Revision 18-1; Effective January 1, 2018

TANF

Texans who leave the state should be able to use the Lone Star Card to access TANF benefits at retailers in other states.

People from other states may use EBT cards to access TANF benefits at retailers in Texas. When local office staff receive inquiries, advise the cardholder to try the card at stores that accept EBT cards in Texas. If it does not work, advise the person to contact the help desk of the state that issued the card.

SNAP

Texans who leave the state can use the Lone Star Card to access SNAP benefits at retailers in other states.

People from other states may use their EBT cards to access SNAP benefits at retailers in Texas. When local office staff receive inquiries, advise the cardholder to try the card at stores in Texas that accept SNAP benefits. If it does not work, advise the person to contact the help desk of the state that issued the card.

 

B—351 Moves Out of State

Revision 13-3; Effective July 1, 2013

TANF

If the household reports a move or temporary absence from Texas, follow the policy in A-740, Moves Out of Texas, and A-750, Temporary Visits Out of Texas, to determine whether to consider the move temporary or permanent.

The cardholder should be able to use the Lone Star Card to access benefits at retailers in other states. Advise the individual of the following:

• Withdraw any amount of benefits remaining in the cash account before leaving.
• Take your Lone Star Card.

Note: If the individual reports that the individual does not have a Lone Star Card, advise the individual to contact the Lone Star Help Desk.

• In order to use cash benefits that were not accessible before the move, try the card at stores that accept EBT in other states. Ask if the store charges a fee and the amount of the fee. Verify and accept any fees before completing the cash withdrawal.
• Call the Lone Star Help Desk at 1-800-777-7EBT (1-800-777-7328) if your Lone Star Card does not work. The Lone Star Help Desk assists the cardholder in finding an out-of-state retailer that accepts the Lone Star Card. Note: If the cardholder cannot find a retailer that accepts the Lone Star Card and moved out of state on or after the first of the month but before accessing that month's TANF benefits, HHSC may mail a benefit conversion warrant (full month's benefit amount only) to the household's new address. The Lone Star Help Desk will advise these cardholders to contact the local eligibility determination office. See B-331, Cancelling Benefits in EBT Accounts.

SNAP

If the household reports a move or temporary absence from Texas, follow the policy in A-740 and A-750 to determine whether to consider the move temporary or permanent.

The cardholder can use the Lone Star Card to access benefits at retailers in other states. Advise the individual of the following:

• Take your Lone Star Card.

Note: If the individual reports that the individual does not have a Lone Star Card, advise the individual to contact the Lone Star Help Desk.

• In order to use SNAP benefits, try the card at stores that accept SNAP in other states.
• Call the Lone Star Help Desk at 1-800-777-7EBT (1-800-777-7328) if your Lone Star Card does not work. The Lone Star Help Desk assists the cardholder in finding an out-of-state retailer that accepts the Lone Star Card.

 

B—352 Households Shopping Out of State

Revision 13-3; Effective July 1, 2013

TANF and SNAP

Cardholders can use the Lone Star Card out of state. As a result, some households may continue to use benefits without reporting an out-of-state move. Households receiving benefits in Texas who shop out of state consistently, without shopping in Texas, may no longer meet residency requirements. See A-740, Moves Out of Texas, and A-750, Temporary Visits Out of Texas.

 

B—353 Out-of-State Shopping (OSS) Reports

Revision 13-3; Effective July 1, 2013

TANF and SNAP

State office produces a Non-Border OSS Report and a Border OSS Report monthly. Both reports list Lone Star Card usage for households that:

• shopped out of state in the last 60 days;
• did not shop in Texas during that period; and
• have active EDGs.

The Border OSS Report lists households with Lone Star Card usage in states that border Texas (Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and New Mexico). The Non-Border OSS Report lists households with Lone Star Card use in states that do not border Texas.

State office sends the Non-Border OSS report to Eligibility Operations each month for appropriate action as a potential change in Texas residence. This data also is included in a combined Data Broker report if the OSS occurred in the prior 12 months.

The Border OSS Report is not sent to Eligibility Operations each month for clearance. The data is included in a combined Data Broker report if the OSS occurred in the prior 12 months. EDGs that appear on the Border OSS Report must be cleared at a complete action after a household submits an application or redetermination.

 

B—353.1 Advisor Action on OSS Report Activity

Revision 19-4; Effective October 1, 2019

TANF and SNAP

Clearing Non-Border OSS Report Activity at a Change Action

Send the household Form H1020, Request for Information or Action, requesting verification of the household's address.

Exception: Clearing Non-Border OSS activity as a change action is not required when the household's most recent OSS activity occurred in the:

• month prior to the periodic review month or in the periodic review month of the household's TANF Eligibility Determination Group (EDG); or
• next to last benefit month or last benefit month of the household's SNAP EDG.

Clearing Non-Border OSS Report Activity at a Complete Action

The household must provide verification of the household's address when:

• the most recent OSS activity occurred within six months of the current interview/desk review month; and
• the OSS activity listed in the report was not previously cleared.

The interview/desk review month is month zero.

Note: Act on any associated Medical Program(s) as appropriate.

After a household has been asked to provide verification of the household's address, take the following action.

If the ...	then ...
household provides verification of the household’s address,	determine continued eligibility for all programs based on residency requirements.
household does not provide verification of the household’s address,	deny the SNAP EDG and any associated TANF/Medical Program EDGs for failure to provide information.
agency receives returned mail with no forwarding address and the household cannot be located,	deny the SNAP EDG for failure to provide information and any associated TANF/Medical Program EDGs for unable to locate.

Clearing Border OSS Report Activity

The requirement to clear the Border OSS Report only applies at a complete action. This report must be cleared at a complete action when a household submits an application or redetermination and the OSS activity in the report makes the household’s address questionable.

Example: A household living in Texas near the Arkansas border and shopping in Arkansas may not be questionable. A household living in Austin and shopping in Arkansas would be questionable.

When a household’s address is questionable, follow the policy outlined above for clearing a Non-Border OSS Report Activity at a Complete Action. If necessary, send the household Form H1020, Request for Information or Action, requesting verification of the household's address.

 

B—354 Card Replacements for Cardholders Who Are Out of State

Revision 13-3; Effective July 1, 2013

TANF and SNAP

If a Texas individual who is out of state reports that the individual’s Lone Star Card was lost or stolen, advise the individual to contact the Lone Star Help Desk at 1-800-777-7EBT (1-800-777-7328).