Ohio SNAP users now required to unlock EBT cards for online, out-of-state purchases

Starting Wednesday, May 13, 2026, Ohio residents who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and make online or out-of-state purchases will need to unlock their benefits card before completing transactions.

According to a release from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS), the agency is rolling out the added security measure to better protect SNAP funds.

Under the updated system, Electronic Benefits Transfer cards — commonly called EBT cards — will automatically block certain “high-risk transactions,” including online and out-of-state purchases.

With the new “block high-risk transaction” feature enabled by default, Ohio Direction Card users must unlock their card before using it for online or out-of-state purchases.

Cardholders are encouraged to relock their cards after use. They can also choose an automatic relock time of 30, 60, or 90 minutes.

An instructional video on YouTube is available to show users how to lock and unlock an Ohio Direction Card.

“Criminals from other states and online continue to prey on vulnerable Ohioans who rely on food assistance to feed their families,” said Matt Damschroder, Director of the ODJFS.

Damschroder added, “The new automatic card-lock feature will require customers to unlock their card when making an out-of-state or online purchase. It’s a simple step that still allows for out-of-state and online purchases while dramatically reducing the risk of theft.”

Data included in the release shows the ODJFS SNAP fraud analytics team identified roughly 56,000 suspicious out-of-state transactions tied to nearly 13,000 Ohio EBT accounts, totaling more than $6.3 million.

Officials say most SNAP fraud is connected to skimming, which happens when a customer uses a compromised point-of-sale card reader. If an EBT card is swiped through a device with a skimmer attached, criminals can steal the card data and use it for fraudulent purchases.

While the update will apply automatically, some cardholders may not notice much of a change, especially those who already use the card lock feature or do not shop online or outside Ohio.

“When the new security enhancements go into effect in May, most cardholders will experience minimal impacts from this change. A vast majority of cardholders do not use their benefits online or out-of-state. And even if they might need to, manually unlocking your card is fast and straightforward,” said Damschroder.

ConnectEBT account holders can unlock and lock their cards in a variety of different ways, including: