See ACES Screens and Online Pages for an example of pages or screens used in this chapter.
EBT accounts are inactive when a debit transaction (withdrawal) has not occurred for at least 60 days. The "aging" clock begins when benefits are deposited into a new EBT account. The clock is reset to zero each day that the client makes a purchase or withdrawal from their account.
Food and cash accounts age separately depending on the last withdrawal date from the specific account. A debit in one account does not update the aging status of the other account.
Food and cash Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) accounts are reviewed daily by the EBT Vendor to determine its aging status. The state is notified at three inactivity intervals:
When clients have not used their benefits for a specific period of time, a letter is generated from ACES to remind them that they have benefits in their cash or food account. The letter states the amount remaining in the account, and advises them benefits will be expunged if they do not use them within 274 days.
Letters are sent to the client’s last known mailing address. Letters are not sent if the Assistance Unit (AU) was closed with Reason Code 244 - Death.
Letter 037-01 (60 Days Non-Use of EBT) is sent to a client when all of the following conditions are true:
Letter 037-02 (EBT Expungement Warning Letter) is sent to a client when when all of the following conditions are true:
Benefits in an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cash or food account are expunged (removed) if there is no withdrawal/debit from the account for 274 days. A client's food and cash accounts are expunged separately based on the last withdrawal/debit from that account. Once expunged, the benefits are no longer available to the client unless replaced by EBT Headquarters staff. For more information, see:
Expunged cash benefits may be replaced to the Head of Household (HOH) or any other remaining household member at any time.
Expunged food benefits may only be replaced if the benefits were deposited and available to the client less than 274 days from the date of the client request.
For more information on replacing food and/or cash benefits, see EBT Manual - 4.10 REPLACEMENT OF EBT BENEFITS TO CLIENTS.
See ACES Screens and Online Pages for an example of pages or screens used in this chapter.