relate to determinations about certain legal resident statuses changed in March 2021. Immigrants should know that they and their families can access many public benefits without concern, if they are eligible, and are encouraged to get information about public charge rules in English and Spanish on the NC Justice Center website. 

Resources: Some households may be subject to a resource test.

• Households may have $2,750 in countable resources.
• Households may have $4,250 if at least one person is age 60 or older or disabled.
• Certain resources are not counted, such as homes, buildings and land.

Contact

NC EBT Call Center: 1-866-719-0141. Contact the Division of Social Services.

Complaints

You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form to:
Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
400 Independence Ave., SW
Washington, DC 20250-9410
Fax: (202) 690-7442 or Email: program.intake@usda.gov.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.