June 18, 2025

Dear Community Partner,

We’re reaching out to share that New York City has issued a memorandum in support for the proposed amendment to Section 95 of the Social Services Law, which would require the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) to implement EMV chip technology in EBT cards by June 21, 2027.  

As you are well aware, EBT skimming and cloning have had a devastating impact on low-income New Yorkers. As of January 2025, more than 120,000 skimming claims have been approved in NYC alone for SNAP and Cash Assistance, totaling nearly $48 million dollars in replacement benefits, 90% of which were for SNAP benefit replacement. Unfortunately, as of December 2024, federal authorization to replace stolen SNAP benefits has expired, and DSS/HRA can no longer issue reimbursements for these losses.  

Modernizing EBT cards with chip technology is a critical safeguard. EMV chip cards generate a unique transaction code with each use, making them much harder to copy than traditional magnetic stripe cards. This technology is already the industry standard in commercial banking and has been adopted in states like California and Oklahoma.  

In addition to enhancing security, chip technology would enable DSS/HRA Cash Assistance clients to use their EBT cards on MTA buses and subways, and access OMNY discounts, providing much-needed convenience and mobility.  

We know many of you have been advocating for this change, and we want to underscore that we are fully aligned. We believe it’s important to show unified support for protecting New Yorkers from ongoing and preventable benefit theft.  

Following the passage of the bill in the State Senate, the focus now shifts to securing action from the Assembly. If you're connected to advocacy efforts or in contact with elected officials, we encourage you to share your support for this legislation (S1475/A699). Raising awareness, both within our networks and publicly, can help keep momentum around this issue strong.  

Thank you for your ongoing partnership, and for all that you do every day to help New Yorkers in need. 

Sincerely,

Office of Community Outreach

NYC Department of Social Services