EBT / Food Stamp

EBT / Food Stamp System - Realistic Welfare Payment Card for QBCore Servers

This is a government assistance system that adds EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) cards to your FiveM server - basically food stamps in digital form. Players apply through a government services NPC, get approved for benefits based on configurable amounts, and receive a card they can use at stores instead of cash. It's designed for roleplay servers that want to simulate realistic socioeconomic systems beyond just everyone's rich or everyone's broke.

What's Included

You get a complete welfare application system with a government services NPC, configurable benefit amounts, approval cooldowns, and EBT card items that integrate with your existing shops. The script works with multiple inventory systems (qb-inventory, ox_inventory, ps-inventory) and targeting systems (qb-target, ox_target), so it fits into your existing setup without forcing you to change frameworks. There's also optional Discord webhook logging so you can track who's applying for benefits and how much they're receiving.

How The Application Process Works

Players go to a government services NPC (fully configurable location and ped model) and interact via target system to apply for EBT benefits. They specify how much they're applying for - you set the minimum and maximum amounts in the config (default $50-$4000). Once approved, they receive an EBT card that functions like a separate payment method in stores. The system tracks application dates in your SQL database, so the cooldown timer keeps running even if players log off. Default cooldown is 1 week (10,080 minutes), but you can adjust that to whatever makes sense for your server economy.

Key Features

• Configurable Benefit Amounts - Set minimum and maximum application amounts ($50-$4000 default)
• Persistent Cooldown System - Tracked in SQL database, continues even when players are offline
• Separate Payment Method - EBT cards function as distinct payment option in compatible shops
• Multi-Inventory Support - Works with qb-inventory, ox_inventory, or ps-inventory
• Multi-Target Support - Compatible with qb-target or ox_target systems
• Discord Webhook Logging - Optional tracking of applications and approvals
• Customizable NPC - Change ped model, location, and blip settings

Perfect For

• Roleplay servers that simulate realistic economic struggles and welfare systems
• Servers with detailed government job roleplay (social services departments)
• Communities that want payment variety beyond just everyone uses cash
• Servers with food/grocery store systems where EBT makes thematic sense
• Creating economic disparity roleplay without making low-income characters unplayable
• Servers that emphasize social services and community support systems

Technical Details

• Framework: QBCore (qb-core required)
• Inventory Systems: qb-inventory, ox_inventory, or ps-inventory
• Target Systems: qb-target or ox_target
• Database: SQL integration for tracking cooldowns and application history
• Webhook: Optional Discord logging for admin monitoring
• Cooldown: Default 1 week (10,080 minutes), fully configurable

Installation

1. Ensure you're running QBCore with your preferred inventory and target systems
2. Import the SQL file to create necessary database tables
3. Configure inventory system (qb-inventory, ox_inventory, or ps-inventory)
4. Configure target system (qb-target or ox_target)
5. Set minimum/maximum application amounts in config.lua
6. Configure cooldown duration (default 1 week = 10,080 minutes)
7. Set government services NPC location, model, and blip preferences
8. (Optional) Add Discord webhook URL for application logging
9. Add ensure ebt-food-stamp to server.cfg and restart

Configuration Highlights

The config file is comprehensive and well-documented. You can switch between inventory and target systems with simple string changes - no code editing required. The cooldown is set in minutes, making it easy to adjust (1 day = 1,440 minutes, 1 week = 10,080 minutes, etc.). The max and min application amounts let you balance your economy - set them tight for controlled welfare or loose for more generous benefits. The NPC configuration includes ped model, exact coordinates with heading, and optional map blip so players can find government services easily.

Payment Integration

When players shop at stores, they see two payment options: Cash and EBT Card. The system integrates with your existing shop scripts that support multiple payment methods. This creates realistic scenarios where players need to decide what to buy with limited EBT funds versus regular cash. You can also restrict certain items to cash-only if you want to simulate real-world EBT restrictions (like in actual US EBT systems where you can't buy alcohol or hot foods).

What Makes It Stand Out

Most FiveM economy scripts just track money as one number. This adds a second payment type specifically for welfare benefits, which creates more nuanced economic roleplay. The persistent cooldown system means players can't spam applications by logging off and on - the timer runs in your database regardless. The multi-inventory and multi-target support is also rare; most scripts lock you into one system, but this works with all the popular options. And the Discord webhook logging gives admins visibility into who's using the system without requiring manual database checks.

Roleplay Applications

This opens up realistic poverty and social services roleplay that's usually impossible in FiveM. Characters can be working poor - employed but struggling financially - without being completely broke and unable to participate. Government job players (social workers, case managers) can have actual tasks related to welfare services. It also creates interesting dynamics in grocery store or market roleplay, where cashiers process different payment types. The cooldown system prevents abuse while still letting players access benefits when they genuinely need them for their character's story.

Economy Balancing

The configurable min/max amounts and cooldown duration give you full control over economic impact. If you set a 1-week cooldown with $50-$200 max benefits, it's a small safety net that won't flood your economy. If you set shorter cooldowns with higher amounts, it becomes more accessible but requires monitoring to prevent exploitation. The system tracks everything in SQL, so you can query application history to see if adjustments are needed. Start conservative and adjust based on how your server's economy responds.

Config file

Config = {}

Config.Inventory = qb-inventory -- ox_inventory / qb-inventory / ps-inventory
Config.Target = qb-target -- ox_target / qb-target

-- Default 1 week
Config.CooldownTillNextEBT = 10080 -- (Minutes) This is Stored in the SQL so if the players logs off this timer will keep going. This is how long until the player can get approved for another EBT card.

-- Max & Min EBT Balance that a player can apply for.
Config.MaxApply = 4000
Config.MinApply = 50

Config.Webhook = false
Config.Webhook = PLACE_YOUR_WEBHOOK_HERE --  For Discord Logs

Config.GovernmentPed = csb_tomcasino --  Ped Name
Config.GovernmentPedCoords = vector4(-544.8433, -204.5809, 37.2151, 211.2208) -- Ped Coords
Config.Blip = true -- Display Blip on Ped

Strings = {
    SelectPayCash = Cash,
    SelectPayEBT = EBT Card,
    PaymentType = Payment Type,
    PaymentTypeDesc = Please select either Cash or EBT,
    GovServicesTitle = Government Services,
    GoveServicesPedTargetLabel = Government Services,
    ContextTitle = Apply For A EBT Card,
    ContextDesc = Put an Application,

-- Rest of the strings --

Related FiveM Economy System

• Brutal Banking (ESX/QB)
• Advanced Sellable Market
• Codem – Banking
• Statistics & Achievements