Arkansas SNAP recipients get new ebtEDGE app after theft reports
Arkansas SNAP recipients are moving to a new EBT processor and app with card locks and transaction controls after DHS reported suspicious benefit activity.
Arkansas SNAP recipients are moving to a new electronic benefits system as the Department of Human Services responds to reports of suspicious transactions involving food assistance accounts.
DHS began account-linking and benefit-management functions for the new ebtEDGE New app on Monday, July 27, 2026, as Arkansas shifted its EBT contract from Conduent to Fidelity Information Services, or FIS.
The vendor change was part of a regularly scheduled competitive re-procurement process, according to reporting by KAIT8. DHS did not indicate that the transition was caused by a security breach or that the vendor change caused the reported thefts.
What changed for Arkansas SNAP users
The ebtEDGE New app is intended to give recipients more direct control over their accounts. Features described by DHS and reported by KAIT8 and the Arkansas Advocate include real-time balance information, recent transaction details and options to lock or unlock an EBT card.
Users can also restrict purchases made outside Arkansas or block certain transaction types. Those controls are intended to reduce unauthorized use, but they do not guarantee that all benefit theft will be prevented.
Existing EBT cards are expected to continue working under the new processor. DHS has said new chip-enabled cards will be issued in the future, but recipients should monitor their accounts and report problems promptly.
The transition included an overnight system outage beginning at 11 p.m. Saturday, July 25. During the outage, transactions were unavailable and accounts could not be accessed through the app, website or phone system; KAIT8 reported that service was expected to return Sunday, July 26.
Why DHS is emphasizing PIN resets
DHS officials said Arkansas saw a large number of suspicious SNAP transactions earlier in the summer. Division of County Operations Director Mary Franklin said the agency worked with its then-current vendor to reset PINs for affected cards, according to the Arkansas Advocate report.
That report does not establish the cause, total scope or final findings of the benefit theft. The materials reviewed for this article do not describe the suspicious transactions as a confirmed statewide breach or provide a statewide theft total.
Separately, DHS required Summer EBT recipients to reset their PINs in May after reports that benefits intended for children were being stolen through out-of-state transactions. The agency’s May 30 notice concerned Summer EBT cards and should not be confused with the broader SNAP EBT processor transition.
What recipients should do
Arkansas DHS advises SNAP and Summer EBT recipients to change a PIN if they believe someone knows it or if they see an unauthorized charge. The agency recommends avoiding easily guessed numbers such as birthdays, addresses, repeated digits or simple sequences.
Recipients should check recent transactions regularly, keep their PIN secret and cover the keypad when entering it. DHS says it will not request a PIN through email, text message, social media or an unsolicited call. Its SNAP fraud guidance also advises recipients to report unauthorized charges promptly.
To change a PIN, check a balance or recent transactions, report a lost or stolen card, request a replacement or seek help with an account, recipients can call the EBT Help Desk at 1-800-997-9999. The DHS EBT FAQ says the line is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Recipients should download ebtEDGE New only through an official Apple or Google app-store listing or through the Arkansas DHS SNAP resource. Availability may not be the same for every user: the Google Play listing reviewed July 31 still identified Arkansas as coming soon. Users should verify the app’s name and developer before entering card information and should use the Help Desk if account-linking instructions or access do not work.
Access remains an issue during the transition
A digital account-management system may be harder to use for people with limited internet access, no smartphone or difficulty navigating online services. The phone-based Help Desk remains important for recipients who cannot use the app or who encounter trouble linking an account.
The immediate next step for recipients is to confirm that their card and account information are accessible, review recent activity and contact the Help Desk quickly if a transaction appears unauthorized. The reported theft activity remains unsettled, and the new app is a protective tool rather than a final determination about what happened to affected benefits.
Sources
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