Eight States Have Issued Chip-Enabled SNAP Cards

The transition to chip-based payment cards aims to mitigate widespread benefit theft via skimming.

Updated on Sept. 21, 2026 in Semiconductors

Isometric editorial illustration of a gold microchip contact module on a payment card surface, representing secure payment technology. — Eight U.S. states have begun issuing chip-enabled EBT cards to SNAP recipients to better secure public benefits against skimming-related theft. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Eight states have officially begun issuing chip-enabled EBT cards to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients to prevent payment card skimming. These security upgrades follow the reported theft of more than $320 million in benefits between October 2022 and December 2024.

Why it matters

The transition to EMV chip technology addresses the rising vulnerability of magnetic-stripe EBT cards to criminal skimming devices. As federal law currently does not mandate the use of microchips, individual states are acting to secure critical public benefits against ongoing theft.

Eight states have currently deployed the cards, with four additional states in the process of implementation. While magnetic stripes are easily cloned by skimming hardware, EMV chips generate unique transaction codes that render intercepted data useless for future charges.

The players

New Jersey

One of the latest states to issue chip-enabled EBT cards for SNAP recipients.

Virginia

A state that has recently moved to issue updated chip-enabled benefit cards.

The details

States are upgrading EBT systems to include EMV microchips, which use dynamic authentication to secure point-of-sale transactions. Unlike magnetic stripes, which store static data that can be copied by simple overlay devices placed on card readers, a chip-enabled card requires the reader to interact with the onboard secure processor to authorize a payment. This physical and logical shift forces attackers to move beyond simple data-cloning methods.

October 2022 to December 2024: $320 million in benefits were reported stolen.
September 21, 2026: Date of reporting on the current rollout status.
Early 2027: New York plans to issue chip-enabled cards.

The Tech Race

This state-led initiative follows the broader consumer shift to EMV security standards that became the norm for standard credit and debit cards years ago. The rollout highlights the lag between private sector payment hardware and the aging infrastructure used for government benefit distribution.

Recipients in participating states will receive new, more secure cards to replace existing magnetic-stripe versions. These new cards will be used at standard point-of-sale terminals, providing enhanced protection against the skimming devices often found at retail checkout counters.

The takeaway

The move to chip-based EBT cards represents a critical shift toward hardening public financial infrastructure against pervasive skimming attacks. Stakeholders should monitor for further state-level adoption announcements and the 2027 New York rollout to gauge the pace of this national transition.