Special Participant EBT Usage
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Special participant Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) situations include group living arrangements (GLA) and homebound or itinerant participants.
Policy
Participants residing in a drug and alcohol treatment center (DAATC) or a group living arrangement(g) facility may be eligible when the facility is certified by the Food and Nutrition Service(g) or meets the definition of a Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) authorized institution.
NOTE When the participant is required to apply for NA through the group living arrangement (GLA) authorized representative or resides in an authorized DAATC, a signed Designation of EBT Alternate Cardholder (FAA-1004A) form needs to be provided.
When a participant leaves the certified or authorized institution, the participant is required to contact FAA to have the authorized institution removed as their alternate cardholder.
FNS Certified Institutions
Facilities that are certified through FNS can deduct NA benefits from the participant’s EBT account in any of the following ways:
●Point of Sale (POS) device
●Offline Food Stamp Voucher form
●Use of alternate cardholder EBT cards at authorized stores
The use of a POS devise or Offline Food Stamp Voucher allows NA amounts deducted from each EBT Primary Payee's account to be credited to the certified institution’s financial account. The certified institution can purchase the resident’s food without having to take many different EBT cards to the store.
An EBT Primary Payee who leaves the certified institution may be entitled to all or part of the NA EBT benefits already deducted from their account. In this situation, the certified institution completes an NA purchase refund. This can be completed either through the POS device or by using the Offline Food Stamp Voucher. The NA purchase refund debits the certified institution’s daily transactions and credits the EBT Primary Payee's NA account.
FNS Authorized Institution
Authorized institutions can deduct NA benefits from the participant’s EBT account using the alternate cardholder EBT cards at authorized stores.
An EBT Primary Payee who leaves the authorized institution may be entitled to all or part of the NA EBT benefits already deducted from their account. In this situation the authorized institution notifies FAA to complete an NA purchase refund.
Issuance for Homebound or Itinerant Participants
Participants who are homebound are encouraged to choose an authorized representative or an EBT Alternate Cardholder.
Procedures
Certified or Authorized Institutions
When the Designation of EBT Alternate Cardholder (FAA-1004A) form is received from a participant residing in a Food and Nutrition Service(g) certified or authorized drug and alcohol treatment center, restrict the EBT Primary Payee for NA.
Homebound or Itinerant Participants
When the itinerant site(g) or home-based interview has been scheduled, all of the following must be completed before leaving the FAA office for the itinerant site or home-based interview:
●The FAA worker establishes the EBT account on EBPM for each participant who does not have a pre-existing account.
●The designated FAA staff responsible for card issuance assigns EBT cards for all scheduled itinerant site and home-based appointments screened as an NA expedite.
●For itinerant site interviews, the FAA worker must take an extra supply of unassigned EBT cards, based on the anticipated number of expedited interviews to be conducted.
●The FAA worker takes the EBT cards and the EBT Card Issuance Log (FAA-1007A) form to the itinerant site or home-based interview.
Telephone Interviews
Special consideration is required when completing a telephone interview. A home visit may be required to complete the EBT card issuance when the participant is determined to meet expedited criteria.
NOTE Requests for a home visit to complete the EBT card issuance must be made no later than the next workday(g) following the interview.
AZTECS Procedures
For NA, when the Designation of EBT Alternate Cardholder (FAA-1004A) form is received from a resident of a certified or authorized drug and alcohol treatment center, restrict the EBT Primary Payee and authorize the EBT Alternate Cardholder. See Authorizing Use of the EBT Account for more information about restricting the EBT Primary Payee.
After completing the itinerant site or home-based interview, turn in the EBT Card Issuance Log (FAA-1007A) form and the remaining unassigned EBT cards to designated FAA staff.
Designated FAA staff completes all of the following:
●Deactivates and destroys EBT cards pre-assigned to participants who failed to appear for the interview.
●Indicates on the FAA-1007A form each card that is deactivated.
●Reviews and keys the appropriate information on EBPM and EBCM.
●Keys an O in the CARD ISSUE field for each participant issued an EBT card replacement during the itinerant site or home-based interview.
NOTE Designated management staff must sign the FAA-1007A form for all cards being deactivated for any reason.
Legal Authorities
7 CFR 274.6(a)
7 CFR 274.6(a)(2)
7 CFR 274.6(a)(6)(ii)
7 CFR 274.6(a)(7)(i)
7 CFR 274.6(b)
last revised 10/10/2023