Using Your Benefits

NJ SNAP benefits are issued on a Families First Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card that works like a debit card. This card can be used in most grocery stores and some participating farmers market. You can find participating grocery stores by clicking here.   

Benefits can be used online at:  

Recipients seeking to order from these online stores should check with their local store about online SNAP availability. Benefits cannot be used to pay for delivery or other service fees. Be sure to confirm an online store delivers to your home address before ordering.  

Some online orders are completed using Instacart.  More information about how to use your EBT benefits on Instacart can be found here.

Benefits are deposited into your account when the application is approved. Each month that you are still eligible, benefits will be deposited at the beginning of the month. Your benefits cannot be given to another person and you cannot sell the items you purchased with your SNAP benefits.

If you do not use any of your benefits for nine months, your old benefits will be removed from your card.  Once benefits are removed, they cannot be replaced.

The card can be used at the grocery store, like you would use a debit card, to spend your NJ SNAP benefits. You will need to enter a secret Personal Identification Number (PIN), which should never be shared with anyone. 

NJ SNAP can be used to buy food like:

  • Fruits and vegetables;
  • Beans, fish, poultry, meat;
  • Rice, bread, tortillas, cereal;
  • Milk and cheese; and
  • Seeds and plants that produce food.

NJ SNAP cannot be used to buy:

  • Alcohol, tobacco, cigarettes;
  • Non-food items (pet food, toilet paper, diapers, soap, etc.);
  • Vitamins and medicine;
  • Hot and prepared food or meals.

If you already have a Families First card, you can create an online account by visiting NJFamiliesFirst.com. If you have an account, you can check your balance, change your PIN and/or report a lost or stolen card.

If you are receiving cash assistance, when you are shopping in person, you can use your Families First card to withdraw cash from an ATM with the Quest® logo. You also can use the card to buy items that are not allowed under NJ SNAP.

ConnectEBT App

The ConnectEBT App is available for SNAP recipients to:

  • Check the balance on your Families First card
  • Confirm you last deposit
  • Change your PIN
  • Review up to 12 months of transaction history

 The app is free and available in English and Spanish.  You can download it in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

Once installed, you will need to verify your identity and then you will be able to log in or create a new account.  The user name and password is the same as your online account at NJFamiliesFirst.com, if you already have an account. If you create a new account on the app, your user name and password will also work at NJFamiliesFirst.com.

It is illegal to use the Families First Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card at any of these locations:

  • Liquor Stores
  • Casino/Gaming
  • Adult Entertainment/Establishments Strip Clubs

This is a federal law! 

Families First Discovery Pass

The New Jersey State Council on the Arts and the New Jersey Historical Commission have partnered with the NJ Departments of Human Services (DHS) and Health (DOH) to launch New Jersey’s Families First Discovery Pass program.

This program provides families and individuals enrolled in state assistance programs with free or highly discounted admission to arts and history organizations, venues, and programs – both in-person and virtual.

The Families First Discovery Pass Program offers broad access to cultural experiences for New Jersey residents and helps cultural organizations engage new audiences with the goal of building long-lasting relationships. Residents who receive benefits through SNAP, WFNJ, Child Care Assistance Program and/or WIC are eligible for free or deeply discounted cultural programs throughout the State.

Find a list of current discounts on the Council on the Arts website here. 

Farmer’s Markets are great sources of fresh fruits, vegetables, and other healthy foods. Use your SNAP benefits at these local markets.

 

ConnectEBT App

ConnetEBT App Logo

Download the ConnectEBT App in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store to check your balance, confirm your last deposit, change your PIN and review up to 12 months of transaction history.