In a major step toward curbing public benefit fraud, New Jersey has teamed up with technology solutions provider Conduent Incorporated to roll out secure, chip-enabled Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards for participants of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Work First New Jersey (WFNJ) cash assistance program.
The initiative makes New Jersey the third state supported by Florham Park-based Conduent to introduce EBT chip cards, and a national pioneer as the first to incorporate modern tap-to-pay functionality.
Traditional EBT cards have relied heavily on magnetic stripes, making them prime targets for criminals utilizing skimming devices at point-of-sale terminals and ATMs to steal recipient data. By migrating to chip technology, New Jersey cardholders can now securely insert or tap their cards, effectively neutralizing traditional card-skimming vulnerabilities.
“We are excited to make these more secure cards available to all residents who participate in SNAP or the WFNJ program,” New Jersey Human Services Commissioner Stephen Cha, said. “The chip-enabled cards provide an added layer of security and are an important tool in our ongoing efforts to safeguard benefits and protect residents who rely on this assistance from this type of widespread benefit fraud.”
In addition to preventing theft, the tap-to-pay feature aims to speed up checkout times and offer greater convenience for beneficiaries shopping for essentials.
The rollout is a key component of Conduent’s VeriSight Anti-Fraud Solutions, a suite designed to secure public benefit programs against rising cyber and physical theft threats.
“As thieves increasingly have targeted taxpayer-funded government benefits in recent years, chip-enabled payment technology has emerged as a key tool to reduce EBT theft, improve account security and ensure critical funds go to rightful recipients,” Anna Sever, President of Government Solutions at Conduent, said.
State officials and Conduent have reminded cardholders that technology is most effective when paired with proactive user habits. Recipients are encouraged to continue utilizing card-locking features when funds are not in use via NJFamiliesFirst.gov or the ConnectEBT mobile app, alongside maintaining strict PIN privacy.
