Families First EBT Card: Basic Use and Benefits

• Usage: SNAP (food assistance) benefits can be used to purchase fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy products, bread, cereal, and edible seeds/plants; they cannot be used for alcohol, tobacco, household goods, vitamins, or hot prepared foods.

• Additional Benefits (Discovery Pass): Your EBT card grants free or deeply discounted admission to arts and history institutions and programs in New Jersey (FamiliesFirstDiscoveryPass.com).

• Card Management:

  • A new card is not issued each month; instead, benefits are loaded onto your existing card on a scheduled date early in the month.

  • You can check your balance via receipts, NJFamiliesFirst.gov, the ConnectEBT app, or the customer service center (1-800-997-3333).

  • Benefits will be removed and cannot be recovered if the card remains unused for nine months.

2. New Chip Card (Tap-to-Pay) and Card Lock/Unlock Feature

• New Card Features: To prevent benefit theft, the card now includes an encrypted IC chip, contactless payment (Tap-to-Pay) capability, a 3-digit security code (CVV) on the back, and an expiration date.

• Card Lock Feature (Shop, Lock & Roll):

1. Log in to NJFamiliesFirst.com or the ConnectEBT app.

2. Select the "Lock/Unlock Card" menu and click "Lock My Card Everywhere."

3. Unlock the card only when making a purchase; you can set it to automatically re-lock after 30, 60, or 90 minutes. (Monthly benefits will still be deposited normally even while the card is locked.)

3. Good Food Bucks Program (Bergen County)

• Benefit: When purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables with a SNAP/EBT card, you receive "Good Food Bucks" (additional discounts or coupons) matching the purchase amount, effectively doubling the value.

• Key participating stores/farmers markets in Bergen County:

  • ​Closter Farm & Livestock Co. (Closter)

  • Englewood Farmers Market (Englewood)

  • Cresskill Farmers Market (Cresskill)

  • Lyndhurst Farmers Market (East Rutherford)

  • River Edge Farmers Market (River Edge)

  • ACME of Fort Lee (Fort Lee)

4. SNAP Work Requirements (ABAWD Rules)

• Target Group: Able-bodied adults aged 18 to under 65 in households without children under the age of 14.

• Requirements: To maintain SNAP benefits, individuals must work, participate in a job training program, or perform volunteer activities for a minimum average of 80 hours per month.

• Exemptions: Pregnant women, individuals unable to work, those living with a child under the age of 14, members of Native American/Indigenous tribes, etc.​