Although it is only a bill at the moment, it is possible that EBT cards in the United States will begin to be microchipped very soon. These cards are used to get the SNAP Food Stamps benefit and as of today they seem unsecure and very vulnerable.
Therefore, there is a senator in Oregon who intends to change this for the better. Just by adding a little extra security to the SNAP EBT cards, he can make sure that no thieves get their hands on money that is not theirs.
In recent months, many SNAP Food Stamps EBT card credits have been stolen. This type of electronic transfer card works with a magnetic strip. Therefore, it is really easy to clone this type of cards with hidden skimming devices.
Once the thief has the duplicate card he just has to use it in one of the attached establishments and buy whatever they want. So in some states they want to stop this practice by inserting the microchip in the card.
How can the microchip in the EBT card help SNAP Food Stamps beneficiaries?
The truth is that SNAP Food Stamps recipients get this type of benefit because they are needy families. So to be able to count on the security of this kind of check is totally reassuring.
And there is nothing more reassuring than knowing that no one but yourself can use the EBT card. In the event that thieves clone the card we can lose all the money we have from our benefits. That is certainly bad news.
Still, no state accepts this type of card as of today, but it looks like that is going to change. By the time microchips are finally included within EBT cards all states should accept this method of collection.
At the end of the day, the ultimate goal is none other than to ensure that Americans have access to buy fresh food. Therefore, securing the money and the EBT card should be a top priority for the USDA and the United States Government.