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EBT Online

Overview

EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) cards allow customers to pay for food and other products through government-funded financial assistance programs. One of the largest such programs is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). SNAP is managed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

To qualify for SNAP EBT online processing, retailers must meet SNAP's food stocking requirements as well as their online purchasing requirements. One of the online purchasing requirements for retailers is to integrate their online shopping cart with a third-party processor that offers a digital PIN pad. Cardknox’s EBT solution utilizes a third-party PIN pad so that EBT cardholders can securely type in their PIN online just as they would in-store. Once the customer makes a payment with their EBT card, they are able to see the remaining balance on their card and complete the transaction.

During the implementation process, keep in mind that when submitting a sale transaction, you can add up to a 10% padding to the amount if the final price needs to be adjusted upon completing the order. When completing the order, the retailer would refund the remaining amount. Retailers must follow the refund process and not issue refunds using cash or gift cards.

The Sample Code can be found here.

Endpoints

The base URL to send transactions to is https://x1.cardknox.com

Additionally, the backup URL is https://b1.cardknox.com

Cardknox allows you to send the data in FormData, JSON, and XML formats.

Add to the base URL any of the following formats to indicate which format you are sending it as:

Format

Addtional URL

Full URL

FormData

/gateway

https://x1.cardknox.com/gateway

JSON

/gatewayjson

https://x1.cardknox.com/gatewayjson

XML

/gatewayxml

https://x1.cardknox.com/gatewayxml

As noted above, you can use “https://b1.cardknox.com" as an alternative backup URL.

Request Method

Method: POST Cardknox Gateway requires an HTTP POST method to be used for enhanced security. We do not support the GET method.

Request / Commands to the Cardknox Gateway

ebtonline:initiate

This API call will return the information needed to redirect the user to the PIN pad. A PIN is needed for the ebtonline:fssale, ebtonline:cbsale, and ebtonline:balance commands.

Variable

Required

Description

Sample data

xKey

Yes

Your Cardknox API Key.

[xkeycredentials]

xVersion

Yes

Gateway API Version. The current version is 4.5.9

4.5.9

xSoftwareName

Yes

Name of your software.

[xsoftwarecredentials]

xSoftwareVersion

Yes

Version number of your software.

[xversioncredentials]

xCommand

Yes

Command specifying which transaction.

ebtonline:initiate

xCardNum

Yes

The customer card number. Alternatively, xToken xMagStripe or SUT can be used.

6004861944321111844

xShipMethod

Yes*

Denotes Shipping Method

  • DirectDelivery

  • CustomerPickup

  • CommercialShipping

  • Other

Parameter Notes: *This field can be sent either on the initiate transaction or follow up command transaction **Required if xShipMethod is anything other than customer pickup

ebtonline:fssale

Process an EBT Online transaction to transfer funds from an EBT card to the retailer.

Variable

Required

Description

Sample data

xKey

Yes

Your Cardknox API Key.

[xkeycredentials]

xVersion

Yes

Gateway API Version. The current version is 4.5.9

4.5.9

xSoftwareName

Yes

Name of your software.

[xsoftwarecredentials]

xSoftwareVersion

Yes

Version number of your software.

[xversioncredentials]

xCommand

Yes

Command specifying which transaction.

ebtonline:fssale

xAmount

Yes

The total amount of the transaction, inclusive of tax and tip if applicable. This the total amount of the transaction.

9.99

xShipFirstName

Yes*

Customer’s first name for their shipping profile.

xShipMiddleName

Yes*

Customer’s middle name or initial for their shipping profile.

xShipLastName

Yes*

Customer’s last/family name for their shipping profile.

xShipCompany

Yes*

Customer’s company name for their shipping profile.

xShipPhone

No

Customer’s phone number for their shipping profile.

xShipMobile

No

Customer’s mobile number for their shipping profile.

xRefnum

Yes

xShipMethod

Yes*

Denotes Shipping Method

Supported methods:

  • DirectDelivery

  • CustomerPickup

  • CommercialShipping

  • Other

Parameter Notes: *This field can be sent either on the initiate transaction or follow up command transaction **Required if xShipMethod is anything other than customer pickup

ebtonline:cbsale

Process an EBT Online cash benefits transaction to transfer funds from an EBT card to the retailer.

Variable

Required

Description

Sample data

xKey

Yes

Your Cardknox API Key.

[xkeycredentials]

xVersion

Yes

Gateway API Version. The current version is 4.5.9

4.5.9

xSoftwareName

Yes

Name of your software.

[xsoftwarecredentials]

xSoftwareVersion

Yes

Version number of your software.

[xversioncredentials]

xCommand

Yes

Command specifying which transaction.

cbsale

xAmount

Yes

The total amount of the transaction, inclusive of tax and tip if applicable. This the total amount of the transaction.

9.99

xShipFirstName

Yes*

Customer’s first name for their shipping profile.

xShipMiddleName

Yes*

Customer’s middle name or initial for their shipping profile.

xShipLastName

Yes*

Customer’s last/family name for their shipping profile.

xShipCompany

Yes*

Customer’s company name for their shipping profile.

xShipPhone

No

Customer’s phone number for their shipping profile.

xShipMobile

No

Customer’s mobile number for their shipping profile.

xRefnum

Yes

A unique request ID.

xShipMethod

Yes*

Shipping method.

Supported methods:

  • DirectDelivery

  • CustomerPickup

  • CommercialShipping

  • Other

Parameter Notes: *This field can be sent either on the initiate transaction or follow up command transaction **Required if xShipMethod is anything other than customer pickup

ebtonline:balance

Check the available balance on an EBT card

Variable

Required

Description

Sample data

xKey

Yes

Your Cardknox API Key.

[xkeycredentials]

xVersion

Yes

Gateway API Version. The current version is 4.5.9

4.5.9

xSoftwareName

Yes

Name of your software.

[xsoftwarecredentials]

xSoftwareVersion

Yes

Version number of your software.

[xversioncredentials]

xCommand

Yes

Command specifying which transaction.

balance

xRefnum

Yes

A unique request ID.

xShipMethod

Yes*

Denotes Shipping Method

Supported methods:

  • DirectDelivery

  • CustomerPickup

  • CommercialShipping

  • Other

Parameter Notes: *This field can be sent either on the initiate transaction or follow up command transaction **Required if xShipMethod is anything other than customer pickup

ebtonline:refund

Process an EBT online refund transaction to return funds from the retailer to the cardholder.

Variable

Required

Description

Sample data

xKey

Yes

Your Cardknox API Key.

[xkeycredentials]

xVersion

Yes

Gateway API Version. The current version is 4.5.9

4.5.9

xSoftwareName

Yes

Name of your software.

[xsoftwarecredentials]

xSoftwareVersion

Yes

Version number of your software.

[xversioncredentials]

xCommand

Yes

Command specifying which transaction.

refund

xAmount

No

The total amount of the transaction, inclusive of tax and tip if applicable. This the total amount of the transaction.

9.99

xRefnum

Yes

A unique request ID.

ebtonline:void

Process an EBT Online void transaction to cancel out a sale.

Variable

Required

Description

Sample data

xKey

Yes

Your Cardknox API Key.

[xkeycredentials]

xVersion

Yes

Gateway API Version. The current version is 4.5.9

4.5.9

xSoftwareName

Yes

Name of your software.

[xsoftwarecredentials]

xSoftwareVersion

Yes

Version number of your software.

[xversioncredentials]

xCommand

Yes

Command specifying which transaction.

void

xRefnum

Yes

A unique request ID.

Response Parameters

Variable

Description

Sample data

Variable

Description

Sample data

xResult

Transaction status

A D E

xDate

xStatus

Result verbiage

Approved Declined Error

xMaskedCardNumber

xToken

xError

Error message, if applicable

xRefnum

Cardknox reference number

xCardType

Type of card

EBT

xPinPadURL

This field is returned on the initiate command and you would send it when redirecting to the PIN pad

xAccuID

This field is returned on the initiate command and you would send it when redirecting to the PIN pad

xRemainingBalanceEBTCB

Indicates the remaining EBT cash benefits balance

xRemainingBalanceEBTFS

Indicates the remaining EBT cash benefits balance

xBatch

Batch into which transaction will settle

xAuthAmount

The total amount authorized, inclusive

xEbtOnlineErrorMessage

Error message as received from the EBT online provider.

xEbtOnlineErrorCode

Error code as received from the EBT online provider.

xEbtOnlineResponseCode

Response code as received from the EBT online provider.

Response Codes

Responses that can be returned.

Response Code

Response Message

0

1

Missing Parameter

3

Invalid Merchant/Terminal

4

Command Not Supported

5

Command Not Authorized

6

Decline

12

Invalid Transaction

13

Invalid Amount

14

The EBT card you entered is invalid. Please try again.

23

Unacceptable Transaction Fee

40

Request Not Supported

41

The EBT card you used is restricted and cannot be used. Please call the number on the back of your card for assistance or use a different payment method.

42

Invalid Account

43

The EBT card you used is restricted and cannot be used. Please call the number on the back of your card for assistance or use a different payment method.

51

Your SNAP (or Cash) payment failed for insufficient funds.

54

Expired Card

55

The PIN you entered is incorrect. Please re-enter your PIN.

56

The EBT card you entered is invalid. Please try again.

57

Your credit / debit card has been declined. Please try again or add a different payment method.

59

Your credit / debit card has been declined. Please try again or add a different payment method.

60

Card Acceptor Contact Acquirer

61

The refund amount requested exceeds the original sales amount.

62

The EBT card you used is restricted and cannot be used. Please call the number on the back of your card for assistance or use a different payment method.

67

Decline

75

Your card was locked after too many incorrect PIN attempts. Please call the number on the back of your card for assistance.

76

Key Synchronization Error

89

CVV Failed

90

No Account On File

92

There has been an error while processing your PIN. Please try again.

96

There has been an error while processing your PIN. Please try again.

9

There has been an error while processing your PIN. Please try again.

Error Codes

Errors that can be returned.

Error Code

Error Message

501

Invalid IP Address

502

Invalid User Credentials

503

Request Validation Failed

504

Invalid Hash Value

602

Invalid User

603

Original Transaction Not Found

604

Payment provider could not read card. Please try again

605

Track Data Error

607

RSA Token Key Error

608

Tokenazation Error

609

Transaction Type can not be reversed

610

Invalid Currency

611

Invalid BIN

612

BIN Error

616

Merchant Descriptor Error

618

Our payment solution provider is not responding. Please try again.

621

Duplicate Reference Key

622

Transaction Type Not Supported

702

Error With Transaction Number

703

SAF Error

704

EFT Connection Error

712

Declined transaction

713

Our payment solution provider is not responding. Please try again.

PIN Pad Implementation

Overview

After the ebtonline:initiate command, the Cardknox gateway will return the necessary pieces to render the PIN pad. The website will take care of redirecting the user to the PIN pad. To render the PIN pad redirect the consumer to the xPinPadURL (PaySecure) using a POST with the following parameters. Once the consumer has completed entry of their PIN, PaySecure will redirect the consumer back to your site using the URL in the AccuReturnURL field. PaySecure will determine the viewport (desktop or mobile) and render the PIN pad in an adaptive manner, meaning there are distinct layouts based on screen size. PaySecure does not use responsive web design as it interferes with the PIN pad functionality.

Endpoint: xPinPadURL that was returned in the initiate command

Method: URL Redirection

This endpoint can only be called from the browser.

Format: FormData

Redirect Parameters

Variable

Description

Sample data

AccuId

xAccuID that was returned in the initiate command

AccuReturnURL

Fully qualified retailer’s URL; PaySecure will use to redirect the user upon completion of the PIN pad.

URL encoding required

AccuLanguage

Language in which the PIN pad will be displayed to the user

en-US (English) es-MX (Spanish)

[Client Echoed Fields]

You may pass additional form fields that will be passed back to your AccuReturnURL.

There are no restrictions on these fields, provided their names are not the same as the reserved PaySecure names. Many retailers utilize these fields to pass session IDs used to identify the user upon return to the AccuReturnURL.

Response/Redirect Parameters

Variable

Description

Sample data

AccuResponseCode

Response code from PaySecure indicating if the pin process was successful

Accu000 = PIN successfully collected Accu200 = Cardholder pressed cancel button Accu400 = Cardholder inactivity timeout Accu600 = Invalid data received by terminal Accu710 = Terminal security issue Accu720 = Terminal communication issue Accu730 = Terminal internal error Accu800 = General error encountered

AccuResponseMsg

Response message from PaySecure indicating if the pin process was successful

see AccuResponseCode

AccuId

xAccuID that was submitted

[Client Echoed Fields]

Fields that you sent in the Redirect Parameters to the pin pad in [Client Echoed Fields]

Workflow/Sample code

Overview

ebtonline:fssale, ebtonline:cbsale, and ebtonline:balance transactions require the user to enter a PIN during the transaction process (for ebtonline:refund and ebtonline:void skip to step 3).

As per the EBT requirement (certification), The PIN is not sent with the transaction to the gateway, the Acculynk PIN pad must be used. Acculynk sends the PIN directly to PaySecure and it’s identified by a unique transaction ID.

1) Submit an Initiate Request

The ebtonline:initiate will begin the PIN process. Cardknox will return the necessary pieces to render a PIN pad for the user.

Request

{
  "xKey": "xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx",
  "xVersion": "4.5.9",
  "xSoftwareName": "YourSoftwareName",
  "xSoftwareVersion": "1.0.0",
  "xCommand": "ebtonline:initiate",
  "xCardNum": "6004861944321111844",
  "xShipMethod": "CustomerPickup"
}

Response

{
  "xResult": "A",
  "xStatus": "Approved",
  "xError": "",
  "xErrorCode": "00000",
  "xRefNum": "600546727",
  "xAvsResultCode": "",
  "xAvsResult": "Unmapped AVS response",
  "xCvvResultCode": "",
  "xCvvResult": "No CVV data available",
  "xMaskedCardNumber": "6xxxxxxxxxxxxxx1844",
  "xCardType": "EBT",
  "xToken": "hp6h31h29phnh6p48pm6024mp8278q96",
  "xInternalID": "5c3d7ba7-80d4-4437-b4cb-c259cf0757c6",
  "xPinPadURL": "https://test.paysecure.acculynk.net/PINpad",
  "xAccuID": "ce8da934-fe7c-47f4-90bd-46fd0e3ff99e",
  "xMID": "xxxxxxxxxxxTest",
  "xDate": "3/1/2022 12:51:52 PM",
  "xEntryMethod": "Keyed",
  "xRemainingBalanceEBTCB": "0.00",
  "xRemainingBalanceEBTFS": "0.00",
  "xEbtOnlineErrorCode": "00",
  "xEbtOnlineErrorMessage": "SUCCESS"
}

2) Redirect the user to the PIN pad

Redirect the user to the xPinPadURL for the user to enter their pin.

Request

<form action="https://test.paysecure.acculynk.net/PINpad" method="post">
    <label>AccuId:</label>
    <input type="text" id="AccuId" name="AccuId" value="">
    <label>AccuReturnURL:</label>
    <input type="text" id="AccuReturnURL" name="AccuReturnURL" value="">
    <label>AccuLanguage:</label>
    <input type="text" id="AccuLanguage" name="AccuLanguage" value="en-US">
    <input type="submit" value="Submit">
</form>

Response

AccuLanguage=en-US&
AccuId=ce8da934-fe7c-47f4-90bd-46fd0e3ff99e&
AccuResponseCode=ACCU000&
AccuResponseMsg=SUCCESS

3) Submit the final command to the gateway

Once the user is redirected back to your site with the response code Accu000 submit the final request (ebtonline:fssale, ebtonline:cbsale, or ebtonline:balance) to the Cardknox gateway to complete the transaction. If you receive any other response code, allow the user to try again or cancel the transaction. Request

{
  "xKey": "xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx",
  "xVersion": "4.5.9",
  "xSoftwareName": "YourSoftwareName",
  "xSoftwareVersion": "1.0.0",
  "xCommand": "ebtonline:fssale",
  "xAmount": "1",
  "xRefNum": "123456789"
}

Response

{
  "xResult": "A",
  "xStatus": "Approved",
  "xError": "",
  "xErrorCode": "00000",
  "xRefNum": "600548315",
  "xAuthCode": "452251",
  "xBatch": "6329524",
  "xAvsResultCode": "",
  "xAvsResult": "Unmapped AVS response",
  "xCvvResultCode": "",
  "xCvvResult": "No CVV data available",
  "xAuthAmount": "1.00",
  "xMaskedCardNumber": "6xxxxxxxxxxxxxx1844",
  "xCardType": "EBT",
  "xMID": "xxxxxxxxxxxTest",
  "xDate": "3/1/2022 12:54:39 PM",
  "xEntryMethod": "Unknown",
  "xRemainingBalanceEBTCB": "932.62",
  "xRemainingBalanceEBTFS": "235.25",
  "xEbtOnlineResponseCode": "00",
  "xEbtOnlineErrorCode": "00",
  "xEbtOnlineErrorMessage": "SUCCESS"
}

Test Cards

Test Card

Response Code

Error Message

6004861944321111844

0

(Approved)

1

Missing parameter

3

Invalid merchant/terminal

6104341675219380

4

Command not supported

6104341397212234

5

Command not authorized

6104342085618120

6

Decline

6004861835913142835

41

Decline

6004861659118294500

43

Decline

6104341476018981

57

Decline

6004861674715978348

59

Decline

6004861469721133669

67

Decline

6104341094217098

12

Invalid transaction

6104341339116774

13

Invalid amount

6104342179210040

14

Invalid card number

6004861283711548772

15

Invalid card

6004861936221520819

23

Unacceptable transaction fee

40

Request not supported

6104341157820259

42

Invalid account

6004861118116374806

51

Insufficient funds

6104342148913849

54

Expired card

6104341215511833

55

Incorrect PIN

6004861487521029713

56

Invalid card

6004861804921225354

60

Card acceptor contact acquirer

6104341821716867

61

Exceeds withdrawal limit

6104341606718450

62

Restricted card

6104341108310343

75

PIN tries exceeded

6004861908615095260

76

Key synchronization error

6004861170115289659

89

CVV failed

90

No account on file

6004861035618530794

92

System error

6004861904512646719

96

System error

6004861141211040767

99

System error

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I view the EBT online commands in Cardknox reporting?

The initiate and balance commands are available for internal users in the report:log and sale commands are available in all reports.

What's the difference between a void and a refund?

The void command voids the entire transaction, so no amount is allowed; a refund can partially refund the transaction, so an amount is allowed.

Can I use a token instead of a card number for the initiate?

Yes

Are partial approvals supported?

No

Is there a separate command for food stamps and cash benefits?

For balance, refund, and void, there is no need to specify. For sales, there is a separate command for food stamps (ebtonline:fssale) and cash benefits (ebtonline:cbsale).

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