The Maryland Department of Human Services is rolling out new, more secure EBT cards with chip-and-tap technology. Your new card has been mailed—please check your mailbox!
When your new EBT card arrives, the cards will look like this:
Please activate your new card as soon as you receive it. It’s easy.
Follow the activation instructions included with your card, or call 1-800-997-2222.
You must create a new PIN during activation. Failing to complete this step of the process may result in problems accessing your benefits.
Once your new, more secure card is activated, your old card will stop working automatically. Please destroy it by cutting straight through the magnetic stripe.
Your benefit amount, current balance, and deposit schedule will NOT change.
Register on the ebtEDGE App or online portal
Register for an account through the ebtEdge Cardholder Portal or by downloading the ebtEDGE app for iOS or Android. This is how you can check your balance and use important security features like locking and unlocking your card. Follow the instructions in the ebtEDGE Account Creation Guide to register and link your new card.
IMPORTANT: Customers must use the official ebtEdge Cardholder Portal or ebtEDGE app for iOS or Android to manage their card. Customers who use Propel or other third-party apps may lose access to their benefits.
Update Your Contact Information. There are a few ways to update your contact information, including your address:
Go to benefits.maryland.gov and sign in or create an account using the buttons in the top right corner.
Once signed in, select My Benefits Dashboard.
Choose the Report Changes tab.
Select Report a Change to enter and submit your new information.
Call the DHS Call Center at 1-800-332-6347 to speak with someone who can help you update your address.
Please have proof of your current address ready. Examples of documents include a valid government-issued ID, lease agreement, rent receipt, mortgage statement or recent utility bill with your name and address.
Need Help? If you have not received your card, need assistance, or have questions:
Your current EBT card will stop working on September 30, so please activate it as soon as you receive it. Thank you for helping us make Maryland EBT benefits safer and more secure.
Beware of scams: Do not share your card information or PIN with anyone. State staff will never call or text you to ask for your EBT card number or PIN. The official state EBT website will never ask for your card number or PIN on its first page. Watch out for fake websites that look like the official EBT site. If you get suspicious calls, texts, or links asking for your EBT details, do not reply or enter any personal information.
Your SNAP and cash benefits are sent to you on Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards. Fidelity Information Services (FIS) is MD DHS’s partner that helps manage your benefits and EBT cards.
ebtEDGE is the new online portal that Maryland EBT cardholders will use to manage their benefits. This is where you can view your account balance, see when your next deposit will come in, and use features like freeze and unfreeze. You will need to register for a new account on the ebtEdge Cardholder Portal or by downloading the ebtEdge app. iOS / Android. If you’re having trouble, start with these step-by-step instructions.
The correct app to download is called ebtEDGE and has an egg icon. Please do not download the “ebtEDGE NEW!” app.
Starting on May 18, 2026, a new option from FIS allows cardholders to protect your EBT benefits if your card is lost, stolen, or damaged. This is called the “Freeze Card feature.” On Connect EBT, this was called locking and unlocking.
The “Freeze Card feature” lets you stop your card from being used for any purchases. You can access this feature on the ebtEDGE portal online or on the Mobile App. When your card is “frozen” it cannot be used for any purchases until you “unfreeze” the card. This means any transactions at a point-of-sale device, online purchases, and/or ATM withdrawals will not work.
You can freeze and unfreeze your card through the ebtEDGE Mobile App or through the Cardholder Portal. You can also call EBT Vendor Services at 1-800-997-2222 to freeze and unfreeze over the phone.
Contact EBT Vendor Services at 1-800-997-2222.
We are planning to mail new chip/tap cards to cardholders in July. Please check this website for updates.
No. When you get your benefits will stay the same. This change only affects the security and technology behind the card, not the amount or when you get your benefits.
Chip EMV/Tap cards are being mailed out to all cardholders in stages. All customers should receive their new cards by July 31, 2026.
Cards are being mailed out daily. If you don’t receive a chip card by August 7, please call EBT Vendor Services at 1-800-997-2222.
We will send instructions with the new card so you can activate it. Once you have activated your new card, make sure you destroy your old one. You can do this by cutting through the magstripe on the back of the card.
Once we have mailed you your new card, your old card will stop working on September 30, 2026. Please make sure you activate it as soon as you get it!
Your old card will automatically deactivate when you do one of the following with your new EMV card:
Any successful transaction on a POS including purchase, withdrawal, balance inquiry, reversal and return.
Any successful transaction on an ATM.
Any successful transaction via the Internet including balance inquiry and purchase.
Successful PIN Select via Automated Response Unit (ARU).
Successful PIN Select via ebtEDGE mobile application or cardholder portal.
If you do not use your new card, your old card will automatically deactivate on September 30, 2026.
All replacement cards are now chip cards. The first replacement of an activated card in a 12-month period is free. After that, there is a $2.00 replacement fee.
For households receiving both cash and SNAP benefits, the fee will first be debited from the SNAP account. Should the SNAP account lack sufficient funds, the fee will then be deducted from the cash account.
Please visit the stores and financial institutions that you already use with your new card. Some retailers might not accept chip or tap features at this time. Please try to use the chip or tap feature first and then use the magstripe if asked.
If the transaction was declined due to an incorrect PIN, please reset your PIN. If it was declined because the card is frozen, please follow the instructions for unfreezing your card.
You should also try using your card’s magnetic stripe by swiping it, or having the store enter the card number manually. If that doesn’t work, please go to a different store that takes EBT. The new chip and tap features work in most chain stores.
