North Carolina 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
Food and Nutrition Services
Customer Service
1-888-622-7328
24/7, toll-free
Income Limit
200% of FPL
Gross monthly income
North Carolina doesn't call its food assistance program SNAP in everyday use; it's officially known as Food and Nutrition Services (FNS), though it's the same federal program as SNAP elsewhere. It's overseen by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and delivered locally through each county's Department of Social Services, with benefits loaded onto an EBT card every month.
North Carolina runs FNS through what the state describes as a federally mandated, state-supervised, county-administered social services system, meaning each of the state's 100 counties, through its own Department of Social Services, actually processes applications and manages cases rather than a single centralized state office. That local structure means processing times and in-person office details can vary somewhat depending on which North Carolina county you live in.
How to Check Your North Carolina 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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina.
North Carolina SNAP Income Limits
Federal SNAP rules normally cap the gross income limit at 130% of the Federal Poverty Level. North Carolina uses Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility (BBCE) to raise that limit to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level.
This means considerably more North Carolina households, including many working families, can qualify for FNS/SNAP benefits than the base federal rule would allow, and BBCE also generally removes the separate asset test, so savings and the value of a vehicle typically aren't counted against a household's eligibility.
| 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 North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), Division of Social Services, administered locally through each county's Department of Social Services.
Source: USDA Food and Nutrition Administration — SNAP Eligibility
EBT Fraud & Card Skimming Protection
Protect your benefits from theft
North Carolina's Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) states directly that stolen FNS/SNAP benefits will not be replaced, now that the temporary federal reimbursement authority created in 2022 has expired. There is no evidence of a state-funded program stepping in to cover the gap.
You can still check your balance or request a replacement card through the state's EBT Call Center at 1-888-622-7328 if your card is lost, stolen, or compromised — doing so won't recover stolen funds, but it stops a thief from continuing to use your card.
Source: USDA Food and Nutrition Administration — SNAP Fraud Prevention
Using Your North Carolina EBT Card Out of State or Online
Traveling or shopping online?
North Carolina doesn't automatically block out-of-state or online EBT purchases by default. NCDHHS recommends, as an optional extra security step, that cardholders block out-of-state and online purchases themselves when they don't need them, then unblock as needed — but unless you do this yourself, your card works normally anywhere SNAP is accepted.
Compare Other States
EBT rules, income limits, and customer service numbers are set state by state. These share North Carolina'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 →