The EBT Card shown at the left was implemented in December of 1997, and replaced long standing Food Stamp Coupons and Monthly Cash Benefit checks.

Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) is a method of delivering governmental benefits to recipients electronically. Louisiana uses magnetic stripe card technology. The card, which is referred to as the Louisiana Purchase Card enables recipients to access benefits at ATM's and Point-of-Sale (POS) machines. EBT was fully implemented in Louisiana in December 1997. Louisiana was the sixteenth State to begin an EBT project and was the thirteenth State to have a statewide program. Food Stamp benefits and cash benefits from the Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program (FITAP) and the Kinship Care Subsidy Program (KCSP) are currently accessible through EBT.

All EBT stakeholders have benefitted from EBT implementation. Surveys have shown that EBT is highly approved by recipients, retailers and the Agency. Cash benefits are posted to recipient accounts during the first five days of the month and food stamp benefits are posted during the first fourteen days of the month. Recipient benefits are accessible by 5:00 a.m. the morning after they are posted. Benefits are posted on the same date every month regardless of the day of the week. Holidays and weekends do not affect the date of benefit availability. In emergency situations, recipients have same-day access to benefits.

Benefits are secure and accessible only to persons authorized by the recipient. The Personal Identification Number (PIN) is selected by the recipient and must be correctly entered in order to successfully complete all electronic transactions. As purchases or cash withdrawals are made at grocery store checkout lanes and ATM's, recipient accounts are debited and the recipient is given a receipt which provides the remaining account balance.

The EBT Program has been a positive experience for the Retailer Community. Retailers may use government-deployed point-of-sale terminals which allow them to participate in the Food Stamp Program at no cost to the retailer. Retailers are not required to process paper coupons, saving retailers time. Food Stamp transactions are processed in the exact amount of the purchase. Food stamp benefit transaction information is transmitted electronically and settlement to the retailer's bank account is made within two days

EBT has reduced administrative workloads and costs such as printing and postage. Each EBT transaction provides an electronic audit trail which provides extensive information that is beneficial to fraud investigators and to program staff for compilation of statistical reports and other administrative responsibilities.

The Agency has plans to include additional benefits to EBT in the future.