Family Card How to apply for a family card in Puerto Rico?

From the seventies Puerto Rico, which became one of the countries that, due to having the social protection of the federal government of the United States; has achieved a place among the social benefits of this government.

One of them is the Nutrition Assistance Program (PAN), which is effective for the beneficiaries; month by month through Family Card (Puerto Rico EBT Card), which is very easy to request.

El PAN In Puerto Rico it is managed by the Family Socioeconomic Development Administration of the Government of Puerto Rico (ADSEF), said institution has provided this benefit around 43 percent of island residents. The ADSEF through Family Card, has collaborated with the food support of more than a million Puerto Ricans, although both the number of beneficiaries and the amount received for the benefit; have undergone adjustments in recent years.

What is the Family Card?

La Puerto Rico Family Card, is a traditional plastic card very similar to a debit card or EBT Card, which are used in the rest of the United States. Through it, pay month by month, via EBT system (Electronic Benefits Transfer), the benefit that corresponds to Nutrition Assistance Program (PAN) In Puerto Rico. 

After the Family Card is requested and obtained, it can only be used for the purchase of foods and non-alcoholic beverages authorized by the ADSEF, within the territory of Puerto Rico.

Consult PAN 2023 Puerto Rico deposit dates

Requirements and selection criteria

• To be eligible, the person must live in Puerto Rico.
• You must have less than $2,000 in your capital accounts. This includes both a savings account, a checking account and others.
• If in the family there is a dependent person (salaried worker), over 60 years of age and who has up to a maximum of $3,000 in their capital accounts.
• Applicant families must meet a net annual income limit, which varies depending on the dependents of each household. Here it is calculated by taking the total income within the household and subtracting deductions for: Type of income, members within the household, certain allowed expenses.

Eligibility or selection criteria

Los eligibility criteria, They are fundamentally based on:

1. The level of income received in the home.
2. The number of members of the family group, including: people who work, children, the elderly, disabled people, social security status, among others.

Those who consider that they have the required profile can visit any of the offices of the ADSEF in Puerto Rico, or call the State Office at (787) 991- 0101, 787-289-1199 or number 3-1-1, which are the telephone service numbers or fill out the form “Predetermination of PAN – TANF eligibility”, Located in the page of the Department of the Family of the Government of Puerto Rico:

https://serviciosenlinea.adsef.pr.gov/adsefdigital/Security/Login.aspx.

How do you apply for the Family Card?

Applying for a family card is a fundamental process to access a series of benefits and services aimed at improving the quality of life of families in many countries.

Prequalification Request:

• Via telephone:

It is requested by calling State Office to the (787) 991- 0101, 787-289-1199 or to the number 3-1-1. This telephone line is suitable both for answering any questions about the benefits of the Family Card, and for make the prequalification request through a person who fulfills the role of representative.

• By Internet:

It can be requested through following link:

https://serviciosenlinea.adsef.pr.gov/adsefdigital/Security/Login.aspx.

Alternatively watch a video to the instructions on how to open an account to handle matters related to the Family Card online? Accessing the following link:

https://servicios.adsef.pr.gov/videos/VID-20211005.mp4.

When the applicant is rejected at this stage, they will no longer be able to proceed to the next stage. If prequalified, you will be will provide a specific date for the appointment in the ADSEF Office closest to your home. If the appointment cannot be coordinated at that time, the applicant will be referred to coordinate their data and finally grant the appointment.

If all the eligibility criteria are met, the benefit will be obtained through the Family Card, In the 30 consecutive days upon formal submission of the application.

Documents required to apply for a family card

The documents required to apply for a family card may vary depending on each applicant family, depending on their needs. It is important that you communicate in advance with any ADSEF office, to corroborate what documents should be submitted. Although some of the documents are:

• Social security card, birth certificate, or some valid photo identification, these same documents if the family unit is larger than you.
• Proof or proof of residence. Which can be verified through:
• Water or electricity bill.
• Letter from the person renting to you.
• Public housing or rental contract.
• Student certification.
• Book.

Request through the web

La online application It can be done through the following link: https://serviciosenlinea.adsef.pr.gov/adsefdigital/Security/Login.aspx. Following the instructions given in this way.

The other way is to carry out the application process, through the Web Portal of the Administration for the Socioeconomic Development of the Family: www.solicitudpan.com. In this portal you will obtain assistance to request the PAN benefit. In addition, there is an electronic form, which must be completed with the required information.

Once the form is completed, you must send the required documentation; following the instructions that will be received from the institution's staff.

Modifications that have occurred in recent months

Due to the emergency generated by the Covid-19 pandemic, several modifications have occurred with respect to the Family Card, the most relevant being cash withdrawal. As of October year 2020 , cash withdrawal is not allowed of the subsidy granted, on the card and can only be used to buy food in the establishments authorized by the ADSEF.

Currently, the ADSEF test by implementing a pilot plan to carry out buy online and make the payment using the card. It is expected that in the coming months, This modality can now be executed on a large scale in the affiliated businesses.

For the implementation of this modality, it is necessary that affiliated businesses allow two different payments:

• One with the family card for authorized products and
• Use another card for products not covered by the PAN.

The family card constitutes a very valuable contribution for Puerto Rican families, since it provides assistance to more than 700.000 families in Puerto Rico. Those who qualify are invited to opt for this benefit, do not leave it for later by simply completing the procedures and executing the application, the chances of obtaining the benefit are very high.

Family Card Amounts

The amount of money assigned to each family will depend on the number of members that may depend on this card. The money obtained through this card can be used to buy food and non-alcoholic beverages. In Puerto Rico, the agency in charge of determining What products can be purchased with this card; is the ADSEF.

This card is specially designed to purchase food in establishments certified by the ADSEF. However, until October of year 2020 It was allowed that a small portion of the money (around the 20%), will be assigned to be withdrawn in cash at ATMs. This was done so that this portion would be used to make food purchases in non-affiliated establishments.

How to use the money from the Family Card?

The family card has some limitations and restrictions, among which the purchase of certain products is not allowed, some of them being:

• Alcoholic drinks.
• Personal hygiene products.
• cigarettes
• Disposable diapers.
• Detergents.
• Ready-to-eat food, among others.

Another important limitation is that this card cannot be used outside of Puerto Rico.

Family Card Eligibility Deadline

The agency has a 30 business day period to conduct the eligibility evaluation of an individual applying for the family card. During this time, the necessary procedures are carried out to determine if the applicant meets the requirements to access the benefits and services associated with the family card.

In emergency situations, the process is significantly streamlined, and The agency is committed to completing the evaluation within just 7 business days. This provision is established in order to provide a faster and more effective response to people facing urgent circumstances or extreme need.

Frequent questions:

• How to change the family card pin?
• How to cancel the Family Card?
• How to know the balance of the Family Card?

If you want to know other articles similar to Family Card How to apply for a family card in Puerto Rico? you can visit the category Family Card.