Maryland EBT Card Balance
Program: Food Supplement Program · Administered by Maryland Department of Human Services (DHS)
Updated August 2026
Maryland calls its SNAP program the Food Supplement Program, and it's administered by the Maryland Department of Human Services (DHS). It provides monthly food assistance to eligible low-income individuals and families across the state.
Approved benefits are deposited onto a Maryland EBT card each month, which can be used like a debit card at grocery stores and other SNAP-authorized retailers.
How to Check Your Maryland EBT Balance
Check online
Log in with your card number to view your balance and transaction history.
https://www.connectebt.comUse the mobile app
ConnectEBT is the official app for Maryland EBT cardholders, available on iOS and Android.
Check your last receipt
Your remaining balance is printed at the bottom of the receipt from your most recent EBT purchase.
Where You Can Use Your Maryland EBT Card
Your EBT card works like a debit card at any USDA-authorized retailer nationwide — major grocery chains and big-box stores such as Walmart, Target, Kroger, Costco, Sam's Club, Aldi, Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, and most local and regional supermarkets, plus many convenience stores and farmers markets. A growing number of retailers, including Walmart.com and Amazon, also accept SNAP EBT for online grocery orders in many areas, though delivery and service fees usually can't be paid with benefits.
SNAP benefits cover food and food-producing seeds or plants, but not hot prepared foods, alcohol, tobacco, or non-food items — some states also restrict specific items like soda or candy, noted below if it applies to Maryland.
Maryland operates a SNAP Restaurant Meals Program. Eligible elderly, disabled, or homeless SNAP participants (and their spouses) can use their EBT card to buy prepared meals at participating restaurants statewide.
Maryland SNAP Income Limits
The base federal SNAP rule limits eligibility to households with gross income at or below 130% of the federal poverty level. Maryland uses Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility (BBCE) to extend that limit to 200% of the federal poverty level for most households.
This higher threshold means more working families and individuals in Maryland, including many with income just above the standard cutoff, can qualify for food assistance. BBCE also generally eliminates a separate asset test, so a bit of savings or a reliable car typically won't disqualify an otherwise eligible household.
| Household Size | Max Monthly Gross Income |
|---|---|
| 1 | $2,660 |
| 2 | $3,607 |
| 3 | $4,553 |
| 4 | $5,500 |
| 5 | $6,447 |
| 6 | $7,393 |
| 7 | $8,340 |
| 8 | $9,287 |
For each additional household member beyond 8, add about $947/month. Based on 2026 federal poverty guidelines at 200% — figures update annually and individual eligibility depends on more than gross income, so confirm your exact amount with Maryland Department of Human Services (DHS).
EBT Fraud & Card Skimming Protection
Protect your benefits from theft
EBT card skimming, where thieves secretly copy card and PIN data to clone cards and drain benefits, has affected SNAP households across the country. Congress authorized states to reimburse benefits stolen this way between October 1, 2022, and December 20, 2024, but that federal authority was not extended further, meaning most states can no longer guarantee reimbursement for benefits stolen after that date.
Maryland is one of the few states that has continued reimbursing stolen benefits using its own state funding even after the federal program lapsed. If you believe your benefits were stolen, call the Maryland EBT Customer Call Center at 1-800-997-2222 to report it and request a replacement card, then file an EBT Stolen Benefits Attestation Claim at marylandbenefits.gov; DHS aims to decide claims within about 10 business days. You can also call the DHS fraud tipline at 1-844-DHS-TIPS to report suspicious calls or texts. Protect yourself by never sharing your PIN, avoiding simple PIN numbers, and checking your balance often.
Maryland-Specific EBT Information
Maryland stands out nationally for continuing to reimburse SNAP households for card-skimming losses using state dollars, even after Congress let the federal stolen-benefits replacement authority expire in December 2024. Marylanders can file a claim any time at marylandbenefits.gov, and DHS says it will replace confirmed stolen EBT and P-EBT benefits.