Pennsylvania EBT Card Balance
CheckEBTCardBalance is an independent informational resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the USDA, any state government, or any EBT card issuer. Always confirm details directly with the official source before relying on them.
Program Name
SNAP
Customer Service
1-888-328-7366
24/7, toll-free
Income Limit
200% of FPL
Gross monthly income
Pennsylvania administers the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) through the Department of Human Services, and residents simply know it as SNAP or food stamps, without a separate marketing name for the program itself. Benefits are loaded monthly onto the Pennsylvania ACCESS Card, an EBT card that also carries Cash Assistance and Medical Assistance for many households.
A distinguishing feature of Pennsylvania's system is that the ACCESS Card isn't only a SNAP card; it's the same card DHS uses to deliver Cash Assistance and Medical Assistance benefits to many households, rather than issuing a separate card for each program. That makes protecting the card especially important, since a single compromised ACCESS Card can affect more than just a family's food budget.
How to Check Your Pennsylvania EBT Balance
Check online
Log in with your card number to view your balance and transaction history.
https://www.connectebt.comUse the mobile app
ConnectEBT is the official app for Pennsylvania EBT cardholders, available on iOS and Android.
Check your last receipt
Your remaining balance is printed at the bottom of the receipt from your most recent EBT purchase.
Card declined, locked, or PIN not working? See our EBT card troubleshooting guide.
Where You Can Use Your Pennsylvania EBT Card
Your EBT card works like a debit card at any USDA-authorized retailer nationwide — major grocery chains and big-box stores such as Walmart, Target, Kroger, Costco, Sam's Club, Aldi, Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, and most local and regional supermarkets, plus many convenience stores and farmers markets. A growing number of retailers, including Walmart.com, Amazon, DoorDash, and Uber Eats, also accept SNAP EBT for online grocery orders in many areas, though delivery and service fees usually can't be paid with benefits.
SNAP benefits cover food and food-producing seeds or plants, but not hot prepared foods, alcohol, tobacco, or non-food items — some states also restrict specific items like soda or candy, noted below if it applies to Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania SNAP Income Limits
Federal rules normally limit SNAP eligibility to households earning 130% of the Federal Poverty Level, but Pennsylvania has adopted Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility (BBCE), which raises the gross income limit to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level.
This means significantly more Pennsylvania households, including many with modest but tight budgets, can qualify for food assistance than the federal floor would otherwise allow, and most applicants don't need to worry about an asset test on savings or a vehicle.
| Household Size | Max Monthly Gross Income |
|---|---|
| 1 | $2,660 |
| 2 | $3,607 |
| 3 | $4,553 |
| 4 | $5,500 |
| 5 | $6,447 |
| 6 | $7,393 |
| 7 | $8,340 |
| 8 | $9,287 |
For each additional household member beyond 8, add about $947/month. Based on 2026 federal poverty guidelines at 200% — figures update annually and individual eligibility depends on more than gross income, so confirm your exact amount with Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS).
Source: USDA Food and Nutrition Administration — SNAP Eligibility
EBT Fraud & Card Skimming Protection
Protect your benefits from theft
Pennsylvania SNAP households have lost tens of millions of dollars to EBT card skimming, and the state is spending an estimated $14 million to upgrade magnetic-stripe ACCESS cards to more secure chip (EMV) technology after a bill advanced in the state House in 2026. However, the federal program that let states use federal funds to reimburse stolen SNAP benefits expired December 20, 2024 and hasn't been renewed, and Pennsylvania does not currently have its own program guaranteeing reimbursement for benefits stolen after that date.
The state's main protection tool right now is prevention: the Department of Human Services and Office of State Inspector General launched a free card-lock feature (through the ebtEDGE app or website) that lets you lock your ACCESS card when it's not in use, blocking all purchases, balance inquiries, and transactions until you unlock it. If your benefits are stolen, report it to your County Assistance Office and take the same standard security steps: lock or cancel the card immediately, change your PIN, and monitor your balance.
Source: USDA Food and Nutrition Administration — SNAP Fraud Prevention
Using Your Pennsylvania EBT Card Out of State or Online
Traveling or shopping online?
Pennsylvania hasn't implemented an automatic default block on out-of-state or online ACCESS card transactions like some other states — instead it offers an opt-in card-lock feature you control yourself through ebtEDGE, which blocks all transactions (not just out-of-state or online ones) whenever you turn it on.
Compare Other States
EBT rules, income limits, and customer service numbers are set state by state. These share Pennsylvania's census region — useful if you're moving, or comparing how another state runs the program.
Helpful Guides
EBT Stores
Find SNAP-authorized stores near you by ZIP code or current location.
Learn more →Where to Use EBT
See whether a specific retailer, from Costco to McDonald's, accepts EBT.
Learn more →What Can You Buy
What your EBT card does and doesn't cover, including hot food and online orders.
Learn more →Lost/Damaged Card
How to report a lost or stolen card, or replace a damaged or expired one.
Learn more →Card Not Working?
Troubleshoot a declined, locked, or frozen EBT card, a forgotten PIN, or a deposit that hasn't shown up yet.
Learn more →Work Requirements
What changed for SNAP work requirements and recertification under the 2025 law.
Learn more →Farmers Markets
How EBT tokens work at farmers markets, plus programs that double what you spend.
Learn more →