Photo EBT Requirements
State law requires the use of photo identification on the front of each EBT card. The law makes exception to the Photo EBT requirement for cardholders who are:
age 18 and under
age 60 or over
blind
disabled; or
a victim of domestic violence
Clients identified as meeting one of these criteria are automatically granted an exception.
Note: Authorized Representatives, Authorized Payees and Authorized Representatives/Agencies may continue to use their current EBT Card. When a new or replacement card is requested, a non-Photo EBT card will be issued.
Clients who have been coded with a Heightened Level of Security (HLS) are granted an exception under the domestic violence category. Additionally, clients who do not wish to have their photo taken due to sincerely held religious beliefs, as protected under law, will also be allowed to have a non-Photo EBT card.
Non-applicant heads of household are not subject to the Photo EBT requirement. The following are non-applicants for purposes of the Photo EBT requirement:
For TAFDC they include:
- ineligible non-citizens
- non-legally liable grantees; and
- SSI clients
For EAEDC they include cardholders who are:
- ineligible non-citizens; and
- non-legally liable grantees
For SNAP they include cardholders who are:
- ineligible non-citizens
Clients who are ineligible grantees may not Opt-In to have a Photo EBT card.
Note: If a client is a grantee of multiple households and is a non-applicant in any one household, the non-applicant rules apply. The client’s Photo status will be set to Exception – Responsibility when an EBT Card is requested for these clients.
All current and ongoing non-EBT cardholders subject to the Photo EBT requirement, with a validated SSN, must have their current EBT card replaced with a Photo EBT card.
Types of Photo
To be issued a Photo EBT card, a cardholder must have a DTA Photo on file from one of the two sources below:
- RMV - available if the client has a Massachusetts issued driver’s license or state issued identification.
- The image available from the RMV must be an exact match on all data fields.
- DTA - taken in a TAO.
- The image must not be marked as Questionable and there is no outstanding Identity Match.
Non-applicants
Cardholders who are ineligible grantees or who have a temporarily assigned number in the SSN field cannot be issued a Photo EBT card. These individuals may not opt to have a photo taken until such time as they are no longer a non-applicant and/or have a valid SSN.
Clients who would be required to have a photo EBT card but have a temporarily assigned number in the SSN field, or whose case is pending, are ineligible for a Photo EBT card; however, they may opt to have a photo taken. The DTA Photo will be marked Questionable until you confirm that an SSN has been validated and remove the Questionable status.
Important: Clients who are ineligible grantees may not Opt-In for a photo EBT card. BEACON will not allow photo EBT cards to be issued for ineligible grantees.
Related Topics
Issuing EBT Cards at Local Offices
Electronic Benefit Transfer - Policy and Procedures