# Electronic benefit transfer |  | **Electronic benefit transfer** (EBT) is an electronic system that allows state welfare departments to issue benefits via a magnetically encoded payment card used in the United States. It reached nationwide operations in 2004. The average monthly EBT payout is $230 per participant as of 2022. | |-|-| | | wikipedia:: [Electronic benefit transfer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_benefit_transfer) |