Tennessee’s SNAP, which is administered by the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS), provides food-purchasing assistance to low-income households. SNAP accounts are linked to EBT cards, which are loaded monthly with your benefit amount during a set length of time called a certification period.

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SNAP EBT cards are accepted at any SNAP-approved grocery store or retailer to buy eligible food. At checkout, swipe your EBT card through the card reader machine and enter your PIN. You can also use your EBT to shop and pay for groceries online. You can use the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s SNAP Retailer Locator to find a retailer that accepts SNAP in your area.

Tennessee residents may qualify for SNAP if they meet certain eligibility criteria. Residents must pass an income and resource test, plus additional requirements. The amount of benefits you receive depends on your household’s resources and situation.

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SNAP recipients must also follow work requirements. Most able-bodied residents between 16 and 59 years old must register for work, participate in the Employment & Training Program if offered, accept offers of employment and cannot quit a job. 

College students can also receive SNAP benefits, but they must be working an average of 20 hours per week, be enrolled in the work-study program, caring for young dependents or receiving Families First, the state’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.

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Benefits are sent out to Tennessee EBT cards from the 1st to the 20th of every month, based on the last two digits of your Social Security number. Here is the Tennessee SNAP deposit schedule for July: