Process SNAP and eWIC EBT Payments Today

What is SNAP?

SNAP is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Also known as food stamps, SNAP is the largest federal nutrition program that provides eligible individuals and families with financial assistance towards food purchases.

How Can I Start Accepting In-Store
SNAP Benefits?

SNAP EBT cards are designed to process transactions with approved merchants that sell food staple products. Therefore, you will first need to register with the government before you can begin processing SNAP transactions. Once you’ve registered as a SNAP retailer, you will then need to make sure your POS system and payment terminal support EBT payments. Fidelity can help you get set up with the right equipment.

Here’s how to get started:

  • Go to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) eAuthentication website to register for an account
  • Complete the SNAP application form and submit any required documentation
  • Ensure your card reader or POS terminal accepts PIN-debit transactions
Since the SNAP program is government-funded, note that merchants are not subject to any additional card-processing fees.

What are EBT Payments?

EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer) cards allow customers to pay for food and other products through government-funded financial assistance programs.

What is eWIC?

eWIC is an electronic processing system for WIC (Women, Infants, and Children), a government-funded supplemental nutrition program for those who are low-income and at risk. Unlike WIC’s previous paper voucher system, eWIC allows benefit holders to pay with an EBT card at checkout. The eWIC checkout process is much faster than WIC paper vouchers, and it reduces the likelihood of errors.

How Can Merchants Upgrade
to eWic Processing?

Merchants who need to upgrade to eWIC
processing have two options:
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A Standalone eWIC terminal

Standalone eWIC terminals can only accept eWIC EBT cards, which means that the transaction cannot be split with any other payment types. Merchants who use the standalone terminal will be funded by the eWIC program. These terminals are provided by official state processors, such as Conduent. See Conduent’s Government Payment Solutions website for more information.

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An Integrated POS solution

Integrated eWIC solutions support eWIC processing directly from the merchant’s existing payment processing hardware and software without needing another device. By integrating an eWIC-certified solution with their existing payment system, merchants will be able to accept multiple payment types per transaction via one terminal, and they’ll also experience streamlined bookkeeping, reconciliations, and inventory syncing.

Fidelity’s payment gateway fully supports integrated eWIC processing. Our gateway is compatible with a wide variety of POS systems and payment terminals, enabling eWIC benefit holders to pay with both eWIC and other payment types—like EMV chip card or magnetic stripe—all within one transaction. Our team of developers maintains the Approved Product List (APL) (eWIC’s list of eligible items and their UPC codes), so that your system can stay up-to-date without the hassle.

Want to know more?

Contact us for information about how accepting eWIC
and SNAP EBT payment cards can benefit your business.
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