New EBT Card Locking Feature Helps Fight SNAP Benefit Theft
Sadie Parker
Published Sep 15, 2025
Check out: Food Stamps: Clarifying Your Most Crucial Questions
How Are States Fighting Fraud?
States such as Connecticut and Pennsylvania are taking steps to stop benefit theft. They have added a new feature that lets people lock their EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer) cards when they aren’t using them.
This makes it much harder for thieves to steal money from people’s accounts.
- In Connecticut, thieves stole over $6 million in benefits between October 2024 and March 2025. Because the federal government doesn't refund stolen SNAP benefits, the state made it possible for users to lock their EBT cards and stop out-of-state purchases.
- In Pennsylvania, people can use the ConnectEBT app to control their cards. Users may lock the card completely or just block it in other states. There’s also an option to set the card to lock automatically after 30, 60, or 90 minutes of not being used.
Tips to Keep Your Benefits Safe
Authorities suggest these steps to protect your benefits:
- Change your card’s PIN every month.
- Use a PIN that is not easy to guess.
- Check card readers before using your card.
- Never share your card number or PIN.
- Report anything suspicious right away.
- Lock your card at night or anytime you don’t plan to use it, since most thefts happen early in the morning.
How to Use the Card Locking Feature
To use the new locking feature:
- Download the ConnectEBT app from the App Store or Google Play.
- Log in to your account.
- Choose the “Lock/Unlock Card” option.
- Decide if you want to lock your card fully or only for out-of-state use.
- Set the auto-lock time if you want.
You can also change your PIN and watch your transactions from the app or the official website.
-
Subscribe to secure your food stamps and learn more about this government benefit.
Related Articles
View all posts
How to Report a Lost or Stolen EBT Card and Get a Replacement...
If your EBT card is lost or stolen, it is important to act quickly to protect your benefits. Here is a simple guide on what to do and how to get a replacement. 1. Report it Immediately As soon as y...
Changes to SNAP in March 2026: New Rules for Food Purchases and Work Requirements...
Starting in March 2026, the SNAP program (formerly known as food stamps) is undergoing significant changes. These updates come from a new law called the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act&...
California Benefits Guide: March 2026 Payment Dates and Rules...
Thousands of families across California’s 58 counties rely on CalWORKs and CalFresh to help make ends meet. While CalWORKs provides cash assistance for things like housing, utilities, and clothing, Ca...
SNAP Benefits: How to Keep Your Food Assistance in March 2026...
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a vital resource for millions of Americans. It provides the financial support needed to buy healthy food and maintain good nutrition. However, to keep...
Upcoming Changes to SNAP Benefits in Nevada: What You Need to Know...
Starting March 1, 2026, Nevada will implement new federal work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps. These changes will affect how thousa...
What to Do If You Don’t Qualify for Food Stamps: 7 Ways to Get Help...
Many people find themselves in a difficult spot: they need help buying food, but they were either denied SNAP (food stamps), are still waiting for an answer, or received a much smaller benefit than the...
