If you have a Tennessee EBT Card, this article will help you obtain your Tennessee Food Stamps balance. There are three ways to get the balance on your Tennessee Electronic Benefits Card (EBT) – by phone, online, or in-person. In this post, we will walk you through the steps on how to complete the Tennessee EBT Card balance check.
Tennessee Food Stamps Program
The Tennessee Department of Human Services (DHS) is responsible for administering Tennessee Food Stamp benefits to low-income households facing food insecurity. Food Stamp benefits allow households to purchase the food they need for good health and nutrition.
For help on how to apply for Tennessee food stamps, read our TN SNAP Application Guide here.
If you are approved for food assistance in Tennessee, you will receive a plastic Benefits Card in the mail. Benefits are deposited electronically on your EBT Card every month. The Tennessee EBT Card, also known as the Tennessee Benefit Security Card is similar to a regular ATM or debit card.
Benefits can be used to make food purchases at eligible grocery store locations. Most Tennessee grocery stores throughout accept the Benefit Security Card as payment.
For instructions on how to check your Tennessee Food Stamps balance, keep reading below.
This Post Will Cover:
- How to Check Tennessee Food Stamps Balance
- Tennessee EBT Connect Card Online Login
- How to Recover Tennessee EBT Card User ID & Password
- Create Tennessee Connect EBT Account
- Tennessee EBT Frequently Asked Questions
How to Check your Tennessee Food Stamps Balance
There are three options for checking your Tennessee Benefit Security Card balance. Here they are:
Locate Your Last Purchase Receipt
One of the easiest ways to check your Tennessee EBT Card balance is to find the most recent purchase receipt or ATM receipt (for TANF recipients only). At the bottom of the receipt, you will find the current balance on your card.
For help, please see the image below:
To use this balance check method, please save all of your recent Tennessee EBT Card receipts.
Check Your EBT Card Balance by Phone
The second option to check your food stamps balance is to call the Tennessee EBT Card Customer Service phone number at 1-888-997-9444 (toll-free). EBT Customer service is available to help you retrieve your Benefit Security Card balance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Before you call, be sure to have your EBT Card number, 4-digit PIN, and Social Security Number (SSN) ready. You will be asked to provide this information in order to receive your food stamps balance.
Check Your TN EBT Balance Online
The last way to check your Tennessee EBT Card balance is online. You can get your food stamps balance online by using the Tennessee Connect EBT website.
To check your EBT card balance online, follow the instructions below:
How to Check Tennessee EBT Card Balance Online [Instructions]
To check your food stamps balance online, follow the Tennessee EBT Connect Card online login instructions below.
- Visit the Tennessee Connect EBT Card website at www.connectebt.com/tnebtclient.
- Enter your User ID & Password
- Click the “Login” button
- Access your TN Connect Account to locate your EBT Card balance
For help, please see the screenshot below.
If you forgot your Tennessee Connect EBT User ID or Password, follow the instructions below.
How to Recover Tennessee EBT User ID
- Visit the Tennessee Connect EBT Card website at www.connectebt.com/tnebtclient.
- Click the “Forgotten User ID” link on the right-side of the page
- Enter the last 4-digits of your Social Security Number, Date of Birth, and Tennessee EBT Card Number
- Click the “Submit” button
- Answer the Security Question
- Check your Email – your User ID will be emailed to your address on file
For help, please refer to the screenshot below:
How to Reset Tennessee EBT Password
- Visit the Tennessee Connect EBT Card website at www.connectebt.com/tnebtclient.
- Click the “Reset Password” link on the right-side of the page
- Enter the last 4-digits of your Social Security Number, Date of Birth, and Tennessee EBT Card Number
- Enter your New Password – it must be 8-16 characters long and have an uppercase, lowercase, and numeric character
- Confirm your Password & Click the “Submit” button
For help, please refer to the screenshot below:
You can now login to your Tennessee Connect EBT Card online account.
Additionally, if this is your first time using the Tennessee Connect EBT Card website, you will first need to create an account before you can check your food stamps balance online.
For help creating your Tennessee Connect EBT Card account, continue reading below.
How to Create Tennessee Connect EBT Account
- Visit the Tennessee Connect EBT Card website at www.connectebt.com/tnebtclient.
- Click the “Create User Account” link on the right-side of the page
- Enter your Social Security Number, Date of Birth, Tennessee EBT Card Number
- Create a User ID – must be 4-10 characters long with any combo of letters and numbers
- Enter a Password – must be 8-16 characters long and have an uppercase, lowercase, and numeric character
- Click the “Submit” button
For help, please refer to the screenshot below:
You can now login to your Tennessee Connect EBT Card online account using the instructions above.
Tennessee EBT Card Customer Service
If you are still having trouble completing your Tennessee EBT Card online login, please contact customer service for help. Call Tennessee EBT Card Customer Service at 1-888-997-9444.
You may also contact the Tennessee Department of Human Services office for more help. Click here to find the TN DHS Office near you.
Tennessee EBT Card FAQs
When will I get my Tennessee food stamp benefits?
Tennessee food stamps benefits are deposited into your EBT Card account on your scheduled payment date every month. Your benefits are available by 5 a.m. on your deposit day. To find out your benefits deposit date, use the schedule below:
| If the last two digits of your Social Security Number are | Benefits are deposited on the |
| 00-04 | 1st of the month |
| 05-09 | 2nd of the month |
| 10-14 | 3rd of the month |
| 15-19 | 4th of the month |
| 20-24 | 5th of the month |
| 25-29 | 6th of the month |
| 30-34 | 7th of the month |
| 35-39 | 8th of the month |
| 40-44 | 9th of the month |
| 45-49 | 10th of the month |
| 50-54 | 11th of the month |
| 55-59 | 12th of the month |
| 60-64 | 13th of the month |
| 65-69 | 14th of the month |
| 70-74 | 15th of the month |
| 75-79 | 16th of the month |
| 80-84 | 17th of the month |
| 85-89 | 18th of the month |
| 90-94 | 19th of the month |
| 95-99 | 20th of the month |
How much will I get on my EBT card each month?
The amount of benefits you receive on your Benefit Security Card each month is determined by your income and household size. You can use the Maximum Monthly SNAP Amount Chart to find out the highest amount of benefits you can receive each month.
Can I have someone else help me shop using my EBT account?
Ask your local Tennessee Food Stamps caseworker about setting up an Authorized Representative (AR). The AR will have a separate card with his or her own account number and PIN. In addition, the EBT system is able to track which card is used at any time. The AR will have access to your entire benefit account.
Can I use my EBT card in other counties or states?
Your EBT card will work at any store or ATM that accepts EBT Cards in the United States, as well as the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam.
There are no rules against using your EBT card outside of your state of residence. However, you are required to report any address change to your local county public assistance office.
If I don’t use all of the benefits I received this month, will these benefits still be available to me next month?
Yes, benefits that are not used in the month issued will stay in the EBT account. You may use these benefits in the following months.
What do I do if I think my EBT Benefit Security Card has been stolen?
If your EBT card is stolen or compromised, immediately call the Tennessee Benefit Security Card Customer Service phone number. The Tennessee EBT Card toll-free help hotline is 1-888-997-9444.
A customer service representative will cancel your Benefit Security Card and have a new one mailed to you. Replacement cards will be received within 3-5 business days.
You should also contact your local DHS caseworker to alert them, as well as file a police report.
Are there any fees for using my Tennessee EBT Card?
There is never a charge for using your card to buy food. However, any Bank surcharges (if any) for using cash machines will be taken from your account.
How do I buy food and items with my Benefit Security Card?
Here’s how to use your Benefit Security Card to purchase food items:
- Swipe your card at the store’s payment machine.
- Then select “EBT” from the card options.
- Next, enter your 4-digit PIN.
- Complete the transaction and take your receipt – it will show your current Benefit Security Card balance at the bottom.
How do I report a person that I think is misusing food benefits (committing fraud)?
Misusing benefits on purpose is a federal crime. If you misuse benefits, your benefits can be taken away. To report a store or person misusing benefits, click here.
Tennessee EBT Card Account
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If you have additional questions about the Tennessee EBT Benefit Security Card, please leave those in the comments below. We are happy to help answer your questions!
