The Alabama Department of Human Resources announced Thursday that the first round of Alabama EBT cardholders are now receiving new, chip-enabled EBT cards. “The new cards will greatly increase card security, adding more protection against the theft of EBT benefits,” the Department stated.
Alabama DHR is currently conducting a pilot program to test these chip-enabled EBT cards in Autauga, Bullock, Chambers, Chilton, Coosa, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, Russell, Shelby and Tallapoosa counties. The pilot program should last approximately 30-45 days.
Following a successful pilot program, chip-enabled EBT cards will be mailed to all cardholders residing in the remaining Alabama counties.
Both SNAP and TANF program benefits will automatically be transferred to the new chipped EBT card.
- All personal information has been moved to the back side of the card.
- An expiration date and 3-digit card security code have been added to increase security.
- The expiration date is only for the card and not related to benefits.
- Benefits will remain the same, and the EBT card can be used in the same places.
“This change has been in the works for a long time and to see it finally come to fruition is incredibly rewarding knowing our EBT clients’ benefits will be better protected,” said Commissioner Nancy Buckner. “A special thanks to the Alabama Grocers Association and Petroleum & Convenience Marketers of Alabama for helping us spread the word to grocery and convenience stores to upgrade their point-of-sale systems and accept chipped cards. They were instrumental in making this transition quick and seamless.”
EBT cardholders will need to activate their new card when it arrives in the mail. To activate the chipped card, cardholders will now be prompted by EBT Customer Service to enter their card number, DOB, zip code, 3-digit security code and the expiration date. New cards must be activated within 180 days after it is issued. After activating the new EBT card, Alabama DHR is asking for cardholders to destroy the old card immediately.
All EBT cardholders are encouraged to use their new, chipped EBT card by inserting the chipped card into the point-of-sale device when making a purchase, rather than swiping it. Should the chipped end of the card fail to work, the card can be swiped through the device to make a purchase.
Please keep in mind these details of the new chip-enabled cards:
- Will not work at the retailer point-of-sale device if the retailer has not made the appropriate updates to the POS system.
- Will have a magnetic stripe as a “fallback,” but the retailers must ensure that their point-of-sale system will allow chipped EBT cards to “fallback” to magnetic stripe until EBT chip cards are fully supported on the point-of-sale system.
Retailers should contact their point-of-sale provider today to ensure their system will allow EBT chip cards to “fallback” to magnetic stripe transactions.
Alabama DHR also recommends all EBT clients to continue locking their card through the ConnectEBT app.
For EBT cardholders needing assistance with the new chip-enabled EBT card, call EBT Customer Service at 1-800-997-8888.
For retailers needing assistance with upgrading POS systems, visit USDA’s SNAP EBT Modernization website here.
