PENNSYLVANIA (WHP) — Gov. Josh Shapiro joined the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and business owners to announce an investment that will help transition the state’s SNAP cards to chip-enabled EBT cards, according to a news release.
Included in Shapiro’s 2026-2027 budget was a $7 million investment to modernize Pennsylvania’s SNAP program and help protect residents who rely on SNAP to buy food each month.
Seven states have already started using chip-enabled EBT cards and have reported lower rates of SNAP theft via skimming, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services announced.
In July 2025, Shapiro issued a release warning residents that illegal skimming devices were found in multiple counties, including York County.
RELATED | ‘A serious threat’: Shapiro administration warns SNAP users of skimmers found across PA
Criminals are using skimmers to drain EBT cards of funds when they are swiped to maximize profits, according to DHS.
“Chip-enabled EBT cards will help protect SNAP recipients from having their benefits stolen and help us stop the thieves who are responsible,” said State Inspector General Michelle A. Henry. “Governor Shapiro and the General Assembly are acting now to prevent this theft while the Office of State Inspector General (OSIG) continues its tireless pursuit of the criminals who steal from those in need.”
Since the inception of the state’s skimmer response teams in 2025, 144 devices have been seized across communities, preventing more than $34.3 million in SNAP benefits from being stolen, DHS noted.
Criminals are using skimmers to drain EBT cards of funds when they are swiped to maximize profits, according to DHS. (Pennsylvania Department of Human Services)
More than 61,000 individual EBT accounts have been protected by these efforts.
Efforts to transition to chip-enabled cards are already underway, and the DHS expects cards will be automatically mailed to SNAP recipients in late Spring 2027.
“SNAP is a lifeline that helps so many of our family, friends, and neighbors eat and stay healthy, and we want all Pennsylvanians to know and trust that their benefits will be there as they should be when they go to use their cards each month. This step to modernize and strengthen security for SNAP and our EBT programs will help provide that trust and security that Pennsylvanians deserve,” said Human Services Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh.
SNAP helps more than 1.7 million Pennsylvanians–primarily children, older adults, and people with disabilities–purchase food each month, the Pennsylvania DHS noted in an announcement. The program helps improve residents’ health while supporting local economies, food producers, retailers, and their workforces.
“When SNAP benefits are stolen, families are not simply losing money–they are losing the ability to purchase groceries and put meals on the table. By investing $7 million in chip-enabled EBT cards, Pennsylvania is taking a practical step to protect families, strengthen the security of our public benefits system, and ensure these critical resources reach the people they are intended to serve,” said House Appropriations Committee Majority Chairman Jordan A. Harris.
Users are urged to keep their EBT cards locked when not in use and simply unlock them before making a purchase.
The new cards will feature two card lock features:
“Lock My Card Everywhere” will prevent all types of purchases, including in-store and online purchases. (This option is recommended to provide optimal protection against theft.)“Lock My Card Outside PA” will prevent all purchases at stores outside Pennsylvania but will still allow purchases in Pennsylvania and will also allow all internet purchases.
“I am grateful for Governor Shapiro and the General Assembly’s support of this important step. As we work to bring new, enhanced security cards to Pennsylvania, SNAP recipients and vendors who accept SNAP must remain vigilant against thieves who target EBT card users. I urge SNAP recipients to keep using the security features available from ConnectEBT and for retailers to regularly monitor their point-of-sale devices so we can work together to prevent these crimes,” Arkoosh added.