The Maryland EBT card, officially called the Independence Card, is the plastic debit card the Maryland Department of Human Services uses to deliver Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food benefits and Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) payments. You qualify based on household income, apply through the state benefits portal or your local Department of Social Services, and once approved the card arrives by mail and works at grocery stores, ATMs, and other approved locations.
Who Qualifies
SNAP eligibility starts with gross monthly income. From October 2025 through September 2026, your household must fall below these limits, which represent 200 percent of the federal poverty level:1Maryland Department of Human Services. SNAP Mass Changes for October 2025
- 1 person: $1,672
- 2 people: $2,268
- 3 people: $2,864
- 4 people: $3,460
- 5 people: $4,056
- 6 people: $4,652
- 7 people: $5,248
- 8 people: $5,844
- Each additional person: add $596
Maryland does not impose an asset or resource limit for most SNAP households, and your home and vehicles are not counted. If your household includes someone age 60 or older or a person with a disability who does not meet the gross income test, a federal resource limit of $4,500 may apply instead.2SNAP Screener. SNAP Eligibility in Maryland
TCA uses a different test. Your household’s net income after deductions must fall below the state’s allowable payment amount for your family size, and that threshold shifts with household composition. The only reliable way to know whether you qualify is to apply and go through the determination.
How to Apply
The fastest route is online at benefits.maryland.gov, which lets you submit a single application for multiple programs at once.3Maryland Benefits Programs & Services Portal. Maryland Benefits Programs and Services Portal If you prefer paper, pick up a Request for Assistance form (DHS-FIA-9711) at your local Department of Social Services office or download it from the Department of Human Services website.4Maryland Department of Human Services. Forms Mail the completed form to your local office or drop it off in person.
Have these documents ready before you start:
- Government-issued photo identification
- Social Security numbers for everyone in the household
- Proof of Maryland residency, such as a utility bill or lease
- Recent pay stubs, benefit award letters, or self-employment records
- Rent or mortgage statements and utility bills
After you submit, a case manager will schedule an interview, usually by phone. Federal law gives the state 30 days from receipt of your application to issue a final decision.5Food and Nutrition Service. SNAP Application Processing Timeliness If you have very little or no income, you may qualify for expedited benefits, which require only an identity verification interview and arrive within seven days.6Maryland Department of Human Services. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Once approved, the Independence Card arrives by mail. Activate it and set a four-digit PIN before you try to use it. For balance questions or card problems, call EBT Vendor Services at 1-800-997-2222.7Maryland Department of Human Services. New and Improved EBT Cards are Coming
How Much You Receive
Your actual SNAP amount depends on household size, income, and allowable deductions for shelter costs, child care, and similar expenses. The state calculates your allotment by subtracting 30 percent of your countable net income from the maximum for your household size, so most households receive less than the maximum. The fiscal year 2026 maximum monthly SNAP allotments are:1Maryland Department of Human Services. SNAP Mass Changes for October 2025
- 1 person: $307
- 2 people: $564
- 3 people: $807
- 4 people: $1,026
- 5 people: $1,219
- 6 people: $1,463
- 7 people: $1,617
- 8 people: $1,846
- Each additional person: add $231
TCA pays cash and is smaller. Effective October 2026, maximum monthly TCA payments run from $250 for one person to $850 for eight, with $85 added for each additional person. Your actual payment is reduced by countable net income, and Maryland imposes a 60-month lifetime limit on TCA benefits.8Maryland Department of Human Services. TCA and TDAP Benefit Increase
When Benefits Hit the Card
SNAP deposits run on a staggered schedule based on the first three letters of your last name, with dates spread between the 4th and 23rd of each month.9Maryland Department of Human Services. Benefits Schedule Unused SNAP benefits stay on the card for up to nine months; after nine months of inactivity, remaining funds are removed.10Maryland Department of Human Services. Maryland SNAP Emergency Allotment Benefits Ending TCA cash benefits also load electronically, and you can withdraw them at ATMs. The first three ATM withdrawals each month are free; each additional one costs $0.85, deducted from your cash balance.
What You Can Buy
SNAP covers food and food products for home preparation: bread, meat, dairy, fruits, vegetables, cereals, snack foods, and seeds and plants that produce food for your household.11Food and Nutrition Service. What Can SNAP Buy It does not cover alcohol, tobacco, hot prepared foods ready for immediate consumption, vitamins, medicines, or non-food items such as cleaning supplies and pet food.12eCFR. 7 CFR 271.2 – Definitions
Maryland participates in the Restaurant Meals Program, an exception to the hot-food restriction. If you are experiencing homelessness, are age 60 or older, or have a disability, you can use the Independence Card to buy prepared meals at participating restaurants and delis. The program does not increase your benefit; it only expands where SNAP dollars can be spent. Eligibility is reviewed at each recertification.13Maryland Department of Human Services. Restaurant Meals Program
TCA loads as cash, so it can be withdrawn and spent more broadly. Maryland law blocks the card from working at liquor stores, adult entertainment businesses, and gambling establishments like casinos. Using the card at prohibited locations or for prohibited purposes can lead to disqualification.
Work Requirements
Under federal legislation signed in 2025 (H.R. 1), SNAP recipients who are not exempt must work, volunteer, or participate in a work program for at least 80 hours per month. The requirement applies to adults ages 18 through 64 and now reaches groups that were previously exempt, including adults ages 55 to 64, parents of children ages 14 to 17, veterans, young adults under 24 who aged out of foster care, and people experiencing homelessness.
If you do not meet the 80-hour requirement and do not qualify for an exemption, you can receive SNAP for only three months before losing benefits. New applicants are screened right away; existing recipients are evaluated at their next recertification.14Maryland Department of Human Services. Important Changes to SNAP Benefits
Exemptions apply if you are under 18 or over 64, are medically certified as unable to work, are the parent or caregiver of a child under 14, or are enrolled in a TCA employment program. If you think an exemption might cover you, raise it during the case manager interview rather than assuming.
Checking Your Balance and Replacing a Card
Maryland has moved EBT account management from the old ConnectEBT system to the ebtEdge platform. You can check your balance, view transactions, and report a lost card through the ebtEdge Cardholder Portal online or the ebtEdge mobile app.7Maryland Department of Human Services. New and Improved EBT Cards are Coming The automated customer service line at 1-800-997-2222 is available any time for balance information.15ConnectEBT. Maryland EBT – Electronic Benefit Transfer Review your transaction history regularly; it is the fastest way to catch unauthorized charges.
If the card is lost, stolen, or damaged, call that same number immediately. The representative will deactivate the old card and arrange a replacement to be mailed to the address on file. Delivery takes up to seven business days.16ConnectEBT. Maryland EBT – Electronic Benefit Transfer – Lost or Stolen Cards or PINs and Problems with Transactions If the EBT system does not have your current address, contact your local Department of Social Services office to update it before a replacement can go out. Once the new card arrives, set a new PIN before using it.
Keeping Benefits Active
SNAP approval runs for a set certification period, and benefits stop when it ends unless you recertify in time. You also have to submit a Maryland Benefit Review (MBR) form at the six-month mark. The MBR is mailed at least 60 days before it is due and can also be submitted electronically through the Maryland Benefits portal.17Department of Human Services. Maryland Benefit Review Periodic Reporting Process and Verification Requirements
The MBR is due by the last day of the fifth month of your certification period, with a final deadline at the end of the sixth month. Miss both and the case closes, forcing you to reapply from scratch. If the state asks for additional verification through a separate information request, you have 10 calendar days to respond. Treat every piece of mail from DHS as time-sensitive; a missed form is the most common reason people lose benefits they still qualify for.