SNAP EBT Modernization

Background

EBT fraud, including the use of card skimming to steal benefits, is on the rise. Modernizing EBT, including the introduction of chip cards for SNAP EBT, is an important step to ensure that SNAP benefits are protected. Chip cards are a more secure payment option meant to protect SNAP retailers and SNAP participants from the devastating impact of stolen SNAP benefits as cards with chips are harder to copy and steal SNAP account information.  As of Aug. 28, 2024, the X9.58-2024 EBT standard is officially published and is available on the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) site.

SNAP EBT Chip Cards

As states begin to add chips to their EBT cards, it is important that SNAP participants are able to access their benefits. SNAP participants with an EBT chip card must be able to use their card at all SNAP authorized retailer locations throughout the nation. Retailers should work with their POS service provider to ensure the SNAP EBT chip card is recognized by their POS.

For additional details about the changes retailers must make, please see the retailer reminders and technical resources below.

To support SNAP retailers with their EBT chip card acceptance readiness efforts, the map below provides the status of states that have issued EBT chip cards to their SNAP participants and the states that will soon issue EBT chip cards. Also, the states bordering those states are highlighted in the map below. SNAP retailers located in these bordering states must be prepared to accept EBT chip cards, as they will soon begin to see an increase in EBT chip card usage at their locations.

*These bordering states do not currently have an EBT chip card project in place, however SNAP retailers located in these states must be prepared to accept out-of-state EBT chip cards at their location.