Maryland has become the fourth state in the nation to implement highly secure Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards equipped with Europay, Mastercard, and Visa (EMV) chip-and-tap technology, Governor Wes Moore announced.
The Maryland Department of Human Services (DHS) began the statewide rollout of the new cards, designed to better protect recipients from skimming and other sophisticated theft tactics that have increased nationally. The upgraded cards add an important security layer while maintaining seamless use at retailers and ATMs.
“Across the nation families are struggling with rising costs on everything from food to energy. Here in Maryland, we are laser focused on providing accessible and secure relief to hardworking families,” Governor Moore said. “These fraud-resistant ‘chip-and-tap’ cards are a major step towards that goal, as our administration works tirelessly to make life more affordable for Marylanders and leave no one behind.”
The rollout follows a successful pilot program in Anne Arundel County, Baltimore City and Dorchester County conducted in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Testing confirmed the new cards function effectively, with 92% of transactions approved during the pilot, resulting in more than $191,000 in retailer activity and over $130,000 in financial activity. Roughly half of transactions utilized the chip or tap features.
Acting DHS Secretary Stacy L. Rodgers highlighted the significance. “These new cards are an important step forward in our ongoing efforts to make benefits easier to access and more secure for Marylanders,” she said. “Maryland is continuing to lead the way, becoming the fourth state in the nation to successfully use chip cards.”
The initiative involved extensive coordination with retailers, financial institutions and more than 2.6 million customer outreach efforts via email and text since May 1. Analysis shows 98% of Maryland EBT customers are within a 10-mile radius of chip-enabled retailers, minimizing potential disruptions.
All current EBT cardholders will receive their new chip-enabled cards by mail over the next three weeks, along with activation instructions and guidance for creating a new PIN. Upon activation of the new card, the old magnetic stripe card will automatically deactivate. Benefit balances transfer seamlessly.
Legacy cards will be fully deactivated on Sept. 30, 2026. Officials urge customers to activate new cards promptly to avoid any interruption in benefits. Registration for the ebtEDGE portal or app is recommended for easier account management but is not required for activation.
Customers with questions or issues can contact EBT Vendor Services at 1-800-997-2222 or ebthelp@maryland.gov. Additional resources, including FAQs, are available at dhs.maryland.gov/ebt-updates.
The upgrade represents a proactive measure to safeguard public assistance programs serving thousands of Maryland families amid evolving threats to financial security.
