EBT restrictions (Alabama)

Vanessa Nason filed this request with the Department of Human Resources of Alabama.
Status
Completed

Communications

From: Vanessa Nason

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to Alabama's Public Records Law, I hereby request the following records:

–Specific foods, products, or services that cannot be purchased using EBT cards
–Types of establishments that do not accept EBT cards (for example, jewelry stores, firearms dealers, etc.)

I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by the recommendations of the Massachusetts Supervisor of Public Records. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.

I expect the request to be filled in an accessible format, including for screen readers, which provide text-to-speech for persons unable to read print. Files that are not accessible to screen readers include, for example, .pdf image files as well as physical documents.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Vanessa Nason

From: Spear, Barry

Please find the answers to your questions below.

–Specific foods, products, or services that cannot be purchased using EBT cards

There is not a list of all foods and products that can/cannot be purchased using EBT cards however there are examples of all the different categories of eligible/non-eligible items at www.fns.usda.gov/snap/eligible-food-items<http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/eligible-food-items>.

–Types of establishments that do not accept EBT cards (for example, jewelry stores, firearms dealers, etc.)

For a retailer to be SNAP certified they must stock at least seven varieties of items in each of the USDA’s four staple food categories – meat, poultry or fish, bread or cereal, vegetables or fruits, and dairy products. This rule applies for food establishments whose inventory includes less than 50% of the aforementioned staple food items.

TANF clients are not allowed to use their EBT card to access Family Assistance cash benefits from POS machines or ATMs located in liquor, beer or wine stores, gaming establishments, strip clubs, tattoo or body piercing stores, or places providing psychic services. Also, clients are not allowed to use their Family Assistance cash to buy liquor, wine, beer, tobacco products or lottery tickets.

Barry Spear
Public Information Manager
Alabama Department of Human Resources
50 N. Ripley St. Montgomery, AL
(334) 242-1850

Files

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