Governor Kathy Hochul announced the state will issue new chip-enabled EBT cards to prevent benefit theft from card-skimming devices.
2:32 AM
Governor Kathy Hochul announced Monday that New York will begin issuing chip-enabled Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards in early 2027 to combat benefit theft caused by illegal card-skimming devices.
The new cards will be distributed to recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides food assistance to low-income families across the state. The initiative is part of a broader modernization effort aimed at strengthening the security of the state's food assistance system.
The New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) has signed a contract with Fidelity Information Services (FIS) to manufacture and distribute the new cards. The chip technology incorporated into the cards is the same technology used by most debit and credit cards issued by banks.
According to state authorities, the chip-based system will make it significantly more difficult for criminals to use illegal skimming devices that copy card information and allow unauthorized access to benefits intended for low-income families. Card skimming has been identified as a persistent problem affecting SNAP recipients in the state.
The rollout is scheduled to begin in early 2027, with the OTDA overseeing the distribution process. The modernization effort represents an effort by state officials to address security vulnerabilities in the current EBT card system and protect beneficiaries from fraud.
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