If you are trying to see if you are eligible to apply for Food stamps in Arkansas (SNAP) or need more information about Arkansas EBT, you’ve come to the right place. The Arkansas food stamps and EBT program is a federal nutrition program that helps low-income individuals and families buy food.
Food Stamps benefits can be used to purchase food at grocery stores, convenience stores, and some farmers’ markets.
The program is run at the state level by the Arkansas Department of Children and Families (DCF)
If you apply and are approved for benefits, your monthly food stamps allocation will be given to you each month on a plastic card called an EBT (electronic benefits transfer) card, which works like a debit card.
We have provided below everything you need to know to successfully apply for food stamps. We have also explained how EBT Card works and what you can expect with your card if you are approved for food stamps.
In this post, we will cover the following:
- Should I apply for Arkansas Food Stamps?
- Who is Eligible for Arkansas Food Stamps?
- 2019 Arkansas Food Stamps Income Limit
- How Much Will I Recieve in Arkansas Food Stamps?
- How to Apply for Arkansas Food Stamps
- How long to get Approved for Arkansas Food Stamps?
- What is Arkansas EBT Card?
- What can I buy with EBT in Arkansas?
- What time are Food Stamps EBT deposited in Arkansas?
- How to Check Arkansas EBT Card Balance?
- How Do I Get a Arkansas EBT Card Replacement?
- Arkansas EBT Discounts, Perks and Freebies
Should I apply for Arkansas Food Stamps?
If you’ve hit tough times and are struggling to afford food for yourself or your family, you should consider applying for food stamps.
The food stamps program is a federal entitlement program. This means anyone who is eligible will receive benefits. You will not be taking away benefits from someone else if you apply.
In addition, the food stamps program is a nutrition program and not a welfare cash assistance program (which is called TANF). You do not have to be receiving TANF to get food stamps.
Who is Eligible for Arkansas Food Stamps?
The food stamps program is SNAP focused on helping low-income individuals and families, predominantly serving households with children, elderly or disabled members.
Nearly half of all food stamps participants are children.
Eligibility for SNAP is limited to people with gross incomes up to 130% of the federal poverty line.
This means that a family of four can make no more than $2,790 a month to receive benefits.
Able-bodied adults without dependents can only receive three months of benefits during any three-year period if they’re not working a minimum of 20 hours per week or participating in a training program.
There are several requirements you have to meet to be approved for Arkansas food stamps and EBT, however, the most important is the income limit.
As stated above, to be eligible for food stamps, your gross income cannot exceed 130% of the federal poverty line.
In addition, after deductions are taken out, your net income cannot exceed 100% of the poverty level.
2019/2020 Arkansas Food Stamps Income Limit
Below is the 2019/2020 food stamps income limit. It is based on the number of people in your household. For example, if you are a family of 4, you cannot make more than a gross income of $2,790 to qualify for food stamps.
| Household Size | Gross monthly income (130 percent of poverty) |
Net monthly income (100 percent of poverty) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1,354 | $1,041 |
| 2 | $1,832 | $1,410 |
| 3 | $2,311 | $1,778 |
| 4 | $2,790 | $2,146 |
| 5 | $3,269 | $2,515 |
| 6 | $3,748 | $2,883 |
| 7 | $4,227 | $3,251 |
| 8 | $4,705 | $3,620 |
| Each additional member | +$479 | +$369 |
How Much Will I Recieve in Arkansas Food Stamps?
The amount of food stamps benefits a household gets depends on how many people are in the household and how much monthly net income remains after taking allowable deductions.
Because food stamps households are expected to spend about 30 percent of their own resources on food, the amount of food stamps you get is calculated by multiplying your household’s net monthly income by 0.3, and subtracting the result from the maximum monthly allotment for your household size.
| People in Household | Maximum Monthly Allotment |
|---|---|
| 1 | $194 |
| 2 | $355 |
| 3 | $509 |
| 4 | $646 |
| 5 | $768 |
| 6 | $921 |
| 7 | $1,018 |
| 8 | $1,164 |
| Each additional person | +$146 |
How to Apply for Arkansas Food Stamps
There are 3 ways you can apply for food stamps in Arkansas.
Option 1 – Apply online
You can apply online through the Arkansas ACCESS account (as shown in the image below). If you have an account, you can login or create your ACCESS Account. Click here to be taken to the website.
Option 2 – Apply at DHS Office Near You
You can apply in person at the Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) office near you. Click here to locate a DHS office.
Option 3 – Download Arkansas Food Stamps Application
You can download an application, complete it and mail it to your county DHS office or submit it in person.
How long to get Approved for Arkansas Food Stamps?
Once you submit a complete application, your caseworker will schedule an interview with you to review your application information and ask any questions they may have about the information you submitted.
Generally, a decision will be made on your food stamps application within 30 days of the day you submitted a COMPLETE application.
What is an Arkansas EBT Card?
The Arkansas EBT Card, also called the Arkansas ACCESS card is used to administer your monthly benefits.
If you are approved for food stamps, your monthly food stamps allocation will be given to you each month on an Arkansas EBT Card, which works like a debit card.
What can I buy with EBT in Arkansas?
You are allowed to use your food stamps benefits card to buy foods that your household will prepare to eat at home, including the following
- breads and cereals
- fruits and vegetables
- meats, fish and poultry; and
- dairy products
- Seeds and plants to produce food for the household to eat
- Soft drinks, candy, cookies, snack crackers, and ice cream
- Seafood, steak, and bakery cakes
- Energy drinks that have a nutrition facts label
- Energy drinks that have a supplement facts label are classified by the FDA as supplements and are therefore not eligible
Now that you know what you can buy with your SNAP card, here is the list of things you CANNOT buy with the card:
- Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes or tobacco
- Any nonfood items, such as pet foods, soaps, paper products, diapers, and household supplies
- Vitamins and medicines
- Food that will be eaten in the store
- Hot foods
- Live animals
NOTE: In some areas, restaurants can be authorized to accept SNAP benefits from qualified homeless, elderly, or disabled people in exchange for low-cost meals.
What time are food stamps EBT deposited in Arkansas?
Generally, your EBT payment is available at midnight on your payment date.
In the state of Arkansas, Food Stamps Benefits are deposited on EBT Cards over 8 days, between the 4th and the 13th of every month. When your food stamps benefit is deposited on your EBT Card depends on the last digit of your Social Security Number (SSN). Here is the schedule.
| If your Social Security Number ends in | Benefits are deposited on the |
| 0 or 1 | 4th of the month |
| 2 or 3 | 5th of the month |
| 4 | 8th of the month |
| 5 | 9th of the month |
| 6 | 10th of the month |
| 7 | 11th of the month |
| 8 | 12th of the month |
| 9 | 13th of the month |
How to Check Arkansas EBT Card Balance?
There are three ways to check your Arkansas EBT Card balance.
Option 1
Call 1-800-997-9999 to check the balance on your Arkansas EBT Card
Option 2
- You can check the balance online here
Option 3
- You can also check the balance by locating your Last Receipt
How Do I Get an Arkansas EBT Card Replacement?
To report your card lost, stolen, damaged, or not received in the mail call the Arkansas EBT Customer Service number at – 1-800-997-9999.
If your EBT card is stolen and benefits are used these benefits cannot be replaced.
You can also call the number above for the following:
- To report your card lost, stolen, damaged, or not received in the mail.
- To know the date your benefits will be available in your account each month.
- To know if your benefits have been deposited into your account and get your account balance.
- To hear your last 10 transactions.
- To file a claim if you question a transaction in your account.
- If you want to select or change your PIN.
- If your card does not work.
- To find the nearest location where you can use your card.
- If you have other questions about or problems with your card.
Arkansas EBT Discounts
Your Arkansas EBT Card comes with some perks, discounts, and freebies.
Sign up for Amazon Prime Discount for EBT Holders
Amazon.com has announced that beneficiaries enrolled in some government assistance programs can now get Amazon Prime subscriptions for $5.99 a month. EBT Cardholders are included in this offer.
This means that if you are currently receiving benefits on an EBT card, like Food Stamps, you can sign up for Amazon Prime discount for EBT holders. To sign up, click here to be taken to their sign-up page.
The regular Amazon Prime membership is $12.99 a month. However, if you have an EBT Card, you can get Prime Membership for $5.99. That’s over 50% off the regular price.
Home Phone and Cell Phone Services
If you are currently on Food Stamps, and your income is below a certain level, you may qualify for FREE or low-cost cell phone or home phone service for you or a member of your family through the Federal Lifeline Program, which serves nearly 13 million Americans.
This program provides discounts on cell phone service or home phone service for qualifying low-income consumers, including those on Food Stamps. Here are the companies that participate in the program in the state of Arkansas.
There are different companies providing cell phone and home phone service. Be sure to view the “Type of Service” column to make sure you are selecting the right company.
| Company Name | Phone | Type of Service |
| AT&T | 855-301-0355 | Home Phone |
| Madison County Telephone Company | 800-422-4848 | Home Phone |
| NATCO Communications, Inc. | 800-775-6682 | Home Phone |
| Rice Belt Telephone Co | 866-886-5465 | Home Phone |
| CenturyLink | 800-407-5411 | Home Phone |
| South Arkansas Telephone Company (SATCO) | 866-798-2201 | Home Phone |
| Walnut Hill Telephone Company, Inc. | 870-921-4283 | Home Phone |
| Pinnacle Communications | 877-817-6744 | Home Phone |
| TDS Telecom/Cleveland County Telephone Company, Inc. | 606-478-9401 | Home Phone |
| Yelcot Telephone Company | 870-449-4211 | Home Phone |
| Magazine Telephone Company | 800-478-8465 | Home Phone |
| Central Arkansas Telephone | 501-865-3333 | Home Phone |
| Prairie Grove Telephone Company | 866-854-2111 | Home Phone |
| Ritter Communications | 888-336-4466 | Home Phone |
| Arkwest Communications, Inc. | 479-495-4200 | Home Phone |
| Global Connection of America | 877-511-3009 | Home Phone |
| Southwest Arkansas Telephone Cooperative, Inc. | 870-653-8222 | Home Phone |
| TDS Telecom/Decatur Telephone Company, Inc. | 601-635-2251 | Home Phone |
| Windstream Communications | 800-347-1991 | Home Phone |
| Mountain View Telephone Company | 870-269-3232 | Home Phone |
| Arkansas Telephone Company | 501-745-2114 | Home Phone |
| Boomerang Wireless | 866-488-8719 | Mobile |
| Safelink Wireless | 800-723-3546 | Mobile |
| AT&T Mobility | 800-377-9450 | Mobile |
| StandUP Wireless | 800-544-4441 | Mobile |
| Life Wireless | 888-543-3620 | Mobile |
| CellSpan | 844-235-7726 | Mobile |
| Assurance Wireless | 888-898-4888 | Mobile |
| Easy Wireless | 877-476-3451 | Mobile |
| Access Wireless | 866-594-3644 | Mobile |
| American Assistance | 866-966-2628 | Mobile |
| Tag Mobile | 866-959-4918 | Mobile |
| Assist Wireless | 855-392-7747 | Mobile |
| TerraCom Wireless | 877-351-4747 | Mobile |
| US Connect | 855-567-8953 | Mobile |
| True Wireless | 877-412-1919 | Mobile |
Free things to do with EBT Card in Arkansas
The Arkansas Museums listed below all offer individual admission fees ranging from FREE to $3.00 to individuals and families who have an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, and a valid form of photo ID. The offer covers up to four individuals per EBT card
We advise that you call the museum first before you go to confirm their hours and the offer for Arkansas EBT Cardholders.
Museum of Discovery
500 President Clinton Ave., Suite 150
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201
501-396-7050
Arkansas Arts Center
9th & Commerce / MacArthur Park
Little Rock, Arkansas 72203
501-372-4000
P.J. Ahern Home
403 Laurel
Texarkana, Arkansas 71854
903-793-4831
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