Maryland's Big Move to Protect Benefits Cards

Maryland is taking a big step to protect the money of families who need help. They are spending $38 million to update their EBT cards. These cards are used for food and housing benefits. The old cards had a big problem. Criminals found a way to steal $43 million since 2023. The old cards used a magnetic strip. This strip was easy to hack. The new cards will have a chip instead. Chips are much harder to steal from. The state is working with a company called Fidelity Information Services. They will help make the new cards. The plan is to have the new cards ready by July 1, 2026. The contract with the company will last until June 2031. This is a big deal because many families rely on these benefits. Over 943, 000 people in Maryland use these cards. Almost 700, 000 of them use the cards for food through the SNAP program. The update is important. It shows that the state is trying to protect the money of those who need it most. But it also raises questions. Why did it take so long to fix this problem? And will the new cards really be safe? Only time will tell. But for now, it's a step in the right direction.