Customers can now lock and unlock their Electronic Benefit Transfer cards between uses, helping ensure that only authorized transactions occur when the card is ready to be used. The new feature is easy to access using the ConnectEBT app available for download on both Android and Apple devices. ConnectEBT is the only officially licensed app to service Virginia Electronic Benefit Transfer customers and is managed by Conduent Inc., a private company that provides a range of services to government agencies. Virginia, along with 20 other states, contracts with Conduent to administer Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and other benefits.

For all questions related to the Direct Express card, cardholders should call: Customer Service: 1-888-741-1115; Hearing impaired: 1-866-569-0447; International: 1-765-778-6290 (Collect). Customer Service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and handles calls related to: Reporting lost or stolen cards; Balance inquiries; PIN changes; Transaction history requests; Registering a complaint about a card issue; Questions about card usage; Questions about international card usage. If you apply for Social Security benefits on or after May 1, 2011, you must receive your payments electronically. Electronic payments by March 1, 2013. For card enrollment call 1-800-333-1795. The Direct Express card is a debit card used to access Social Security benefits. A bank account is not required. Federal benefit payments are deposited directly into the card account on the regular payment day. Cards can be used to make purchases, pay bills or get cash at thousands of locations. Most transactions are free.

SNAP can be used like cash to buy eligibile food items from authorized retailers. Authorized retailers will display either the Quest logo or a picture of a Virginia EBT card. A SNAP account is established for eligible households and automatic deposits are made into the account each month. To access the account, they will also receive an EBT Card, which will debit the account each time eligible food items are purchased. A secret Personal Identification Number (PIN) is required to use the card. To check balance call (800) 552-3431 (SNAP Hotline)When an EBT card is lost, stolen, or damaged, the cardholder should call the toll free customer service help desk at 1-866-281-2448. The help desk is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.