Ohio families who use SNAP benefits could soon see some important changes. Lawmakers are looking at new rules to protect EBT cards from theft, and federal officials are also considering new work requirements that may affect who can receive help.
One change involves Ohio’s Direction Card, which is the EBT card used for SNAP food benefits. Unlike most credit or debit cards, Ohio’s card does not have a security chip. This makes it easier for thieves to steal benefits by placing skimmers on store card readers. Between June 2023 and December 2024, more than 34,000 Ohio households lost almost 17 million dollars in stolen benefits. The federal government used to repay families for stolen funds, but that program has ended. If benefits are stolen now, families must absorb the loss.
A bipartisan bill from Rep. Kellie Deeter of Norwalk and Rep. Tristan Rader of Lakewood would require Ohio to upgrade every Direction Card with chip technology within two years. The update is expected to cost about 10.6 million dollars, with Ohio and the federal government sharing the cost. Several groups support the idea, including the Ohio Council of Retail Merchants, the Ohio Association of Foodbanks, and legal aid organizations. Maryland and Oklahoma have already started switching to chip cards, but there is still no nationwide plan to address skimming.
At the same time, federal officials are discussing new work rules for SNAP. Under the proposal, adults who receive benefits would need to work at least 80 hours each month to keep receiving help. A report from the Congressional Budget Office says the change could lead to 2.4 million people losing their benefits, including more than 300,000 parents.
Both efforts are still in early stages. Ohio’s chip card bill has not yet passed out of committee, and the work requirement changes would need approval on the federal level. Still, these discussions show that SNAP rules may shift in the near future.
For now, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services is urging families to protect their cards by checking for skimmers, changing their PIN each month, and using the card lock feature in the ConnectEBT app. Officials say thieves continue to target vulnerable families who rely on food help to cover rising grocery costs.
More updates are expected as these proposals move forward.