One U.S. State Plans to Add Chips to EBT Cards to Prevent Food Benefit Theft

In recent years, many states in the U.S. have seen more cases of food benefit theft. This problem happens partly because many EBT cards, which are used for programs like SNAP (food stamps), only have magnetic stripes.

These old-style cards are easier for criminals to copy and use, leading to money being stolen from people before they can buy their groceries.
 

How Is Ohio Affected?

Ohio is one of the states hit hardest by this issue. From June 2023 to December 2024, almost $17 million in SNAP benefits were stolen from Ohio families.

This has caused a lot of problems for households who suddenly find themselves unable to buy food.
 

What Is Ohio Doing to Fix This?

To address this problem, Ohio lawmakers are considering a new plan that would update all EBT cards by adding chips to them over the next two years.

These new chip cards are much safer because each transaction uses a unique code, making it very hard for thieves to copy the card.

The plan, suggested by Kellie Deeter and Representative Tristan Rader, would cost about $10.6 million. The state and the federal government would share this cost.

Kellie Deeter highlighted how important this change is, saying that when SNAP benefits are stolen, families are left without money for food through no fault of their own.
 

What’s Next?

The proposal still needs to be approved by Ohio lawmakers. Although important groups like food banks and legal organizations support the plan, the bill (House Bill 163) hasn't yet passed committee or received a vote in the House.
 

Why Are Chip Cards Safer?

Chip cards offer better protection because they make it almost impossible to clone the card’s information. This reduces the risk of "skimming," a type of theft where criminals copy card data from magnetic stripes.

Ohio would join states like Maryland and Oklahoma in upgrading their EBT cards with chips for better security.
 

What Can Beneficiaries Do Now?

Even as Ohio works to upgrade its EBT cards, officials recommend that people take steps to protect their cards. This can help prevent theft while the state works on this important change.

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