When can I start using my Lone Star
Card?
You can use your card as soon as you have your PIN
and your benefits are in your account. To make sure benefits are in your
account, call 1-800-777-7328.
(back to top)
When are
SNAP food benefits put into my account?
SNAP benefits will
be put into your account once a month. The last number in your
SNAP Eligibility Determination Group (EDG)
number tells what day you get your benefits. Look at the chart below:
|
FOOD BENEFITS SCHEDULE
|
|
Last
number of SNAP EDG number |
Day of month |
|
0 |
1 |
|
1 |
3 |
|
2 |
5 |
|
3 |
6 |
|
4 |
7 |
|
5 |
9 |
|
6 |
11 |
|
7 |
12 |
|
8 |
13 |
|
9 |
15 |
When are TANF
cash benefits
put into my account?
TANF benefits will be put into your
account once a month. The last number in your TANF Eligibility Determination
Group (EDG) number tells what day
you get your benefits. Look at the chart below:
|
TANF BENEFIT SCHEDULE |
|
Last
number of TANF EDG number |
Day of month |
|
0, 1, 2, 3 |
1 |
|
4, 5, 6 |
2 |
|
7, 8, 9 |
3 |
(back to top)
What can I buy with my Lone Star Card?
If you get food benefits:
You
can buy food, seeds and plants at stores approved by the United
States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The seeds and plants are used
to grow food for your household to eat.
You cannot use food benefits to buy:
○ Beer, wine,
liquor, cigarettes or tobacco;
○ Any
non-food items (For example, pet foods, soaps, paper
products, and household supplies);
○
Vitamins and medicines;
○ Food
that will be eaten in the store;
○ Hot
foods.
To learn more, click on the FNS logo:
If you get TANF benefits:
You can buy only goods and
services your family needs at places that accept the Lone Star Card. You
may make purchases or take out cash from your account to buy any items
you need, such as:
○ Food
○ Clothes
○ Rent or
Mortgage
○ Utilities
(gas, water, electricity, etc.)
○ Furniture
○
Transportation (bus passes, gas, etc.)
○ Phone
○ Laundry
○ Equipment
and supplies for the house (toilet paper, cleaning
supplies, etc.)
(back to top)
Where can I use my Lone
Star Card?
You can use your card at any store that has a Lone
Star Card sign. If you don't see it, ask a store worker.
This is what the Lone Star
Card sign looks like:
Most large and medium-sized
chain stores and many smaller stores that sell food items take the Lone
Star Card.
How do I buy food
with my Lone Star Card?
1. Ask the store where you shop if they
take the Lone
Star Card.
Or go to stores that have the Lone Star
Card signs.
2. Shop for the items
you need. Remember, you can buy
only food with SNAP
benefits.
3. When you check out,
swipe your card through the
machine.
4. Follow the
directions on the machine. This will include
typing in your PIN. Make
sure other people can't see
your PIN when you type it.
NOTE: If you type in the wrong PIN, your Lone Star
Card will not
work. If you
enter the wrong PIN too many
times on the same day, your account will
be put on
hold. This means you can't use your card until you call
1-800-777-7328.
5. If you don't have
enough in your account, you won't be
able to buy the food. If
you have a TANF account, you
can use your TANF benefits to help buy your
food.
6. The machine will
print out a receipt. Make sure the
amount printed on the receipt matches the amount you
spent. Keep the receipt with your card.
(back to top)
How do I use my
Lone Star Card to take out cash?
You can only get cash
if you get TANF benefits. Follow these steps to get cash:
1. Ask the store worker
how much cash you can get with
your card at one time. Some stores let you get all your
cash at once. Other stores might
let you
get only a
certain amount at one time.
NOTE: Some stores might charge a fee for taking out
cash. To
find out more
about fees stores can charge,
click on one of the following links:
Fees (English
and Spanish)
2. Follow directions on
the machine. This will include typing
in your PIN. Make
sure other people can't see your PIN
when you type it. The directions on the machine also
will ask you how much you want to take out.
NOTE: If you type in the wrong PIN, your Lone Star
Card will not
work. If you
enter the wrong PIN too many
times on the same day, your account will
be put on
hold. This means you can't use your card until you call
1-800-777-7328.
3. If you have enough
in your TANF account, the store
worker will give you your
money.
Do I
need to keep my receipts?
Yes. Your receipts show how much you have left in your account
(your balance). You will get a receipt every time you use the Lone Star
Card.
Always get your receipt from the cashier. Make sure the amount
printed on the receipt matches the amount you spent or withdrew.
Keep your receipts in case there are questions about your balance.
You should keep your last receipt with your Lone Star Card.
If you have a question about a purchase or balance, show your receipt
to the store manager.
(back to top)
How can I
check my balance?
Your last receipt will show your balance.
If you lose your last receipt, call 1-800-777-7328.
Always check your balance before you go to the store.
What do I do if I think my account balance is wrong?
Call
1-800-777-7328 and let us know.
We will send you a
letter to let you know the outcome of our review.
Remember, always
keep your receipts in case there are questions about your balance.
What if my Lone
Star Card is lost, stolen or doesn't work?
Call the Lone Star Help Desk right away at 1-800-777-7328.
Your card will be
"frozen". This means that no one - not even you - can use your card.
If you need a new
card, we will mail you one. You'll get it in about a week.
If someone steals
your benefits before you call us at 1-800-777-7328, you lose those
benefits. The only way someone can steal your benefits is if they have
your card and know your PIN (password).
(back to top)
What if I forget my PIN
(password)?
Call the Lone Star
Help Desk at 1-800-777-7328 right away.
You can pick your
new PIN by calling any time, day or night.
Getting a new PIN makes the old one not work anymore. If you are
unable to pick a PIN by phone, you can ask us to send you a new PIN in
the mail. You'll get it in about a week.
Can I
use my Lone Star Card if a store's machine isn't working?
Yes. The cashier will call to see if you have enough
benefits in your account.
You will not get a receipt from the machine. Instead, the cashier
will fill out a paper voucher for you to sign. Make sure you get a copy
of the voucher for your records.
What if I don't use all my benefits in one month?
You won't lose your benefits if you don't use them all in one
month. Benefits that you don't use stay in your account. The next time
benefits are put into your account, they are added to what is still in there.
(back to top)
What if I need to use my benefits outside of Texas?
Call your local HHSC benefits office before you leave Texas.
Let the worker know you will need to use your card outside of Texas.
Take your Lone Star Card with you.
If you get SNAP benefits:
You
should be able to use your card at stores that
take food benefits in other states. If it doesn't work, call
1-800-777-7328.
If you get TANF
benefits:
You
should be able to use your card at stores that
accept cash benefits in other states. To be safe, withdraw your
money from your cash account
before you leave.
Before shopping at a store, find out if the store charges a fee and
how much
the fee is.
If
your card doesn't work, call 1-800-777-7328.
How do I report a store or
person that I think is using food or cash benefits illegally (committing
fraud)?
Call the Fraud Hotline at 1-800-436-6184 or email
LoneStar@hhsc.state.tx.us
(back to top)
