Evaluation of the Expanded Off-Line EBT System in Ohio: Moving to a Statewide EBT System Using Smart Cards for Food Stamps

To explore the suitability of off-line electronic benefits transfer (EBT) as an alternative to paper issuance and on-line EBT issuance systems, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has supported the Ohio Department of Human Services (ODHS) in expanding off-line EBT issuance to all Food Stamp Program (FSP) recipients in the state.

A pilot project in Dayton, Ohio and a demonstration of a combined WIC-EBT off-line system in Wyoming have clearly established the technical feasibility of off-line EBT for FSP benefit issuance. Both the Ohio and Wyoming pilot projects, however, were small in scale, and both incurred higher administrative costs than the paper coupon issuance systems they replaced.