Important Updates
For more information about stolen benefits, click here. For more information on how to protect your benefits, click here.
General EBT Card Information
New and replacement Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards are mailed to the customer's address on record with DHS by Fidelity Information Services (FIS), the District's EBT card distribution company. Customers may expect to receive their EBT card within five to seven days and are not required to visit the EBT Office to receive their card. Your EBT card will arrive in a plain white envelope so please carefully look for it in the mail.
You can also pick up your EBT card in person at one of the following EBT Card Distribution Centers:
EBT Card Distribution Center at 645 H Street NE
Hours of Operation: Monday - Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.*
EBT Card Distribution Center at 1649 Marion Barry Avenue SE (formerly Good Hope Road SE)
Hours of Operation: Monday - Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 4:45 p.m.*
*Hours and days are subject to change
Activating Your EBT Card
You or an authorized representative may activate the card. An authorized representative is a person you choose to get your benefits for you. To designate an authorized representative, you must submit a written statement to a DHS Service Center.
To activate your EBT card, call FIS at 888-304-9167. You must have the following information ready when calling FIS to activate an EBT card:
- Your date of birth (DOB) in MM/DD/YYYY format
- Last four digits of your Social Security Number (SSN)
- If you do not have an SSN or did not provide one at the time of the program application, you may use your ZIP code
- A pre-selected personal identification number (PIN)
- Keep your PIN secure and never share it with anyone
- If you cannot remember your PIN or it was compromised, call FIS at 888-304-9167 to select a new PIN
Checking Your Balance
You can check your benefits using the ebtEDGE Mobile App available for Apple mobile devices or Android mobile devices, visiting the FIS ebtEDGE website, or contacting FIS at 888-304-9167. Benefit balances are also printed on your store receipt after each transaction.
Updating Your Mailing Address
You can update your mailing address on record with DHS by contacting the Call Center at 202-727-5355 between 7:30 a.m. and 4:45 p.m., Monday to Friday.
Requesting a Replacement EBT Card
You can request a replacement EBT card by mail by calling FIS at 888-304-9167 or in person at one of our EBT Card Distribution Centers, listed above.
Authorized Use
- SNAP benefits can only be used to purchase food at grocery stores or other authorized retailers
- For more information, click here
- If you have cash benefits, you can use those like cash at stores that accept EBT cards or you can withdraw cash from an Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) using your EBT card
- Two ATM withdrawals per month are permitted at no charge, and additional ATM withdrawal transactions are 85 cents per transaction
- Additional fees may be charged by the ATM and will be disclosed before you complete the transaction
Protecting Your Benefits
For more information on how to protect your benefits, click here.
Last Updated:
April 30, 2025