Forum to consider SNAP EBT upgrades

EBT cards used by recipients of the Department of Agriculture’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are getting an upgrade, with the launch of a new industry forum focused on revamping the payment method. 

The Accredited Standards Committee X9 Inc., which develops American National Standards Institute (ANSI) rules that govern the cards, announced Tuesday that it is holding the SNAP EBT Card Modernization Forum to investigate best practices for the update.  

The plan includes upgrading the card to include a chip that allows for easier mobile payment using near-field communication (NFC) technology and updating the SNAP Electronic Healthy Food Incentive Program (eHIP). 

Stakeholders expected to attend include the USDA, state agencies, retailers, card processors, and hardware and software vendors, among others. Those interested in participating in the forum can learn more by visiting the X9 Inc. website. Interested participants are not required to be X9 members.

"The SNAP program has historically provided benefits to low-income families to supplement their grocery budgets, so that they can afford the nutritious food essential to health and well-being," said X9 Executive Director Steve Stevens in a statement. "We now have the opportunity to design a new generation of SNAP cards, to add the benefit of secure mobile transactions along with incentives for including fresh produce in families’ meals. This modernization will enhance the benefit of SNAP to recipients while also streamlining card processing." 

Topics on the agenda include researching options for implementing a chip card, mobile/NFC payments and eHIP and making recommendations on X9.58 standards that govern the card.   

Establishment of the forum comes at a time of big change for the SNAP program, with more grocers and food services accepting SNAP payments for online orders. The program has also expanded to services that go beyond typical grocers, such as the recent adoption and expansion of the Flashfood program that makes available discount foods nearing their best-buy dates.