Maryland To Pause EBT Transactions During Upcoming Transition

Maryland residents who receive food assistance or cash benefits through EBT should prepare for major system upgrades later this month and new chip-enabled cards arriving this summer.

The Maryland Department of Human Services announced it is transitioning to a new EBT card vendor, Fidelity Information Services (FIS), in an effort to improve security and make benefits easier to manage. As part of the change, the current ConnectEBT website and mobile app will be replaced with a new platform called ebtEdge.

Officials say the updated cards will include EMV chip and tap technology, similar to modern debit and credit cards, making it harder for scammers and thieves to steal card information.

The transition will temporarily affect how cardholders access and manage their benefits.

Beginning at 11 p.m. on Friday, May 15, users will no longer be able to change their PINs or lock their cards. Those features are expected to return by noon on Sunday, May 17.

In addition, cardholders will not be able to use their EBT cards for purchases or ATM withdrawals from midnight until noon on Sunday, May 17. State officials are encouraging residents to buy groceries and withdraw any needed cash before the downtime begins.

May 16 will also mark the final day users can access the ConnectEBT website or app.

Starting Monday, May 18, recipients will need to create a new account through the ebtEdge Cardholder Portal or download the ebtEdge mobile app to manage their benefits moving forward.

The state says new EBT cards will begin mailing out in July. Once recipients receive the new cards, they should follow the activation instructions included in the envelope. Current PIN numbers will remain the same.

Officials are also warning residents to stay alert for scams during the transition. The state says employees will never call or text asking for an EBT card number or PIN, and users should avoid suspicious links or fake websites requesting personal information.