Skip to main content

​
Overview

When processing refunds for Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) transactions, Vori POS enforces specific workflows to keep your store compliant with federal regulations.

​
Key compliance rules at a glance

Transaction TypeAllowable Refund MethodCompliance Rule
EBT SNAPOriginal EBT card onlyFederal law prohibits returning cash for SNAP purchases (trafficking).
EBT CashCash, gift, or creditEBT Cash funds cannot be returned to the EBT card.

​
EBT SNAP refunds

When you refund an item originally purchased with EBT SNAP, there is only one compliant option: the refund goes back to the original EBT card automatically.
Federal regulations prohibit giving cash, store credit, or debit/credit refunds for items purchased with SNAP benefits.

​
Understanding refunds for split EBT SNAP payments

Vori handles refunds at the order level, not the item level, to stay compliant with federal anti-fraud regulations. Here’s how it works:
  • The system looks at the total paid by each method (EBT SNAP vs. cash or credit) across the whole order. It does not track whether a specific item was paid for with EBT or another method.
  • It always refunds the EBT SNAP card first, up to the total originally charged to that card.
For example:
  1. A shopper buys $20 of EBT-eligible groceries and $5 of non-EBT charcoal.
  2. They split the payment: $20 from EBT SNAP and $5 in cash.
  3. Later, they return the $5 charcoal.
  4. The system refunds the $5 to the EBT SNAP card, not as cash.
The refund ($5) is less than the total paid with EBT SNAP ($20), so the system refills the EBT card first. This prevents shoppers from receiving cash back for EBT funds.
This is normal, compliant behavior. The POS handles it automatically, and cashiers cannot override which payment method receives the refund.

​
EBT Cash refunds

Because EBT Cash acts as a cash-equivalent benefit, it follows different rules. When refunding an EBT Cash transaction, you can choose one of these options:
  • Refund to a credit or debit card.
  • Refund in cash.
  • Refund to a store gift card.
EBT Cash cannot be refunded to the original EBT card. Only EBT SNAP supports direct-to-card refunds.

​
Troubleshooting

If you can’t locate the original order or you hit a processing error, contact Vori Support with these details:
  • The date and time of the original transaction.
  • The order ID or the last four digits of the EBT card used.
  • A brief description of the error message or issue.