Dr. Carrie Rowe, Acting Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Education | Pennsylvania Department Of Education
The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Office of State Inspector General (OSIG) are set to introduce a new security feature for electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards. This initiative aims to safeguard recipients of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and cash benefits from theft.
Benefit recipients will have the ability to lock their EBT cards when not in use, providing protection against skimming and other forms of theft. The DHS and OSIG have noted an increase in SNAP theft incidents both in Pennsylvania and across the nation, particularly involving card skimming devices at point-of-sale machines.
The new card lock feature is designed to prevent unauthorized purchases, balance inquiries, and transactions by securing the benefits when the card is not actively being used.
"DHS Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh" and "Inspector General Michelle Henry" will be present at the announcement event scheduled for Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at 2:00 PM. The event will take place at the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency's Media Room located at 1310 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg, PA 17110.
Media personnel interested in attending are required to RSVP with details of their photographer or reporter by contacting ra-pwdhspressoffice@pa.gov.
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