The Maryland Board of Public Works approved a contract to make benefits access easier and more secure while saving taxpayer money.
Annapolis, MD —The Board of Public Works today approved a contract from the Maryland Department of Human Services to protect Marylanders from the growing threat of benefit theft. The move makes Maryland among the first states in the nation to adopt “tap and go” technology, allowing cards to be waved or tapped near a contactless-enabled card reader, making Electronic Benefits Transfer use easier and more secure.
“This contract will make benefits access seamless and safer for the 943,000 Marylanders we serve through EBT, including 680,000 Marylanders who receive SNAP benefits,” said Maryland Department of Human Services Secretary Rafael López. “In the face of unprecedented challenges, Maryland is taking action to secure vital benefits and safeguard taxpayer dollars.”
As the result of today’s vote, Fidelity Information Services will serve as the new vendor to more securely deliver Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA), Temporary Disability Assistance Program (TDAP) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to eligible Marylanders. The contract builds on the work the Moore-Miller Administration has already done to protect Marylanders from benefit theft.
In 2023, Governor Wes Moore signed Senate Bill 2, which made Maryland the first state in the nation to take the bold step of assuming the financial responsibility for replacing stolen benefits. Since March 2023, Maryland has replaced more than $35.2 million in stolen benefits for more than 60,842 households.
SNAP provides an average monthly benefit amount of $180 per Maryland customer. The department served more than 680,000 Marylanders and 270,000 children on average per month in state fiscal year 2025. SNAP also directly boosts Maryland’s farmers and supports small and local businesses who participate as the more than 3,800 SNAP retailers in Maryland.
About the Maryland Department of Human Services
The Maryland Department of Human Services is the state’s primary social services provider, serving more than one million Marylanders annually. Through our programs — including food assistance, cash support, child welfare, and energy assistance — we work to strengthen Maryland’s families and communities. We invite Marylanders to apply for benefits at MarylandBenefits.gov.
