While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Food Stamps program and compiled a guide and the following answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.

South Carolina Food Stamps FAQ Sheet

Food Stamps / SNAP

Table of Contents

What Are Food Stamps?

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as Food Stamps, helps eligible low-income individuals and families buy the food they need to stay healthy in the form of monthly benefits.

SNAP uses Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards to distribute the benefits.

The South Carolina SNAP food assistance program is administered by the South Carolina Department of Social Services. Learn more about SNAP on the South Carolina Department of Social Services website here.

What Can Food Stamps Buy?

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, SNAP benefits can be used to purchase approved food items. These include:

  • Fruits and vegetables;
  • Meat, poultry, and fish;
  • Dairy products;
  • Breads and cereals;
  • Other foods such as snack foods and non-alcoholic beverages; and
  • Seeds and plants, which produce food for the household to eat.

There are also food items that cannot be purchased with SNAP benefits, including alcoholic beverages and hot prepared food. See a comprehensive list of what you cannot buy with SNAP benefits here.

How Much Assistance Does SNAP Provide?

SNAP provides monthly benefits, known as an allotment, to eligible households. The allotment amount you can receive is based on 1) the number of people in your household and 2) your household income.

To calculate your allotment amount, multiply your household’s net income by 0.3 and then subtract that number from the federal maximum monthly benefit amount in the table below.

People in HouseholdMaximum Monthly Allotment
1$292
2$536
3$768
4$975
5$1,158
6$1,390
7$1,536
8$1,756
Each additional person+$220

You have one year (365 days) to use your allotment or the benefits on your EBT card will be canceled.

To learn more about your benefit amount in South Carolina, click here.

Requirements to Qualify for SNAP in South Carolina

To qualify for SNAP in South Carolina, you must meet the following requirements:

  • You must be a United States citizen or legal resident
  • You must be a resident of South Carolina
  • You must have a household income and resources that do not exceed the limits set by South Carolina and the federal government
  • You must work or participate in an employment training program, if applicable

Learn more about South Carolina’s income limits and other eligibility criteria here.

Steps to Apply for SNAP in South Carolina

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the South Carolina Food Stamps program, helps families buy the food they need to stay healthy. If you are in need of food assistance and wish to apply to SNAP, complete the following three steps:

  1. Review the application requirements.

Learn about the income limits and personal eligibility requirements to receive SNAP benefits here.

  1. Gather the documentation and information you will need for the application.  

  2. Choose how you are going to apply, whether online, in person, by mail or by fax.

To apply for SNAP online, create an account on South Carolina’s Benefit Portal here and fill out the SNAP application.

To apply for SNAP in person, click here to find the nearest South Carolina Social Services office location.

If you have questions about the application process or require assistance, contact the South Carolina Department of Social Services at 1 (800) 616-1309.

How to Check Your Application Status

Depending on your method of application, you can check your application status in the following ways:

  • If you applied online, you can check your application status using the South Carolina Benefit Portal here.
  • If you applied in person, by fax or mail, you can call your local Social Services office to ask about your application status. You can find the contact information for your local office here.

What Happens After You Apply for SNAP?

If you applied for SNAP online, in person, by mail or by fax, you will receive a notice in the mail from the Department of Social Services with your determination and benefit amount. If you are approved, you will then receive your EBT card in the mail within 14 days of your determination letter.

Once you receive your EBT card, you can use it to purchase items that are approved by SNAP at groceries and retail stores that accept EBT transactions. Learn about what you can purchase with SNAP here.

SNAP benefits are replenished each month that you are a member of the program. To check the balance of your EBT card, call the number on the back of your card or 1 (800) 554-5268. You can also check your balance online here.

How to Appeal a Denial of Benefits or a Low Benefit Amount

If you do not agree with the benefit decision given to you by the South Carolina Department of Social Services, you can appeal your decision in person or by mail within 90 days of receiving your determination letter.

You can file an appeal and request a Fair Hearing online, by fax, by mail and by email.

To appeal online, visit the South Carolina appeal portal here.

To file an appeal by mail, by fax or by email you will need to write a letter that includes the following information:

  • Your name
  • Your address
  • Your phone number
  • The reason for your appeal, whether you were denied benefits or you received a lower benefit amount than you believe you should have
  • Your desired solution for how the Department of Social Services should remedy the situation

You must also enclose a copy of your determination letter when filing an appeal by mail, fax or email so the office can reference your application.

After you have written your appeal request, you can use the following methods to send it to the South Carolina Division of Appeals and Hearings:

    • To send your request by fax, use the following number: 1 (803) 255-8206
    • To send your request by email, use appeals@scdhhs.gov.
    • To send your request by mail, use the following address:

    Division of Appeals and Hearings 
    P.O. Box 8206 
    Columbia, SC 29202

For more information on how to request a fair hearing, click here.

How to Check the Balance on Your EBT Card

You can check the balance of your EBT card by calling the number on the back of your card or 1 (800) 554-5268. You can also check your balance online here.

Learn more information about EBT cards and how to use your benefits on the South Carolina Department of Social Services EBT card page here.

How to Replace a Lost EBT Card or Benefits

If you have lost your EBT card and require a replacement, call South Carolina’s EBT customer service number at 1 (800) 554-5268. 

You cannot obtain a replacement EBT card in person at a Social Services office in South Carolina.

For more answers to common questions related to EBT cards, click here.

Need More Help?

For help with obtaining SNAP benefits, or for any further questions about your application, call the South Carolina Department of Social Services at 1 (800) 616-1309.

To send the South Carolina Department of Social Services information physically, you mail them using the following address:

South Carolina Department of Social Services
P.O. Box 1520
Columbia, SC 29202-1520

You can also visit or call a local Social Services Office for further assistance. Find your nearest location here.

Offices and services are available Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM

View or Download Our Free Guide

While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Food Stamps program and compiled a guide and these answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.

Our free Food Stamps Guide is filled with helpful information about how to apply, requirements for program eligibility, and how to get in touch with local offices. You can view our free guide here.

Last Updated: June 2025

Table of Contents

Steps to Apply for SNAP in South Carolina

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the South Carolina Food Stamps program, helps families buy the food they need to stay healthy. If you are in need of food assistance and wish to apply to SNAP, complete the following three steps:

  1. Review the application requirements.

Learn about the income limits and personal eligibility requirements to receive SNAP benefits here.

  1. Gather the documentation and information you will need for the application.  

  2. Choose how you are going to apply, whether online, in person, by mail or by fax.

To apply for SNAP online, create an account on South Carolina’s Benefit Portal here and fill out the SNAP application.

To apply for SNAP in person, click here to find the nearest South Carolina Social Services office location.

If you have questions about the application process or require assistance, contact the South Carolina Department of Social Services at 1 (800) 616-1309.

How to Check Your Application Status

Depending on your method of application, you can check your application status in the following ways:

  • If you applied online, you can check your application status using the South Carolina Benefit Portal here.
  • If you applied in person, by fax or mail, you can call your local Social Services office to ask about your application status. You can find the contact information for your local office here.

What Happens After You Apply for SNAP?

If you applied for SNAP online, in person, by mail or by fax, you will receive a notice in the mail from the Department of Social Services with your determination and benefit amount. If you are approved, you will then receive your EBT card in the mail within 14 days of your determination letter.

Once you receive your EBT card, you can use it to purchase items that are approved by SNAP at groceries and retail stores that accept EBT transactions. Learn about what you can purchase with SNAP here.

SNAP benefits are replenished each month that you are a member of the program. To check the balance of your EBT card, call the number on the back of your card or 1 (800) 554-5268. You can also check your balance online here.

How to Appeal a Denial of Benefits or a Low Benefit Amount

If you do not agree with the benefit decision given to you by the South Carolina Department of Social Services, you can appeal your decision in person or by mail within 90 days of receiving your determination letter.

You can file an appeal and request a Fair Hearing online, by fax, by mail and by email.

To appeal online, visit the South Carolina appeal portal here.

To file an appeal by mail, by fax or by email you will need to write a letter that includes the following information:

  • Your name
  • Your address
  • Your phone number
  • The reason for your appeal, whether you were denied benefits or you received a lower benefit amount than you believe you should have
  • Your desired solution for how the Department of Social Services should remedy the situation

You must also enclose a copy of your determination letter when filing an appeal by mail, fax or email so the office can reference your application.

After you have written your appeal request, you can use the following methods to send it to the South Carolina Division of Appeals and Hearings:

    • To send your request by fax, use the following number: 1 (803) 255-8206
    • To send your request by email, use appeals@scdhhs.gov.
    • To send your request by mail, use the following address:

    Division of Appeals and Hearings 
    P.O. Box 8206 
    Columbia, SC 29202

For more information on how to request a fair hearing, click here.

How to Check the Balance on Your EBT Card

You can check the balance of your EBT card by calling the number on the back of your card or 1 (800) 554-5268. You can also check your balance online here.

Learn more information about EBT cards and how to use your benefits on the South Carolina Department of Social Services EBT card page here.

How to Replace a Lost EBT Card or Benefits

If you have lost your EBT card and require a replacement, call South Carolina’s EBT customer service number at 1 (800) 554-5268. 

You cannot obtain a replacement EBT card in person at a Social Services office in South Carolina.

For more answers to common questions related to EBT cards, click here.

Need More Help?

For help with obtaining SNAP benefits, or for any further questions about your application, call the South Carolina Department of Social Services at 1 (800) 616-1309.

To send the South Carolina Department of Social Services information physically, you mail them using the following address:

South Carolina Department of Social Services
P.O. Box 1520
Columbia, SC 29202-1520

You can also visit or call a local Social Services Office for further assistance. Find your nearest location here.

Offices and services are available Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM

View or Download Our Free Guide

While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Food Stamps program and compiled a guide and these answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.

Our free Food Stamps Guide is filled with helpful information about how to apply, requirements for program eligibility, and how to get in touch with local offices. You can view our free guide here.

Last Updated: June 2025

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