LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska is phasing in a new electronic benefits card for the program that services low-income women and children.
The card will replace paper checks between August and November for the Women, Infants and Children program. Once it’s fully implemented, 340 grocery stores and pharmacies in Nebraska will be able to accept the cards. A handful of stores will only take checks during the transition.
The card works similarly to a debit card, except that the cardholder’s account contains specific foods instead of a dollar amount. Specific food benefits are automatically deposited into a family’s account at the beginning of every month.