Tennessee EBT Card Balance
Program: SNAP · Administered by Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS)
Updated August 2026
Tennessee's food assistance program is simply known as SNAP and is run by the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS). Rather than a generic EBT card, Tennessee brands its card the Benefit Security Card, onto which approved households' benefits are deposited each month. TDHS has been transitioning EBT card providers, so it's worth confirming the latest balance-check details directly with TDHS if anything looks unfamiliar.
How to Check Your Tennessee EBT Balance
Check online
Log in with your card number to view your balance and transaction history.
https://www.ebtedge.comUse the mobile app
ebtEDGE is the official app for Tennessee 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.
Where You Can Use Your Tennessee 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 and Amazon, 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 Tennessee.
Tennessee SNAP Income Limits
Tennessee does not use Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility (BBCE) to raise SNAP eligibility, so it follows the standard federal gross income limit of 130% of the Federal Poverty Level. In practice, this means Tennessee applies the baseline federal income and asset rules rather than extending eligibility to higher-income households the way some other states do.
| Household Size | Max Monthly Gross Income |
|---|---|
| 1 | $1,729 |
| 2 | $2,344 |
| 3 | $2,960 |
| 4 | $3,575 |
| 5 | $4,190 |
| 6 | $4,806 |
| 7 | $5,421 |
| 8 | $6,036 |
For each additional household member beyond 8, add about $615/month. Based on 2026 federal poverty guidelines at 130% — figures update annually and individual eligibility depends on more than gross income, so confirm your exact amount with Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS).
EBT Fraud & Card Skimming Protection
Protect your benefits from theft
Tennessee has seen a sharp rise in EBT card skimming, where criminals attach a hidden device to a store's payment terminal to steal a cardholder's account number and PIN. Tennessee was one of the more active states in processing stolen-benefit replacement claims, but that relied on temporary federal authority that only covered theft occurring between October 1, 2022, and December 20, 2024. That authority expired and has not been renewed by Congress as of 2026, so benefits stolen after that window generally cannot be replaced.
If your Tennessee Benefit Security Card is compromised, call EBT Customer Service at 1-888-997-9444 right away to cancel the card and request a replacement, and report the incident through the TDHS fraud reporting page. TDHS also warns customers to download the official ebtEDGE app directly and to avoid imitation apps that mimic its name. To protect your benefits, never share your PIN, check your balance often, and use the app to block out-of-state purchases or freeze your card when you aren't using it.
Tennessee-Specific EBT Information
Tennessee was approved by the USDA in late 2025 for a waiver restricting SNAP purchases of candy and sugary drinks, planned to take effect July 31, 2026. However, a federal judge voided that waiver, along with similar ones in Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, and West Virginia, in a June 22, 2026 ruling, finding that USDA had exceeded its legal authority in approving the restrictions. As a result, Tennessee SNAP households can still purchase these items for now, unlike a growing list of other states where similar bans have taken effect.