Maryland Rolls Out Chip-Enabled EBT Cards: Benefit Theft Reimbursements Down 71%
Maryland's governor's office announced that theft of public benefits has fallen sharply since the state rolled out chip- and tap-enabled EBT cards: reimbursement payouts for stolen benefits dropped 71 percent, from $3.14 million to $898,000, and claims fell 65 percent, from 8,817 to 3,062.
By program, SNAP theft fell 73 percent, SUN Bucks summer food benefits for children fell 79 percent, and cash assistance fell 62 percent. Maryland is the fourth state in the nation to equip EBT cards with chips.
Acting Secretary of Human Services Stacy Rodgers said chip and tap technology makes benefit cards far harder to counterfeit or skim, protecting the families who rely on them. The state said it will continue replacing older magnetic-stripe cards statewide. (GSM, based on reporting from the Office of the Governor of Maryland)
The governor's office figures compare July through September 2026 with the same period of 2025, and the state saved about $2.2 million in the first three months. Gov. Wes Moore's office said that beyond the chip technology, enhanced fraud monitoring, stronger claim validation and a new EBT processor also form part of the safeguards.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: Wikimedia Commons（CC BY-SA 3.0，Martin Falbisoner 摄）
