Does Ebt Affect Your Credit Score if You’re on it for a While?

A

Alice Baldwin

New member
I’ve been using EBT for the past few months while I get back on my feet financially and I was wondering if this shows up anywhere on my credit report or has any kind of impact on my credit score.

I don’t have any major debt and I’m trying to keep my credit clean because I’ll need to apply for a car loan soon. I’ve heard mixed things some say government assistance like EBT has nothing to do with your credit while others hinted that lenders might still factor it in indirectly.

Just curious if anyone here has experience with this or knows how it actually works? Trying to plan ahead and avoid surprises.
 
EBT doesn’t show up on your credit report at all. It’s not a loan, not revolving credit, and doesn’t involve a lender. The credit bureaus don’t track who’s on public assistance. What might be a factor is your income when applying for a loan but that’s a separate issue from credit score itself.
 
Nope you're in the clear. I've been on EBT and also applied for car financing during that time. Never once did it come up. They’re more interested in your income-to-debt ratio and whether you’ve made your past payments on time. EBT is invisible in that equation.
 
Think of EBT like a gift card the government gives you. It’s a benefit, not a debt. So no, it won’t show up on your credit. HOWEVER... if you have no reported income at all, some lenders might raise an eyebrow. But that's a separate conversation.
 
I’ve had to use EBT before, and honestly, you’re doing the right thing by asking. There’s a lot of stigma around it, but financially speaking, it's neutral on your credit. Focus on keeping your utilization low and making payments on time....THAT'S what really matters.
 
No need to worry. EBT doesn’t get reported to credit bureaus. You could have EBT, Medicaid, Section 8, all of it..none of that touches your credit score. The only time it might matter is if you have literally no income to report when you apply for credit.
 
I asked a loan officer this same thing last year. She said EBT doesn’t even come up in the app process. As long as you have some form of verifiable income, they’ll consider you. Credit score is based on credit activity...not assistance.
 
Honestly, lenders care about whether you pay your bills, not what kind of card you swipe for groceries. If EBT affected credit scores, half the country would be screwed right now. You're fine.
 
Just chiming in to say I was on EBT for over a year while rebuilding. Got a car loan during that time, no issues. I disclosed part-time income and was upfront. Got approved with a decent rate too. No shame in using help when you need it.
 
I’m not sure I 100% buy that it’s never looked at. Like, yeah, it’s not on your credit report, but some lenders might make assumptions if your income is low or if you mention assistance. It's not the score that's impacted....it's perception.
 
Credit scores are like GPA. They only track specific behaviors: how much you owe, if you pay on time, stuff like that. EBT is outside that system. It’s more like free cafeteria lunch.....not gonna show up on your transcript.
 
As someone who used to work at a credit union EBT has ZERO bearing on your credit report. If it ever indirectly mattered, it was because the person didn’t have provable income. That’s an approval issue, not a score issue.
 
Man, if EBT affected credit, my score would've tanked 3 years ago. Used it, got through the rough patch, kept paying my cards, and now my score’s over 720. Don’t sweat it.
 
Credit reports are cold and math-y. They don’t care if you're on food stamps or eating caviar. All they care about is: Do you pay your stuff? Do you use too much credit? Do you default? That’s it.
 
I used EBT while raising my two kids solo. Bought a car in the middle of that, and they didn’t even ask about it. They asked about my job and monthly income. If you can show you’ll make the car payments, you’re golden.
 
There’s a weird myth that government benefits somehow stain your credit. Totally false. But i’ve heard of landlords who treat it that way... so stigma’s real, even if it’s not official.
 
Not sure if it's been mentioned, but if you’re using something like EBT AND getting a small check from work, it helps to show consistent income when applying for credit. Doesn’t have to be bigju....st steady.
 
I work in auto financing. Can confirm EBT is not on the credit report. What matters more is whether you have stable income, even if it’s small. We look at your credit file and DTI (debt-to-income), not your grocery card.
 
I once had a landlord ask if i was on EBT and then act weird after I said yes. Just shows how people might react differently but legally, and on paper, it doesn’t go on your credit.
 
EBT’s only crime is being misunderstood. It’s a resource, not a liability. And lenders are machines......if the math adds up, you’re good. Don’t let the shame trolls win.
 
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