Marcus Delgado, Deputy Secretary of Administration | Pennsylvania Department Of Education
The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Office of State Inspector General (OSIG) are set to unveil 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.
The new feature will enable beneficiaries to lock their EBT cards when not in use, offering protection against skimming and other forms of theft. Instances of SNAP theft have been reported both in Pennsylvania and across the country, particularly involving card skimming at point-of-sale machines equipped with unauthorized devices. The card lock function is designed to prevent such incidents by blocking all purchases, balance inquiries, and transactions when the card is locked.
"DHS Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh" and "Inspector General Michelle Henry" will be present for the announcement.
The event is scheduled for Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at 2:00 PM at the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency's Media Room located at 1310 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg, PA 17110.
Press members wishing to attend must RSVP by emailing ra-pwdhspressoffice@pa.gov with their name and role.
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