DoHS Urges EBT Cardholders to Take Steps Now
to Protect Benefits from Skimming
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Department of Human Services (DoHS), is urging Mountain State EBT cardholders to take proactive steps now to protect their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits from skimming fraud ahead of May benefit issuance.
Across the country, reports of skimming devices on card readers have increased. These devices steal card numbers and PINs, allowing thieves to access and spend benefits, often in other states, before cardholders even realize their accounts have been compromised.
“This is about taking preventive steps to protect yourself from card skimming,” said Janie Cole, DoHS Bureau for Family Assistance Commissioner. “SNAP benefits help put food on the table for thousands of West Virginia families. We want every cardholder to know how to protect their benefits before they are at risk.”
DoHS encourages all EBT cardholders to:
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Check the Card Reader: Before inserting your card, inspect the machine for loose parts, tape, wires, or anything that looks unusual. If it seems suspicious, report it to store staff before proceeding with your transaction.
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Change Your PIN Monthly: Update your PIN at the beginning of each month before your benefits are issued. Even if your card number is stolen, it won’t be usable without the new PIN.
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Block Out-of-State Transactions: Go to
ebtEDGE.com or use the FIS ebtEDGE mobile app (look for the fried egg icon) to block out-of-state transactions. You can unblock them at any time when needed.
If you believe your card has been compromised, contact:
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WV Customer Service: 1-877-716-1212
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FIS Customer Service: 1-866-545-6502
DoHS will share these reminders through
social media and online platforms to ensure as many cardholders as possible are prepared before the May SNAP benefits are issued.
DoHS Enhances Child Welfare Prevention Efforts
with New Pilot Program, Expanded FSCs
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Department of Human Services (DoHS) is advancing its commitment to strategic long term family preservation and child welfare prevention by launching a new CarePortal pilot program and strengthening partnerships and investment in Family Support Centers (FSCs) across the state.
“These initiatives reflect our unwavering dedication to supporting families and preventing the need for foster care placements,” said Cammie Chapman, DoHS Deputy Secretary of Children and Adult Services. “By connecting communities and empowering local support systems, we are reinforcing our commitment to keeping families together and promoting the well-being of children across West Virginia.”
CarePortal, a dynamic tool for family support, is designed to help prevent biological families from entering the child welfare system by meeting their essential needs. The system connects families to local faith-based organizations through a secure platform, allowing Family Support Center staff, social workers and other child and family-serving professionals to post urgent requests for material supports that can prevent child welfare involvement – such as the need for furniture, appliances, or clothing – to be fulfilled by volunteer groups within the community. This initiative is being piloted in Preston and Monongalia counties through a collaboration with Chestnut Mountain Village, a program of Chestnut Mountain Ranch.
“CarePortal has the potential to transform the way we support families in crisis by creating a bridge between the community and those in need,” said Greg Clutter, Chestnut Mountain Village Director of Foster Care Initiatives. “We believe that through this pilot program, we can demonstrate the power of community-based action in preventing family separation and ensuring children can remain safely with their parents.”
DoHS’s Bureau for Family Assistance (BFA) has also made significant strategic, long term investments to the FSC system. These centers welcome any family member with children up to the age of 18 or pregnant families, offering vital support in times of need or on a regular basis. FSCs deliver comprehensive primary prevention services and are currently present in 57 centers across 54 counties in West Virginia.
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