Assistance Programs

• Daycare Unit
• HEAP

MyBenefits & NYDocSubmit

The NYDocSubmit app may save you a trip to the local social services district to provide documentation for SNAP, HEAP, Medicaid, and Public Assistance. Now, you can take a picture of a document or select a document from your mobile device, enter identifying information and submit the document to your social services district anytime. It’s convenient, quick and easy.

Assistance Division

Call Center: 607‑778‑1100 (M–F 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM)

The Assistance Programs Division administers SNAP, Temporary Assistance, Medicaid, Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), Employment, and Daycare.

Learn more at: https://mybenefits.ny.gov/

“Skimming” Alert

The Broome County Department of Social Services has detected dozens of applications submitted by Broome County residents that their benefits were stolen due to Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) “skimming.” This illegal process involves a device (skimmer) placed on top of a store’s card reading machine. The skimmer copies card and personal identification number (PIN) information from EBT cardholders. The stolen data is then used to access an individual’s EBT account and spend their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance (TA) cash benefits.

How to Protect Your Benefits

• Change your PIN immediately and frequently.
• Protect your EBT card and PIN information.
• Monitor your EBT account regularly for unauthorized transactions.
• If you believe your benefits were stolen, report your card stolen by calling 888‑328‑6399, visiting www.ebtedge.com, or using the ebtEDGE mobile app.
• More information: OTDA EBT Scam Alert
• Contact the Broome County Case Integrity Unit at 607‑778‑2519.

Video: Act Fast: Protect Your EBT Benefits Against Skimming Thieves

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New Common Benefit Identification Card (CBIC) Lock Feature

There is a new feature which allows households to lock their Common Benefit Identification Card, or CBIC, commonly referred to as the Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card. Households will now have the ability to lock their EBT card, which prevents their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance (TA) cash benefits, and/or Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) benefits issued as cash to a household, from being accessed. Cardholders must then unlock the locked card to make a purchase using their SNAP or cash benefits. This new feature is intended to be used as a tool to help prevent theft of benefits through skimming or other fraudulent methods. Locking and unlocking the EBT card has no impact on Medicaid or other benefits issuances, including restricted payments directly to a landlord, utility, or other vendor.

The locking feature cannot prevent card information from being skimmed if a household’s card is used on a compromised device. However, if a card remains locked, remote fraudulent use of stolen information would be greatly restricted, limiting vulnerability to theft only at the time during which a household’s card is unlocked for purchasing.

Important Notes

• Locking does not prevent skimming if the card is used on a compromised device.
• Locked cards significantly reduce remote fraudulent use.
• Locking does not affect Medicaid or restricted vendor payments.

How to Lock/Unlock Your Card

• Use the ebtEDGE mobile app (Android or Apple iOS)
• Use the web portal: www.ebtedge.com
• Call the EBT helpline at 1-888‑328‑6399 to unlock your card.
• Optional: Lock card for out‑of‑state transactions only.

Implementation

Households have the ability to lock and unlock their cards via the ebtEDGE mobile app (Android or Apple iOS). Cardholders must have an ebtEDGE account. If they have not already created an account, they can set one up using the mobile app. The cardholder must have activated their EBT card to access the lock/unlock feature. On the mobile app home screen, a radio button will allow the cardholder to lock or unlock the card with one click.

Cardholders call the EBT helpline at 1-888‑328‑6399 to check the lock/unlock status and speak to a representative to unlock the card (only the unlock function is available through the helpline).

Households have the ability to perform the same locking and unlocking functions via their internet browser at www.ebtedge.com.

There is an additional, and separate, locking feature to both the mobile application and the web-based client portal available, allowing households the option to lock their card for out-of-state transactions. Selecting this option will block all out-of-state transactions but continue to allow in-state transactions.

New Cards

When a new card is ordered, the system does not retain the locked status of the previous card, and all new cards are issued unlocked. Households will therefore need to relock any new cards they receive. Households are encouraged to lock their new cards immediately after selecting a Personal Identification Number (PIN). The EBT card carrier, included in new card mailings, will contain information about the card lock feature.

Transaction Types

• Rejected when locked: purchases, balance inquiries, ATM withdrawals, in‑person returns requiring a swipe.
• Allowed when locked: online returns/credits, PIN changes.

Outreach

More information: OTDA Card Lock Feature

Utilization

While card locking cannot completely prevent theft of information via skimming devices or other fraudulent methods, households whose EBT cards remain locked when not in use have a significantly lower chance of having their benefits stolen.

Requests for replacement of stolen benefits is not affected by a household’s use, or non-use, of the card lock feature.

As stated above, the card lock feature does not impact Medicaid.t here