Maryland recently joined six other states in modernizing Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) beneficiaries.
According to Payments Dive, Gov. Wes Moore’s office confirmed the rollout of these new cards on July 24 as a means to combat SNAP fraud and offer more protection for those within the program.
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) explains that — while featured in your average commercial credit card — SNAP cards have gone without the microchips that can prove useful against skimming devices. In fact, state SNAP agencies haven’t been required to include them.
Although the exact monetary amount is difficult to pinpoint, the office estimates more than $320 million in stolen benefits was reported nationwide between Oct. 2024 and Dec. 2024.
In implementing these new cards, Maryland has joined the ranks of California, Oklahoma, Alabama, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Michigan in taking such action in the fight against SNAP fraud. Similar motions are underway in New York as well as Oregon, Arkansas and Virginia.
“We know that states that have gone before us have seen massive drops in fraud when they’ve switched over to chip and tap cards, and we know that Visa itself reported an 80 percent drop in card theft and fraud when they switched over this chip and tap model, so we’re expecting to take a big bite out of fraud in Maryland with this,” Dr. Dave Sloan, Chief Information Officer for the Maryland Department of Human Services, told WBAL-TV.
WEAA reports that these cards have been automatically sent out to Maryland SNAP beneficiaries, who should activate them upon receipt. All old cards will be deactivated come Sept. 30.
