ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND — Talbot County households that get food or cash benefits on an EBT card should make sure their new chip card is activated, the state says, because the old magnetic-stripe-only cards "will deactivate soon." The warning came Oct. 21 as Gov. Wes Moore and the Maryland Department of Human Services reported that theft of benefits dropped sharply after the switch.
From July through September, the state paid back about $898,000 to customers whose benefits were stolen, down 71% from roughly $3.14 million in the same three months of 2025, the release says. Claims fell 65%, from 8,817 to 3,062. The state puts its savings at about $2.2 million in the first three months of chip cards.
By program, SNAP food-benefit reimbursements fell 73%, from $2.54 million to $678,000. SUN Bucks summer grocery reimbursements fell 79%, from $49,000 to $10,500. Cash assistance reimbursements fell 62%, from $555,000 to $208,000.
Since March 2023, Maryland has replaced $52,526,880 in stolen benefits, according to the department's stolen-benefits data page, current as of Oct. 16. That covers 102,958 approved claims out of 126,926 submitted. The page does not break the figures out by county.
Maryland was the fourth state to put chip-enabled EBT cards in use. The state says the chips make stolen card data harder to use, and it also added fraud monitoring, stricter claim checks and a new EBT processor. The statewide rollout followed a pilot in Anne Arundel County, Baltimore City and Dorchester County.
What cardholders need to do: Activate the new card using the instructions that came with it, or call 1-800-997-2222. The department says activation is not complete until you set a new PIN. Once the new card is activated with a new PIN, the old card stops working. Balances, benefit amounts and deposit dates do not change.
Anyone who did not get a new card can call EBT Vendor Services at 1-800-997-2222 and report the card as lost, missing or stolen, or go to the local Department of Social Services. In Talbot County, that office is at 301 Bay Street, Unit 5, in Easton, 410-770-4848, open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to the department. Address changes can be made at MarylandBenefits.gov or by calling 1-800-332-6347.
"Our highest priority is ensuring that vital food and cash assistance reach the Maryland families who need them—not the criminals attempting to steal them," said Stacy L. Rodgers, the acting human services secretary.
Source: Office of Gov. Wes Moore
Also: Maryland DHS, Maryland DHS (2), Office of Gov. Wes Moore (2)
Drawn from public records; drafted with AI and edited by Peter Gorman before publication.
Signed comments are held for review, then published. Obvious spam is rejected before it reaches the editor. Letters and comments.
No published comments yet.