DPHHS Announces Statewide EBT System Upgrades

HELENA, MT —The Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) is updating its statewide electronic benefit transfer (EBT) system this weekend, May 8-10.

To make these updates possible, card services and account updates will be temporarily offline while these changes are made.

During this period, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) participants are encouraged to plan food and cash purchases around the following schedule:

• Balance Inquiries:  Offline from Friday (May 8) at 6:00 p.m. until Sunday morning.
• Shopping (In-store and Online):Offline from Saturday (May 9) at 10:00 p.m. until Sunday morning.

All services, including the ability to make purchases and check balances, are expected to resume by mid-morning Sunday, May 10.

Important Information for Cardholders

• Keep Your Current Card:You do not need a new card; your existing EBT card will remain active and functional after the update.
• Transition to ConnectEBT:Starting May 10, the old Bnft portal will be retired. Cardholders should download the ConnectEBT mobile app or use theConnectEBT websiteto manage their accounts.
• Benefits Remain the Same:This is a technical system update only. There are no changes to benefit amounts or eligibility.

For more information, visit the MontanaSNAP/TANF EBT card website.

“We appreciate the public’s patience as we finalize these updates,”DPHHS Communications Director Jon Ebelt said.“Should individuals encounter any card issues after the morning of May 10, our EBT Help Desk is available to assist at 1-866-850-1556.”