Texas 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
1-800-777-7328
24/7, toll-free
Income Limit
165% of FPL
Gross monthly income
Texas calls its SNAP benefits card the Lone Star Card, though the underlying program is the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), administered by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). Each month, approved households see their benefits deposited directly onto that card. With more than 3 million Texans relying on SNAP each month, the largest caseload of any state, checking your Lone Star Card balance regularly is an easy habit that helps your household budget go further at the grocery store.
Starting April 1, 2026, Texas began restricting what Lone Star Card benefits can buy: candy, most sodas, and other drinks with added sugar or artificial sweeteners are no longer SNAP-eligible purchases under a USDA-approved waiver. Beverages with more than 50% real fruit or vegetable juice, milk-based drinks, and drinks with certain natural sweeteners are still allowed. It's one of a growing number of states now restricting these purchases, and Texas is among those where the change is currently in effect.
How to Check Your Texas EBT Balance
Check online
Log in with your card number to view your balance and transaction history.
https://www.yourtexasbenefits.comUse the mobile app
Your Texas Benefits is the official app for Texas 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 Texas 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 Texas.
Texas SNAP Income Limits
The standard federal SNAP gross income limit is 130% of the Federal Poverty Level, but Texas uses Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility (BBCE) to raise that threshold to 165% of the Federal Poverty Level.
This higher limit lets more working Texas households qualify for food assistance than the federal minimum would allow on its own, and it generally comes without the standard federal asset test, so modest savings or a family vehicle typically won't disqualify an otherwise eligible household.
| Household Size | Max Monthly Gross Income |
|---|---|
| 1 | $2,195 |
| 2 | $2,975 |
| 3 | $3,757 |
| 4 | $4,538 |
| 5 | $5,318 |
| 6 | $6,100 |
| 7 | $6,881 |
| 8 | $7,661 |
For each additional household member beyond 8, add about $781/month. Based on 2026 federal poverty guidelines at 165% — figures update annually and individual eligibility depends on more than gross income, so confirm your exact amount with Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC).
Source: USDA Food and Nutrition Administration — SNAP Eligibility
EBT Fraud & Card Skimming Protection
Protect your benefits from theft
Texas Lone Star Card users have lost tens of millions of dollars to EBT skimming — one investigation found $21 million stolen with Texas cards still relying on magnetic-stripe technology, which is more vulnerable than chip cards. The federal program that let states use federal funds to reimburse stolen benefits expired at the end of 2024 and was not renewed, and Texas families are no longer reimbursed for benefits stolen through skimming or cloning.
If your Lone Star Card benefits are stolen, report it to the Texas Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and request a replacement card, and take precautions like checking the card reader for tampering before you swipe and monitoring your balance regularly, since there's currently no state program to reimburse the loss.
Source: USDA Food and Nutrition Administration — SNAP Fraud Prevention
Using Your Texas EBT Card Out of State or Online
Traveling or shopping online?
Texas has not implemented an automatic block on out-of-state or online Lone Star Card transactions — your card is designed to keep working if you travel, though if you're permanently moving out of state you must report the change within 10 days by calling 2-1-1 or updating YourTexasBenefits.com.
Compare Other States
EBT rules, income limits, and customer service numbers are set state by state. These share Texas'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 →