EBT cards are only for income support customers that can prove an extreme and unexpected need (ie medication, broken appliance) - they are not easily approved. in the call centres, we did training on what we could and couldn't authorise - I have only every authorised one - all others were referred to charities for assistance with food parcels etc. normal bills not being paid doesnt count. the one i approved was a person who had a child unexpectedly enter her care with nothing at all - the paperwork for ftb had been lodged, but it takes time to process - so there was a reason for it that she couldn't have forseen. have not approved for any other reason

and yeah, it doesn't apply to ftb, only income support (so parening payment etc