Tennessee EBT Card Balance

Tennessee Department of Human Services Visit official site Updated September 2026

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

1-888-997-9444

24/7, toll-free

Income Limit

130% of FPL

Gross monthly income

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.

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.

How to Check Your Tennessee EBT Balance

Call customer service

Available 24/7, toll-free.

1-888-997-9444

Check online

Log in with your card number to view your balance and transaction history.

https://www.ebtedge.com

Use 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.

Card declined, locked, or PIN not working? See our EBT card troubleshooting guide.

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, 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 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).

Source: USDA Food and Nutrition Administration — SNAP Eligibility

EBT Fraud & Card Skimming Protection

Protect your benefits from theft

Tennessee ran a federally funded reimbursement program for SNAP and D-SNAP benefits stolen through skimming or cloning between October 1, 2022 and September 30, 2024, with a final claim deadline of January 19, 2025. That federal authority has since expired and has not been renewed, and Tennessee does not currently have an ongoing state-funded program to reimburse benefits stolen after that window closed.

If your Tennessee EBT benefits are stolen now, report it to the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) right away and take standard precautions: change your PIN, request a replacement card, and monitor your balance regularly, since reimbursement for new theft isn't currently guaranteed.

Source: USDA Food and Nutrition Administration — SNAP Fraud Prevention

Using Your Tennessee EBT Card Out of State or Online

Traveling or shopping online?

Tennessee hasn't announced an automatic default block on out-of-state or online purchases, but the ebtEdge app lets you turn on an out-of-state purchase block yourself, along with PIN changes and instant account freezing, as optional anti-fraud tools.

Compare Other States

EBT rules, income limits, and customer service numbers are set state by state. These share Tennessee's census region — useful if you're moving, or comparing how another state runs the program.

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